Invading forces are circling the KZN prizes

Greyville racecourse has hosted a plethora of race meetings in recent weeks, with Wednesday’s Polytrack fixture the third at the venue in four days and the 12th in the past month.

Gold Circle took over much of the Flamingo Park calendar when the Kimberley course closed and top trainers from other centres were quick to set up satellite stables in KwaZulu-Natal to take advantage of the increased spread of stake money available in the province.

These outposts in the Last Outpost could have a big say in Wednesday’s action.

Cape Town-based Glen Kotzen’s lieutenant at Summerveld, Jon Buckler, could be in the winner’s circle as early as the first race with Royal Oasis, a filly itching to break her duck. In the Qualified Maiden, Royal Oasis is allocated 55kg but gets 4kg of that removed thanks to claiming apprentice Kaiden Brewer. And she has the No 1 gate.

Kotzen has an even brighter chance in the fourth, with very consistent gelding Magical Midlands, who has won two of his last four outings – both on the Poly. Jockey Muzi Yeni and pole position at the 1900m start are further advantages.

Another Cape-based handler, national champion Justin Snaith, has scratched fancied carded runner Tarantino from Race 2, a Qualified Progress sprint, but still goes with La Quinta, who arrives from home base with some decent form and should be included in wider bet permutations.

Snaith’s flagbearer on the day, though, is Atlantic City, a young colt who has been brought along gradually over sprints and miles on the Poly but now takes a leap up to 2000m, which might suit him down to the ground.

Andre Nel will be another one shipping money south if Bell Jar wins the fifth race – a fair likelihood. And Nel’s Ice Sunsation and Superior Leader will have plenty of supporters in the sixth and seventh respectively.

Then there’s Joburg’s Clinton Binda aiming to divert cash northwards via his Ramchandani Road in the eight and final race on the card.

The Last Outpost is being colonised by foreign powers, egad!

SELECTIONS

1: 1 Royal Oasis, 4 Global Path, 3 Protea Pride, 2 Rain Wear

2: 6 Love Bomb, 1 La Quinta, 5 Vihaan’s Pie, 2 Freestate Star

3: 7 Atlantic City, 2 Stateofusa, 3 Galabier, 8 Allsaidanddone

4: 1 Magical Midlands, 3 Born To Perform, 2 Blue Planet, 7 Spring Fling

5: 3 Bell Jar, 6 Indigo Moon, 1 Evening Primrose, 8 Heartsease

6: 3 Birdwatcher, 4 To The Max, 9 Time To Roll, 2 Unconditional Love

7: 8 Fateful Day, 1 What A Blast, 7 Winter Waves, 3 Forest Jump

8: 2 Gimme A Rainbow, 4 Purple And Green, 2 Ramchandani Road, 1 Two Of Us

Pick 6: 1,3,7 x 1,2,3,7 x 1,3,6,8 x 2,3,4,6,9 x 8 x 1,2,3,4,7 (R1200)

PA: 3,5,6 x 7 x 1,3 x 3,6 x 3,4 x 8 x 2,3,4 (R72)