Jack Milner
While the World Sports Betting Grand Heritage is only a Non-Black Type event, it is a race that captures the imagination of horseracing fans.
There are a number of reasons. Firstly, it gives lower-rated runners the opportunity to chase for a share of a R500,000 purse. That is a great asset to owners who have not had the fortune to purchase to Graded event winner to race for a decent sum of money.
Secondly, it is the only race in the country that has a field of more than 20 runners and is run over the odd distance of 1475m.
It does turn into a cavalry charge but fortunately the Vaal straight is wide enough to give every runner a winning chance.
This year there is an additional opportunity for bettors as there is a R250,000 carryover to Jackpot One. The pool is likely to reach R1 million but as the Vaal meeting is a standalone event this weekend, that expectation could be surpassed.
This year 24 horses are carded to run in the main event but there is one card scratching as the connections of Jordan have opted to run him in the WSB Grand Heritage Consolation race instead.
As always, it is a highly competitive event but there is always good value to be found for bettors.
The in-form runner is unquestionably Captainofthegreen who is trained by Fabian Habib and will have the services of champion jockey Richard Fourie.
Captainofthegreen has won four times in his 12 starts but it is worth noting he just completed a hat-trick when winning his latest start, a MR 96 Handicap at Turffontein over 1600m on 30 November.
It seems the gelding operation he had in March has brought out the best in him racing-wise as he had a merit rating of 81 at the time of his operation and he is currently on 96, with the likelihood that figure will rise should he win this event.
However, his form improved further when he was fitted with a tongue tie four runs back and since then he has run a second followed up by those three-successive wins.
It will be the first time Fourie sits on the Gimmethegreenlight gelding but he does not look a difficult ride.
The five-year-old has landed No 19 draw which is usually a good place to be start from on the Vaal straight but that all went topsy turvy last year when the winner came from an inside barrier.
An interesting pointer, however, may have come from middle stakes over this course and distance on 5 December which was won by Radicchio who was having his first run for trainer Barend Botes.
He beat The Africa House by a neck with Pomodoro’s Jet another 0.80 lengths back in third.
The Africa House comes into this race 3kg better off with the winner but 0.5kg worse off with Pomodoro’s Jet. However, the four-year-old What A Winter gelding comes into this race in top form and Sean Tarry appears to have him spot on for this event.
Calvin Habib picks up the ride for the first time and they will jump from barrier No 15.
The father and son team of Brett and James Crawford have had remarkable success of late and they will be hoping Pomodoro’s Jet can notch up his first victory on the Highveld. His four runs have produced two fifth places followed by a second and a third.
The six-year-old Pomodoro gelding has not finished further back than 3.20 lengths in those races and is definitely one for Quartets. Craig Zackey takes the ride and they will jump from barrier No 7.
Another runner with a massive chance is Guy Gibson who has been racing in far stronger company. His last start was very decent as he finished a 1.50-length second behind highly rated Heather’s Boy over 1600m.
Trainer Roy Magner put the blinkers back on and that seemed to have helped him. They will stay on for this race. Diego de Gouveia is back on board and they will jump from No 13 draw.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Vibe SA, 8 Cronus, 7 Crescendo, 10 Page Boy
Race 2: 9 Flight Of A Condor, 3 Pretty Precious, 12 Gimme A Storm, 13 Green Extreme
Race 3: 3 Garlandsofgreenery, 4 Bosum Buddy, 2 Sorceress Supreme, 5 Valieva
Race 4: 3 The Merciful, 4 Mishrah, 2 Mo Ment, 5 Santiago's Pride
Race 5: 5 Red Maple, 3 Thunee Playa, 7 Royal Edition, 1 Son Of Raj
Race 6: 3 One Fell Swoop, 2 Swing Upon A Star, 5 King Of Venus, 4 Passage Of Power
Race 7: 19 The Africa House, 12 Captainofthegreen, 3 Guy Gibson, 13 Pomodoro's Jet
Race 8: 5 Confederate, 7 Count Invicto, 4 Warhawk Bomber, 9 MK's Dreams
Race 9: 5 Dark Silver, 4 Diwali Rocket, 10 Robert Browning, 7 One More Star
BEST BET
Race 4 No 3 The Merciful
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 19 The Africa House
BEST SWINGER
Race 8 5x7
BIPOT
R240
Leg 1: 3, 9, 12
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 7
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 6: 3, 12, 13, 14, 19
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 3, 5, 7
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5
Leg 5: 3, 12, 13, 19
Leg 6: 5, 7
Leg 7: 4, 5, 10
PICK 6
R1750
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 4: 2, 3, 8, 12, 13, 14, 19
Leg 5: 5, 7
Leg 6: 3, 4, 5, 7, 10
JACKPOT 1
R350
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 2, 3, 8, 12, 13, 14, 19
Leg 4: 5, 7
JACKPOT 2
R350
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 2: 2, 3, 8, 12, 13, 14, 19
Leg 3: 5, 7
Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 7, 10