Don’t ignore King’s Express, says Habib

Danie Toerien

“Seventeen Again will be hard to beat.”

That was the word yesterday from a very confident Fabian Habib when asked about his best runners today at the Vaal, where eight races are to be contested.

This two-year-old daughter of Erupt made an eye-catching debut just 19 days ago when finishing runner-up to The Navy Lark.

She lines up today in the card opener, a Work Riders Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m, where she will be ridden by Siyabonga Mkhumbuzi.

The jockey does boast five career wins and 34 places from his 82 ‘professional’ outings, so deserves all the respect.

Habib agrees that Seventeen Again could be a Bipot banker.

The trainer is also quite bullish about his pair in Race 7, a MR96 Handicap over 1400m, where he saddles Fully Loaded and King’s Express.

“Fully Loaded is coming off a rest, but he is working well,” said Habib.

“His confidence is through the roof, but as a back-up I suggest you include my other horse in the race too.”

King’s Express, stable companion to Fully Loaded, has been pushed to 1600m and beyond for most of his career, but now drops down to 1400m. This Pomodoro-gelding will be ridden by Kabelo Matsunyane, carrying just 54,5kg.

Considering that the trainer advises bettors to include the four-year-old gelding in all bets, it would be very unwise to disregard the advice.

Danie Toerien’s selections:

Race 1: 12 Seventeen Again, 1 Gold Agent, 9 Bellissivar, 2 Golden Argo

Race 2: 11 One Party, 13 Radiant Heat, 5 Gaelic Dancer, 15 Take Your Place

Race 3: 16 Valieva, 15 Stalwart, 14 Spy Story, 4 Cockey Walk

Race 4: 14 Green Lightning, 5 What A Lucy, 11 Johnny Appleseed, 6 Together Again

Race 5: 2 Quick Trip, 7 Kinshin Sha, 4 Longsword, 3 Bob

Race 6: 5 Putins Promise, 6 Viva De Janeiro, 3 Leeson, 8 Avoontoast

Race 7: 9 Fully Loaded, 10 King's Express, 3 Wyzeact, 8 Brave Viking

Race 8: 13 Cityscape, 1 Munchkin, 9 Walled Garden, 11 Raining Rubies