Botes looking for a Quid Pro Quo

It has been a few weeks since trainer Barend Botes made the move from the Highveld to KwaZulu-Natal. The former jockey is an astute horseman but one who has battled to get the numbers, he will be hoping things to turn for his yard and that may just happen this Sunday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

After two promising efforts Quid Pro Quo should open her account for Botes in Race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1200m. The bay two-year-old could have opened her account on the first time of asking but a slow start looked to have cost her, she flew up in the closing stages only to be beaten a neck by You Bring Me Joy who gave away weight and won again straight afterwards.

Quid Pro Quo was so impressive that she took on the role of favourite in her KwaZulu-Natal debut and to be fair taking on highly regarded winning males at a difficult track was not going to be an easy task.

But Quid Pro Quo beat those males only to find another promising juvenile filly, Just Reckless, one better on the day. The latter is headed for upcoming features for juveniles and as such Quid Pro Quo should be hard to beat back in a maiden, especially with Richard Fourie in the irons. 

Tomyris in Race 4, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m, rates the best bet on the day.

The three-year-old filly has been given time to come to hand by trainer Gareth van Zyl whose yard has been firing on all cylinders not only in the Western Cape but also locally. Tomyris was well supported in her third start after two ‘learning experiences’ but she duffed the start and then shifted about just when it looked like her rider was getting her to where he wanted her to be.

The eventual winner, Questo E Quello, just had to keep straight to get past the post.

She will have got the memo now and is meeting a much weaker field and really would need to stop and gaze at the birds to lose this race. Banker in all bets.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Quid Pro Quo, 4 Radiant Heat, 2 Ethereal View, 3 Magical View

Race 2: 11 Gold Rush Kid, 10 Samuel Longsword, 2 Havana Moon, 1 River Dance

Race 3: 10 Dawn Surprise, 2 Jazz Cafe, 4 Flying Reign Storm, 1 Sunshine Sally

Race 4: 9 Tomyris, 2 Blue Horizon, 10 Ubukhwebezana, 1 Vathomvlaffie

Race 5: 9 Celtic Beauty, 10 Mascherina, 8 Wonderful, 2 Givers Grace

Race 6: 1 Bom Bom, 2 All The Time, 4 Intrepid, 8 Preemptive Strike

Race 7: 7 Golden Peace, 6 Imilenzeyokududuma, 5 Royal Victory, 3 El Dante

Race 8: 5 Johnny The Thief, 8 Godfather, 6 Papa C, 9 Kimball O'Hara

BEST BET

Race 4 No 9 Tomyris

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 7 Golden Peace

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 4x5

BIPOT

R288

Leg 1: 4, 5

Leg 2: 2, 10, 11

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 10

Leg 4: 9

Leg 5: 8, 9, 10

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 8

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 2, 10, 11

Leg 2: 2, 4, 10

Leg 3: 9

Leg 4: 9, 10

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4

Leg 6: 5, 6, 7

Leg 7: 5, 8

PICK 6

R1500

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6, 10

Leg 2: 9

Leg 3: 2, 8, 9, 10, 15

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 8, 9

Leg 5: 5, 6, 7

Leg 6: 5, 6, 8, 9

JACKPOT 1

R75

Leg 1: 9

Leg 2: 2, 8, 9, 10, 15

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 8, 9

Leg 4: 5, 6, 7

JACKPOT 2

R300

Leg 1: 2, 8, 9, 10, 15

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 8, 9

Leg 3: 5, 6, 7

Leg 4: 5, 6, 8, 9