Handel to tune it up in KZN

Jack Milner

The naming of horses is an interesting topic. Some just take a word out of each name of the sire and dam, others on the look of the horse and some are dubbed with names of family members.

Then there are those that are skillfully crafted, as is the case with George Handel whose sire is Oratorio and dam Angie who is by King Of Kings.

George Frideric Handel was a German composer who lived much of his life in the UK and who wrote 25 oratorios, the most well-known of which is The Messiah with its famous Hallelujah Chorus.

Definitely a well thought-out name!

However, George Handel needs to live up to the hype and will hopefully do just that at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday in Race 2, a Conditional Maiden over 1600m on the Polytrack.

Trainer Fanie Bronkhorst has five runners carded at this eight-race meeting and George Handel looks the pick of his quintet. He is still a two-year-old – although just for the next 14 days – but will have to give weight to all but three runners. Two he is meeting at level weights and will only get 1kg from Zabadak who has a merit rating of 70.

This will be his first run on the Polytrack so that is the first question he will need to answer but in general, progeny of Oratorio tend to perform on the surface.

The distance should not be a concern as he tried it at the Vaal last time and could be considered a touch unlucky as he received a bump at the start, was hanging up the straight and was coughing post-race.

Despite all that, he still produced the fastest final 400m to finish a 1.10-length second behind King’s Express.

Calvin Habib takes the ride and they jump from No 2 draw.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 6 Railroad, 13 Magic Prince, 10 One Irish Rover, 3 Oshakati

Race 2: 2 George Handel, 4 Zabadak, 1 Tiger Spring, 12 Moon Harvest

Race 3: 7 Fever, 1 Jetavana, 8 Final Destiny, 6 Exceed Expectation

Race 4: 5 Grandi Orecchie, 7 Alphabetty, 1 Let's Not Linger, 2 Ice Sunsation

Race 5: 2 Afropolitan, 7 Time Taker, 4 Action Stations, 3 Madison Blues

Race 6: 7 Inventrix, 8 Candy For My Mommy, 2 Jade's Caberneigh, 5 Magicallee

Race 7: 10 Purple Powahouse, 2 Phaka Imali, 5 Agressivo, 4 Preemptive Strike

Race 8: 11 Birdwatcher, 1 Rockingthetimeaway, 5 Alittlebitnaughty, 4 Ideal Gift

BEST BET

Race 2 No 2 George Handel

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 10 Purple Powahouse

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 2x4

BIPOT

R324

Leg 1: 2, 10, 13

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 1, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 5, 7

Leg 5: 2, 4, 7

Leg 6: 2, 7, 8

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 1, 7, 8

Leg 3: 5, 7

Leg 4: 2, 7

Leg 5: 2, 7, 8

Leg 6: 2, 5, 10

Leg 7: 1, 5, 11

PICK 6

R1620

Leg 1: 1, 6, 7, 8, 11

Leg 2: 1, 5, 7

Leg 3: 2, 4, 7

Leg 4: 2, 7, 8

Leg 5: 2, 4, 5, 10

Leg 6: 1, 5, 11

JACKPOT 1

R108

Leg 1: 1, 5, 7

Leg 2: 2, 4, 7

Leg 3: 2, 7, 8

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 10

JACKPOT 2

R108

Leg 1: 2, 4, 7

Leg 2: 2, 7, 8

Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 10

Leg 4: 1, 5, 11