Greyville Tips - Best Bets on Gold Challenge day

With less than a month to go before the Durban July, Greyville stages a really important card on Saturday. The Group One Gold Challenge in the main event, and many of the entrants in this year's race are scheduled to return to Greyville for the Durban July on July 3rd.

Here's which horses Magic Tips' are backing on Gold Challenge day at Greyville, via the Hollywoodbets Blog.

This is a competitive Maiden Plate for the girls with numerous horses having a decent chance of winning. The tentative first selection is BACKSTOP from the Tony Rivalland yard. She showed very good improvement when finishing second in her last start over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. 

The manner in which she stayed on at the finish that day was encouraging. The daughter of Pathfork is having her peak run and should be cherry-ripe. From her mid-field barrier position, she may be the one to side with.

RALPH THE RASCAL is much better than his last start over 1700m on the Polytrack. He has finished second once and third three times from as many starts over this C&D. The son of Gimmethegreenlight takes a drop back in class this afternoon and can return to winning ways.

KAILENE followed up her maiden win with an equally impressive victory over this distance on the Polytrack. She took the lead at the 200m mark that day and kept finding all the way to the line. The daughter of Jackson looks to have ability and with Grant van Niekerk in the saddle, she can notch up the hat-trick.

COSMIC HIGHWAY showed some signs of needing his last start in the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes. He was super-impressive when winning the Grade 3 Cape Nursery in his penultimate start. The manner in which he finishes off his races suggests that he will love the step up to the 1400m. The son of Gimmethegreenlight should strip much fitter this afternoon and from his good draw of three, he should be the one to beat.

TRISTFUL is much better than his last start in the Grade 2 WSB 1900. He raced wide around the turn that day and understandably lacked a finish in the straight. All four of his career victories have come on this course. The son of Trippi is having his peak run today and should be cherry-ripe. He jumps from a good draw of three and Gavin Lerena may be able to get the best out of him.

ZARINA should have finished closer to Captain’s Ransom in the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas. She was carried outwards at the 400m mark by FREESTATE STAR that day which didn’t help her chances. The daughter of Master Of My Fate has won twice and finished third once from as many starts over this distance. With a bit of luck in running, she can return to winning ways.

The main event of the day sees RAINBOW BRIDGE and BELGARION renew their rivalry with the former being the first choice. The son of Ideal World has been super-impressive in his last two victories when ridden from off the pace. He loves racing on this course with a record of three wins, three seconds and a third-place finish from eight starts. He won this race in fine style last year and should defend his title.

SPYDAS CORNER is one of the better bets on this afternoon’s programme. He won a good race in his last start over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. He was accepted to race in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint, but did not make the cut. The son of What A Winter is clearly loaded with ability and should notch up his sixth career victory.

This is a weak Maiden Plate to close off the meeting and RADAMES is the horse with the best form. His last four starts before the 32-week break were good. The son of Ideal World has the perfect opportunity to shed his maiden tag and if not in need of the run, he should take a power of beating.