KOMMETDIEDING
Racing fans will have the opportunity to bet into massive World Pools for Saturday’s meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville, which sees the running of the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and the Woolavington 2000.
Betting on five of the races, including the Daily News 2000 and Woolavington 2000 has already opened but Race 5, 8 and 9, will only open Saturday morning after the reserve runners have been removed from the final fields.
The World Pool is available across the globe and combines bets taken in Australasia, Singapore, multiple operators in the UK and Europe, North America and Africa.
An indication of just how big these pools can get can been seen from last year’s UK Derby meeting which saw a turnover of some R2.74 billion!
So, horseplayers who take sizeable bets with TAB need not worry about their Win, Place, Swinger and Quinella wagers significantly reducing payouts.
All Win, Place, Swinger and Quinella bets on Races 2 to 9 will be commingled into the World Pools.
In addition, a R1-million carryover to the Greyville Pick 6 pool adds to the appeal of betting with TAB. The Pick 6 pool is expected to total about R5 million.
Most pundits believe this year’s race is ostensibly between two runners from the Western Cape – Linebacker and Kommetdieding.
Linebacker placed in a number of three-year-old features in Cape Town and finally cracked the ice when he won the Grade 1 Cape Derby over 2000m in February. The Vaughan Marshall-trained runner proved his fitness when winning the Grade 2 KZN Guineas over 1600m at Greyville in a race that saw lots of interference.
While Linebacker was one of the victims, the horse who suffered most was Kommetdieding. He was taken out on the turn, his jockey had to almost stop riding him and he dropped to the back of the field.
Turning into the short 400m Greyville straight it appeared he would not run a place, but he took off late and ran third, beaten 2.05 lengths by Linebacker.
Once you look past these two the race becomes quite open, but Copper Mountain, Second Base and Grade 1 Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock look the main opposition.
War Of Athena is a worthy favourite for the Woolavington 2000. She has won seven of her last nine starts and was beaten in photo finishes in the other two.
She has won over distances from 1400m to 2450m and her last five were all Graded-race victories. The only concern is that she has had a tough season and might be in need of a break.
However, jockey Muzi Yeni says her work is as good as ever and he is brimming with confidence. “This is her first run after claiming the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara, but she is in a very good frame of mind, and I believe she will take all the beating.”
If she does fluff her lines, there are only two dangers – Princess Calla and Netta. Both have produced some excellent recent performances and they will test War Of Athena all the way to the line.
Netta looks held by War Of Athena based on their runs in the SA Fillies Classic and the SA Oaks but trainer Paul Peter said his charge had a training setback in her preparation for both races. “The first time she had a proper prep was for the Gerald Rosenberg at Turffontein,” he said.
On that occasion the daughter of Where’s That Tiger raced clear of some decent older fillies and mares to win the Grade 2 race over 2000m by six lengths.
“Everything has gone smoothly with her again and she’s improved since then. She’s very well and she will make them run,” added Peter yesterday.
Princess Calla produced the fastest finish when a 1.60-length second to Captain’s Ransom in the KZN Fillies Guineas over 1600m and should prefer this distance.
This will be her third run after a rest and she will be in peak condition.
Jack Milner’s selection
Race 1: 1 Cavalier King, 8 Star Of The West, 5 Rodriguez, 7 Waterberry Lane
Race 2: 9 Gainsford, 1 Via Salaria, 5 Good Rhythm, 11 Kayson
Race 3: 8 Purple Moon’s Up, 2 Simply Russian, 7 State Of Mind, 12 Dancing Feather
Race 4: 6 Flower Of Saigon, 7 Pinch Me, 3 Abbey Wood, 1 Integrity
Race 5: 7 Matterhorn, 13 Silver Host, 1 Catchafallingstar, 14 Crome Yellow
Race 6: 1 War Of Athena, 7 Netta, 6 Princess Calla, 6 Chat Ching
Race 7: 8 Kommetdieding, 6 Linebacker, 10 Copper Mountain, 7 Second Base
Race 8: 5 Prince Of Taranto, 3 Preemptive Strike, 4 Trying Times, 7 Mr Gonzales
Race 9: 1 Seen The Light, 7 Caesura, 8 Movie Magic, 2 Justaguything
BEST BET
Race 4 No 6 Flower Of Saigon
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 7 Matterhorn
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 6×8
BIPOT
R192
Leg 1: 1, 5, 9, 11
Leg 2: 2, 7, 8
Leg 3: 6
Leg 4: 1, 7, 13, 14
Leg 5: 1, 7
Leg 6: 6, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R192
Leg 1: 2, 8
Leg 2: 6
Leg 3: 1, 7, 13
Leg 4: 1, 7
Leg 5: 8
Leg 6: 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 7: 1, 2, 7, 8
PICK 6:
R2016
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 1, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15
Leg 3: 1, 5, 7
Leg 4: 6, 8
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 14
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
JACKPOT 1
R252
Leg 1: 1, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15
Leg 2: 1, 5, 7
Leg 3: 6, 8
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 14
JACKPOT 2
R336
Leg 1: 1, 5, 7
Leg 2: 6, 8
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 14
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
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