Abdicator prepares for Joburg appointment

Jack Milner

With Brett Crawford’s son, James, running a satellite yard on the Highveld at Randjesfontein it comes as no surprise he is quite happy to bring horses up to Joburg for feature races.

One of those could be The Abdicator, who will be making his way north from the Western Cape if he is declared to run in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint over 1000m on 6 April.

With that in mind, it should pay to follow The Abdicator when he puts his big-race participation on the line in Race 2, a Cape B Stakes over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

Richard Fourie steered The Abdicator to victory over the same course and distance two starts back and is he back aboard the maturing three-year-old gelding after a fast-finishing second over track and trip under Craig Zackey last time out.

The Abdicator was ridden differently on that occasion and restrained towards the rear of the field before being delivered with a powerful late burst. He was beaten just 0.30 lengths by Tough Terrain to whom he conceded 3kg.

While he is not the best weighted runner – that role goes to filly Southern Skies – he is next best and is expected to make a winning preparation ahead of the Computaform Sprint.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Tuscan Romance, 10 In The Green Zone, 13 Back At The George, 3 Babelicious

Race 2: 2 The Abdicator, 3 Southern Skies, 4 Piroshka, 6 Bluff On Bluff

Race 3: 7 Hanging Rock, 9 Ellorix, 4 Beijing Boulevard, 8 First Masterpiece

Race 4: 8 Plum Pudding, 3 Ticking Bomb, 2 Saint Brigid, 5 Green Isle

Race 5: 10 Moremi Gorge, 9 Mr Belvedere, 3 Daimyo, 1 Apache Chief

Race 6: 2 Gainsford, 4 Time For Love, 6 Allez Moris, 11 Kitchakal

Race 7: 9 Aspect, 4 Oliver, 1 Kebonalesedi, 11 Michael Faraday

Race 8: 10 San Pedro, 11 Greeting My Master, 7 Fun Zone, 8 Nevada King

Race 9: 3 Nordic Quest, 6 Pineapplemintgreen, 7 F Eight, 9 Mia's Harper

BEST BET

Race 2: 2 The Abdicator

VALUE BET

Race 5: 10 Moremi Gorge

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 7x9

BIPOT

R128

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 7, 9

Leg 3: 3, 8

Leg 4: 1, 3, 9, 10

Leg 5: 2, 4, 6, 11

Leg 6: 4, 9

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 7

Leg 2: 3, 8

Leg 3: 3, 9, 10

Leg 4: 2, 4, 6

Leg 5: 4, 9

Leg 6: 7, 10, 11

Leg 7: 3, 6, 7

PICK 6

R1536

Leg 1: 3, 8

Leg 2: 1, 3, 9, 10

Leg 3: 2, 4, 6, 11

Leg 4: 4, 9

Leg 5: 7, 8, 10, 11

Leg 6: 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14

JACKPOT 1

R128

Leg 1: 1, 3, 9, 10

Leg 2: 2, 4, 6, 11

Leg 3: 4, 9

Leg 4: 7, 8, 10, 11

JACKPOT 2

R192

Leg 1: 2, 4, 6, 11

Leg 2: 4, 9

Leg 3: 7, 8, 10, 11

Leg 4: 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14