Leung Ho Yin, Simon's Bio
Simon is a well respected full-time thoroughbred racing commentator specializing in pedigree and overseas international racing. He is currently the presenter on several racing television programmes including, ‘Horse Racing – Results’, ‘Simulcast Preview'’ and Simulcast oversea races.

Greyville Racecourse – Track Analysis (Greyville 2000 Day):

Durban’s Greyville Racecourse, a clockwise venue with a 2800m turf course that envelopes another synthetic strip, imitates a triangular configuration of Great Britain’s Ascot Racecourse, with a 430m homestretch. Except for the final corner just before reaching the top of the stretch, a slight uphill run from 2200m to 1800m, and then a gently downhill roll from 1800m to 1200m marker, the course has no other significant undulations, whereas closers do utilize that sweeping final bend in full, time and again, to slingshot themselves right to the thick of the fray from out wide.

Eight turf races will be simulcast from the Greyville 2000 Day, the featured Greyville 2000, Woolavington 2000 and the MR 78 F&M Handicap – all contested at 2000m – starters will have a 400m run before entering a full 1100m elbow that bears continuously right, until homeward-bound. Typical of any deep routes with slow early pace, horses drawing high post numbers can still carve out some good trips.

To the rest of the day’s undercard, the 2400m Lonsdale Stirrup Cup would also be run like a 2000m trip, only that starters have a longer section of the backside – 800m in full – before hitting the turn. Then cutting back in distance, the 1200m MR 68 Handicap and MR 102 Handicap; also the 1400m MR 80 Handicap and MR 94 F&M Handicap, starters are all practically breaking right into a sweeping turn. Yet, to the relief, outside-drawn runners will not lose too much ground.

Last year’s Greyville 2000 contested on good to soft ground, GOT THE GREENLIGHT, Bernard Fayd'Herbe aboard, drafted in the fifth position on the two-path early, then pounced at the top of the lane, took command by the 300m marker, and cruised home first, whereas the free-wheeling PADRE PIO, who flaunted his speed up front most of the way, barely held off post-time favourite GOLDEN DUCAT for the second.

With sunny skies that will extend towards Saturday in the Durban area, as per the latest forecasts, this year’s running of the Greyville 2000 Day would be contested on good to firm turf, and deep closers are probably poised for a field day – except when the strip does turn lightning-fast.

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