Challenge on for Viking Moon

This leg is raced over 1200m, with the second, over 1400m, on Friday 9 April and the third and final leg, over 1600m, to be run on Friday 7 May.  

There is a R250,000 bonus on offer to the connections of any horse who can win all three legs. There is also a consolation bonus of R50,000 to be paid in this challenge, however horses must participate in all three legs and win at least one leg.

Points allocation for the consolation bonus are: 1st 10, 2nd 6, 3rd 4, 4th 3, 5th 2 and 6th 1.

Alan Greeff holds a very strong hand in the opening leg and Viking Moon looks a very hard horse to oppose under the race conditions.

But Greeff is rarely lacking in good back-up and also saddles Tarsus and Dubula.

But Viking Moon is in cracking form and has reeled off three impressive wins recently. This Vercingetorix four-year-old is at his very best on this surface, having won four times in seven starts on the Polytrack.

First-choice jockey Greg Cheyne was aboard Viking Moon in all of those recent wins and this gelding can lead or sit off them, and from No 3 draw they should win.

He looks the stand-out bet on the card and is a confident selection to banker in all bets.

Ultra-consistent Earth Hour is talented but will be a better proposition in the next two legs of this challenge, over 1400m and 1600m. He could be a contender for the bonus payout and the fact he has to run in all three to be eligible, is the likely reason for his running in this event.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Emerald Floe, 4 Que Cosas, 3 Just So Easy, 5 Showtime Baby

Race 2: 1 Corsage, 2 Pharr Out, 6 Latifah’s Queen, 3 Cianna

Race 3: 6 Full Score, 1 Mary Lee, 5 Phil’s Power, 9 Winter Vacation

Race 4: 1 Pacific Duke, 2 Innerspace, 3 Wylie’s Tractor, 5 Highway Star

Race 5: 5 Ancient Times, 4 Ninjinsky’s Son, 3 Capernaum, 1 Bush Fever

Race 6: 3 Lady Catherine, 2 Lumiere, 4 Valeriana, 6 Natural Jade

Race 7: 1 Viking Moon, 13 Travel In Style, 2 Earth Hour, 3 Sullenberger

Race 8: 11 Mesmerizing Moon, 10 Future Tense, 3 Linda Loves Lace, 5 Beneficiary

BEST BET

Race 7 No 1 Viking Moon

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 5 Ancient Times

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 1×2

BIPOT

R192

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 2, 6

Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 9

Leg 4: 1, 2

Leg 5: 3, 4, 5, 11

Leg 6: 2, 3

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 1, 5, 6

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 4, 5, 11

Leg 5: 2, 3

Leg 6: 1

Leg 7: 3, 10, 11

PICK 6

R1400

Leg 1: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9

Leg 2: 1, 2

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 6

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

JACKPOT 1

R40

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 6

Leg 4: 1

JACKPOT 2

R140

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 6

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11