Jack Milner
The Grade 2 Allied Steelrode On A Mission Charity Mile meeting is one of the delights on the annual racing calendar.
While horseracing is so often perceived as a “take” sport, this is a “give” event as a host of charities come away as the big winners on the day. To watch the delight on the faces of those charities who cheer home their runners is gratifying and adds an early Christmas spirit to the day.
There is an old axiom that charity begins at home, and for those people there are plenty of opportunities to bring home a pot of gold, headed up by a R500,000 Pick 6 carryover which is likely to produce a R3-million pool.
Of course, the meeting is headlined by the R1-million race and this year’s event looks particularly competitive. It is a handicap and that levels the playing fields, but what can tip the scales are the draws, especially over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside track.
The major concern is that a number of key players are drawn wide and that will require a combination of some smart jockeyship and a whole lot of luck.
One must not forget what happened last year as jockeys were attempting to place their mounts. It resulted in a pileup and a few spills.
The runners with wide draws this time are three of the top five in the betting – Confederate, Choisaanada and Busstopinhounslow – and that is going to make life tough for the trio.
With that in mind, preference is for Sean Tarry-trained Callmegetrix who has a lot going for her, especially No 4 draw. She will be having her third run after a rest, she showed lots of class when winning the Grade 2 Joburg F&M Spring Challenge, she comes in with a competitive weight of 54.5kg and she has Muzi Yeni in the irons.
A win will certainly go some way to clearing the away the ghosts of last year’s race when Yeni was dislodged in the early melee and broke his collar bone.
My first choice would have been Winter Series winner Choisaanada, but he has drawn widest of all and that could prove his downfall. This four-year-old Querari gelding proved his ability during the Winter Series with never-say-die victories over Confederate and Fire Attack, both Grade 1 winners.
Trainer Erico Verdonese has confirmed that his charge is putting up excellent work at home so one cannot ignore his chances.
In addition, he does have the services of champion Gavin Lerena and that will unquestionably work in his favour.
Many eyes will be on Betway Summer Cup contender Confederate. The Fabian Habib-trained Fire Away gelding boasts an enviable record of six wins and four seconds in his 11 starts and showed his off-colour Durban July performance is best forgotten by showing his true worth with a smooth win on his seasonal reappearance in a 1450m Conditions Race under Rachel Venniker, who retains the ride but will have lot to do to overcomes his wide draw.
Confederate has the ideal profile for this event as he is versatile, progressive, and tactically adaptable.
That said, last year’s Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch won’t be going down without a fight, despite the Alec Laird-trained six-year-old conceding 1.5kg to Confederate. This Master Of My Fate gelding shaped with serious intent on his reappearance, flashing home for second over an inadequate trip in the 1450m Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge. The blinkers, fitted for the first time that day, are retained, and from gate No 1, he’s perfectly positioned to stalk and strike late.
Calvin Habib retains the ride.
Carry On Alice, another Summer Cup entry, bounced back to form with a scintillating
Victory at the Vaal last week over 1450m and can cement her spot in the R6-million race with a victory in the Race 6, the Grade 3 Yellowwood Handicap over 1800m.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Major Arcana, 3 Tintin, 12 Witch Hazel, 10 Splittheeights
Race 2: 13 Sakura Hanami, 5 Quiet Winter, 6 Stone Of Scone, 15 Stubborn Love
Race 3: 13 African Pride, 5 Chieftain, 11 Charming Cheetah, 9 Karate Kid
Race 4: 1 Elegantrix, 7 Ovation Star, 9 Warm Reception, 6 Stormy Day
Race 5: 8 Miami Mountain, 2 Zalatoris, 5 Whispering Death, 1 Tin Pan Alley
Race 6: 1 World Of Alice, 3 Lady Fallon, 4 Doitwithdiamonds, 13 Warning Sound
Race 7: 13 Callmegetrix, 11 Choisaanada, 4 Confederate, 1 Atticus Finch
Race 8: 10 Enflame, 4 United Council, 8 Daimyo, 12 Corrupt
Race 9: 6 Perfect Miracle, 5 Blizzard Snow, 7 Mystical Miss, 2 Poblano
Race 10: 9 Captain Selvie, 7 Lost For Words, 3 Tuscan Romance, 4 United Offer
BEST BET
Race 9: 6 Perfect Miracle
VALUE BET
Race 10: 9 Captain Selvie
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 2x3
BIPOT
R160
Leg 1: 5, 13
Leg 2: 13
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 8, 14
Leg 5: 1, 3, 4, 13
Leg 6: 1, 4, 11, 13
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R64
Leg 1: 13
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 8
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 13
Leg 5: 1, 4, 11, 13
Leg 6: 10
Leg 7: 6
PICK 6
R1372
Leg 1: 1, 6, 7, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 11, 14
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 9, 11, 12, 13
Leg 4: 1, 4, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15
Leg 5: 10
Leg 6: 6
JACKPOT 1
R343
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 11, 14
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 9, 11, 12, 13
Leg 3: 1, 4, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15
Leg 4: 10
JACKPOT 2
R42
Leg 1: 1, 4, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15
Leg 2: 10
Leg 3: 6
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9