Jack Milner
Racing fans are in for a real treat at Turffontein on Saturday as Day 3 of the Championship features a 10-race card, four of them Grade 1s, four Grade 2s, a Listed race for stayers and – to bring us all back to reality – a Maiden Plate.
But there are so many other benefits for punters. Firstly, the four Grade 1 races are Hong Kong World Pool events and there will be massive TAB pools into which people can bet.
Starting in Race 6, they are the TAB Empress Club Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m, the Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint over 1000m, the TAB SA Derby for three-year-olds over 2450m and the World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m.
Then we have a R2-million Pick 6 carryover with the pool likely to reach R8 million. What is great about this event is there are some possible bankers but there are also some really tricky races. That provides the combination of a catchable Pick 6 that could produce a decent payout.
And then Race 10, the “get-out stakes”, if you have a Win bet with TAB and your horse runs second, you will get your money back.
The R1-million Empress Club Stakes will attract loads of attention because it contains Mike de Kock-trained three-year-old filly Gimme A Nother, who is unbeaten in six starts. It was an interesting decision by her connections to run her in this event because she has already won the first two legs of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara and could easily have wrapped that up by competing in the less competitive Grade 2 Bridget Oppenheimer Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m.
But taking on older females in a Grade 1 event has more appeal for a filly who has not only won all her starts, including the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, two Grade 2 races and a Grade 3, but has done so with ease.
She is the best weighted runner by at least 4.5kg and looks the stand-out bet on the card.
Jockey JP van der Merwe has already expressed his excitement about the ability of this filly and he will be looking to make it seven from seven on this daughter of Gimmethegreenlight.
The Computaform Sprint is a dash down the straight and is all over in around 56 seconds.
Dyce defeated Thunderstruck in the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship in Cape Town by 0.50 lengths, but Sean Tarry’s charge is taken to reverse the placings this time.
Also coming into this race as one of the best weighted runners is speedy filly Golden Sickle who has won five of her six races since moving to the Highveld, all over 1000m, and was touched off by a short head in the other.
The Tony Peter-trained daughter of Vercingetorix could run this field off their feet.
The Champions Challenge, with a stake of R2 million, is the richest race on the card and despite being a weight-for-age event, looks highly competitive.
Often these kinds of races are won by the best weighted runners but when they do produce an upset, it is usually a whopper!
The Cape Town Met was a perfect example as it looked a one-horse race but produced a 33-1 winner in Double Superlative.
This race sees the return of Betway Summer Cup winner Royal Victory, who won that race over this course and distance.
Trained in Durban by Nathan Kotzen, this Pathfork gelding has blossomed as a four-year-old and is getting better with every start.
Muzi Yeni, who rode him to victory in the Summer Cup, has been in Durban working Royal Victory and declared his satisfaction with what he has seen.
“I really believe he is doing exceptionally well, so I think he is the horse they will all have to beat,” he said.
Although based in KwaZulu-Natal, Royal victory has an excellent record on the Turffontein Standside track with two wins and three places from six runs.
He will carry 6kg more than he did in the Summer Cup but the same is true of many of his opposition.
Cousin Casey has loads of ability, but many pundits believe he is questionable over 2000m which is supported by only one fourth place in three starts over the distance. But he has had a good prep coming into this race with a third place over 1400m and a commendable fourth place behind Main Defender in the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m.
He does have a top jockey in Richard Fourie in the irons and no doubt trainer Sean Tarry will have him at the top of his game.
Son Of Raj won the Grade 1 SA Derby last year in spectacular fashion but has not repeated anything close to that form and has not placed in six starts since. However, he did run well enough in the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes, despite he and Cousin Casey making contact at the 200m mark, so could be a threat in this.
He also has a top jockey in S’manga Khumalo.
Last year’s winner, Puerto Manzano, is back in action but has not been at his best of late. However, if he finds his old spark, he will prove very dangerous in this field.
What is of particular significance is that jockey Gavin Lerena has stayed with him for this race as he would have had a number of options open to him. Puerto Manzano needs to be included in all bets.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 6 Lets Play Poker, 1 Vibe Sa, 7 So Seductive, 5 His Lordship
Race 2: 2 Almond Sea, 8 Mountain High, 7 Little Ballerina, 6 Just Reckless
Race 3: 7 Pistol Pete, 6 Mount Pinatubo, 8 Proceed, 5 Fire Attack
Race 4: 7 Sandringham Summit, 8 Lucky Lad, 10 White Pearl, 3 Unzen
Race 5: 1 Silver Sanctuary, 5 Frances Ethel, 3 Let's Go Now, 4 Beating Wings
Race 6: 6 Gimme A Nother, 7 Mrs Geriatrix, 8 Bavarian Beauty, 1 Humdinger
Race 7: 12 Golden Sickle, 3 Thunderstruck, 1 Dyce, 8 Ziyasha
Race 8: 1 Purple Pitcher, 6 Marauding Horde, 2 Hotarubi, 5 Presley
Race 9: 7 Royal Victory, 3 Cousin Casey, 8 Son Of Raj, 2 Puerto Manzano
Race 10: 9 Breeze Over, 8 Red Maple, 2 Crimson King, 1 Nebraas
BEST BET
Race 6: 6 Gimme A Nother
VALUE BET
Race 10: 9 Breeze Over
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 1x6
BIPOT
R18
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 7
Leg 3: 7, 8, 10
Leg 4: 1, 5
Leg 5: 6
Leg 6: 1, 3, 12
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R90
Leg 1: 7
Leg 2: 7
Leg 3: 1, 5
Leg 4: 6
Leg 5: 1, 3, 12
Leg 6: 1, 2, 6
Leg 7: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8
PICK 6
R1008
Leg 1: 3, 7, 8, 10
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5
Leg 3: 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 12
Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 6
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11
JACKPOT 1
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5
Leg 3: 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 12
Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 6
JACKPOT 2
R420
Leg 1: 1, 3, 12
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11
Leg 4: 1, 2, 8, 9, 14