Luck of the Irish in Grand Heritage

Jack Milner

While the World Sports Betting Grand Heritage has always been seen as a race of “firsts” and there are a couple of new initiatives added to this year’s event, which will be run at the Vaal on Saturday.

This R500,000 Non-Black Type affair over 1475m is the only race in the country that contains more than 20 runners and is run over a distinctive distance. It is also the only feature event that limits the top-end of the merit rating to 106 and that gives owners of lesser talented horses to share in the very decent stake on offer.

So, this time with 28 runners in the final field (as well as two reserve runners in case a horse drops out) TAB will now pay out places on the first six horses past the post.

And that’s not all. The Heritage is a grand race on which to play a TAB Trifecta or Quartet because both bets are likely to pay big. TAB accountholders who bet a Trifecta or Quartet on the race to the value of R100 or more will get a free bet equal to 10% of their stake if the bet loses.

Have a go - you could win big and are guaranteed to get something back if you don’t hit the winning combination.

It is a great race to watch as the 28 runners make a cavalry charge up the Vaal straight and this year it looks as competitive as always.

Some of the more talented runners are coming back from injuries and had lengthy periods off the track but one horse who has had no issues and will love the distance is Irish Tractor. His last outing was in the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile at Turffontein in which he finished a five-length sixth despite having to jump from draw No 15 of 16 runners.  

“If he had a draw, I think he wins the race,” said assistant trainer James Crawford, son of trainer Brett Crawford. “I haven’t had him in a better race. He likes the fight, likes it when he has a horse who keeps challenging him.

“His final gallop going into the race was top class and when Kabelo (Matsunyane) was given the option of riding him or out other runner, Gallic Tribe, he took Irish Tractor without hesitation.

“But while I probably prefer him of the two the fact Irish Tractor gives 5.5kg to Gallic Tribe perhaps levels the playing field a little.”

Irish Tractor is drawn towards the outside of the track and over the years that has usually proved to be advantageous.

The sponsors have him quoted at 13-1 and on that basis he looks excellent each-way value.

One also needs to have respect for Corne Spies-trained Prophet. The three-year-old son of Querari may just be a touch below the top echelons of his age group but he is very decent and a race at this level looks right up his street.

This distance is ideal, and he did win on debut at the Vaal so he has handled the course well. He comes out of a run in the Grade 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans in where he finished a 4.75-length sixth behind Union Square, but it is worth noting Spies has called for the blinkers this time.

Marco van Rensburg takes the ride.

Prophet was the early favourite but his place has been supplanted by Dyce. Dyce is one of those runners who has loads of ability but has been plagued with some injury issues. This Lucky Houdalakis-trained runner has only run seven times for three wins and three places. But he had a setback in July last year after just having won a Graded race at Greyville in Durban for two-year-olds.

The son of William Longsword missed his entire three-year-old season and only came back to racing last month. After an unplaced return, Dyce bounced back to his best with a facile win over 1200m.

However, he has yet to prove he will see out this straight 1475m, but he has a top jockey in Muzi Yeni so if he has no issues with the distance, beware.

Outofthedarkness is one of four runners in the final field from the Johan Janse van Vuuren yard and he is close to Irish Tractor on form. Van Vuuren has engaged Grant van Niekerk to ride his charge so that is relevant, but the concern is No 1 draw which could make his task quite difficult in this large field.

Sean Tarry also has four runners and based on jockey arrangements the pick of his quartet could be Paisley Park. This son of Gimmethegreenlight won his first three races impressively and looked to have a very bright future.

Unfortunately, he had a few issues and was unable to race for more than a year. He returned to racing in February and since then his four races have yielded three third places and one unplaced run.

This 1475m race should be right up his alley and if close to his best remains the runner they all have to beat. Calvin Habib, who is the first jockey for the Tarry yard, takes the ride.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 16 Wind Water, 3 Stella Et Clavis, 17 Silk Garden, 2 Desert Fox

Race 2: 9 Celtic Rumours, 20 Virgin River, 4 Simply Magic, 2 Splendid Season

Race 3: 10 After Hours, 4 Second Breath, 3 Gimme The Flame, 2 Samoa

Race 4: 4 Montmerency, 1 High Roller, 2 High Moon, 5 Burmese Tiara

Race 5: 7 Big Burn, 2 Alesian Chief, 1 Bohica, 3 Bartholdi

Race 6: 3 Taikonaut, 4 Set To Go, 1 Karangetang, 5 Now I Got You

Race 7: 4 Irish Tractor, 9 Prophet, 7 Dyce, 2 Outofthedarkness, 25 Gallic Tribe, 14 Paisley Park

Race 8: 1 Forever Mine, 10 Fateful Day, 14 Call Me Master, 6 Nordic Rebel

Race 9: 5 Winter Greeting, 2 Gimmealight, 1 High Born Lady, 10 Young Jackie

BEST BET

Race 1 No 16 Wind Water

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 4 Irish Tractor

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 3x16

BIPOT

R405

Leg 1: 9

Leg 2: 3, 4, 10

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4

Leg 4: 1, 2, 7

Leg 5: 1, 3, 4

Leg 6: 2, 4, 7, 9, 25

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 3, 4, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 7

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4

Leg 5: 2, 4, 7, 9

Leg 6: 1

Leg 7: 5

PICK 6

R1680

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7, 10

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5

Leg 4: 2, 4, 7, 9, 14, 18, 25

Leg 5: 1, 10

Leg 6: 5

JACKPOT 1

R280

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7, 10

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5

Leg 3: 2, 4, 7, 9, 14, 18, 25

Leg 4: 1, 10

JACKPOT 2

R56

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5

Leg 4: 2, 4, 7, 9, 14, 18, 25

Leg 5: 1, 10

Leg 6: 5