Jack Milner
There is a longstanding expression in horseracing which states that the smaller the field, the bigger the upset.
That maxim could be tested at Turffontein on Saturday at the Championships Finale where we have seven feature races topping an 11-race meeting.
The Championships comprised four days of superb racing across the season and with the first three legs producing definitive results and standout performances, the Championship Finale will provide the final opportunity for this season’s contenders to consolidate their Black-Type credentials, boost their merit ratings, and stake claims for Highveld Feature Season Award honours.
“The Highveld Summer Season has showcased depth, consistency and genuine quality in our racing ranks. Each leg of The Championships has brought clarity to the form book, unearthed exciting new prospects, and rewarded both punters and purists with top-class performances,” said Fundi Sithebe, CEO of 4Racing.
There are seven feature races on the card – four Grade 2s, two Grade 3s and a Listed event.
The four Grade 2 races are the TAB Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m, the TAB Colorado King Stakes over 2000m, as well as two races for fillies and mares, the TAB Camellia Stakes over 1160m and the TAB Igugu Stakes over 2000m.
There are also great betting opportunities on the 11-race card as we have three Jackpots (Races 1-4, 5-8 and 8-11) and two BiPots (Races 2-7 and 6-11).
Races 1 to 7 comprise all the features and the fields range between seven and 10 runners. While many of the fields are small, they all look to be highly competitive.
An interesting jockey and trainer combination in the Senior Santa Stakes is the engagement of Richard Fourie to ride Pistol Pete for the Tony Peter stable. The Buffalo Bill Cody colt is better than his last few runs but he is known for not enjoying soft going and all the rain recently has not been in his favour.
But the two other runners to take note of are Candice Dawson-trained Truth with Muzi Yeni up, and Mount Pilatus, trained by Fanie Bronkhorst, with Calvin Habib in the irons.
Only seven horses are carded to go to post for the Colorado King Stakes and this looks wide open. However, Sean Tarry-trained Let’s Go Now gets the fillies’ weight allowance, and she comes in as the best weighted runner by at least 3kg.
Fourie will be riding the daughter of Gimmethegreenlight but she has yet to prove she will see out 2000m. She has won three times and all of those have been over 1400m and 1600m.
However, she has placed over 1800m in last year’s Grade 1 SA Classic and this is not the strongest of fields. Nevertheless, there has been a lot of rain over the past few days and the track could be a little on the soft side, despite sunny predictions for today and tomorrow.
As a result, it could be worth going with Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Marauding Horde who might prefer this drop in trip after finding 2850m a touch too far last time.
Kabelo Matsunyane takes the ride.
Race 5 is the Grade 2 Igugu Stakes for fillies and mares over 2000m and this event comprises some high-class performers.
The three-year-olds will be a popular choice with many punters with Roy Magner-trained Olivia’s Way topping the list. Her last two races were in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m.
She finished runner-up in the first behind runaway winner Fiery Pegasus and then a useful fourth against the colts in the Derby. Gavin Lerena takes the ride.
Craig Zackey will be aboard Sean Tarry-trained World Of Alice for the 11th time. In 10 previous associations, the pair have only missed the frame once - winning twice and finishing second on four occasions, including last time out in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m.
Racing for the first time in six starts without blinkers fitted, World Of Alice only narrowly failed to reel-in Grade 1 winner Fiery Pegasus who made all under a tactically masterful ride by Fourie. But she was beaten by Olivia’s Way in the Fillies Classic.
The value, however, could be with Beating Wings, trained by Stuart Pettigrew and ridden by Fourie.
She won this race last year, beating My Soul Mate, and looks like she is coming back to form at the right time to defend her crown.
Fourie rode her last time in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes where she finished fifth behind Fatal Flaw in a much stronger field. He has opted to stay with her and this daughter of Rafeef could well notch up the double.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Glastonbury, 4 One Fine Winter, 3 Malibu, 2 Jingleberry
Race 2: 4 Green Diamond, 3 Tin Pan Alley, 2 King Harald, 1 Kaalvoet
Race 3: 3 My Soul Mate, 7 Explosive Bond, 2 Nebraas, 9 To The Rescue
Race 4: 7 Almond Sea, 4 Mia Moo, 1 Gimme A Shot, 2 Time Fo Orchids
Race 5: 1 Beating Wings, 7 World Of Alice, 4 Champagne Cocktail, 6 Olivia's Way
Race 6: 2 Marauding Horde, 7 Let's Go Now, 6 Royal Edition, 1 Hotarubi
Race 7: 3 Pistol Pete, 4 Truth, 2 Mount Pilatus, 1 Melech
Race 8: 4 Kamensky, 3 Doitwithdiamonds, 5 Master Christmas, 6 Presley
Race 9: 7 Vibe SA, 5 Longsword, 12 Blizzard Snow, 13 Hemisphere
Race 10: 1 Obsidian, 5 Unsolved Riddle, 8 Sail The Sky, 3 Guerilla Warfare
Race 11: 3 Captain Efficient, 5 Prized Platinum, 7 Mariachi Madness, 2 Sakhala Is'Cathulo
BEST BET
Race 2: 4 Green Diamond
VALUE BET
Race 5: 1 Beating Wings
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 1x4
BIPOT ONE
R216
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 2, 3, 7
Leg 3: 1, 4, 7
Leg 4: 1, 4, 7
Leg 5: 1, 2, 6, 7
Leg 6: 3, 4
BIPOT TWO
R288
Leg 1: 1, 2, 6, 7
Leg 2: 3, 4
Leg 3: 3, 4
Leg 4: 5, 7, 12
Leg 5: 1, 5
Leg 6: 3, 5, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R288
Leg 1: 3, 7
Leg 2: 4, 7
Leg 3: 1, 7
Leg 4: 2, 6, 7
Leg 5: 3, 4
Leg 6: 3, 4
Leg 7: 5, 7, 12
PICK 6
R2304
Leg 1: 1, 4, 7
Leg 2: 1, 4, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 5: 3, 4, 5
Leg 6: 5, 7, 12, 13
JACKPOT 1
R48
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 2: 4
Leg 3: 2, 3, 7, 9
Leg 4: 1, 4, 7
JACKPOT 2
R192
Leg 1: 1, 4, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 4: 3, 4, 5
JACKPOT 3
R96
Leg 1: 3, 4, 5
Leg 2: 5, 7, 12, 13
Leg 3: 1, 5
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 7