Mongqawa, Mosia could make Challenge a two-horse race

Danie Toerien: The second leg of the Work Riders’ Challenge will be contested at the Vaal Racecourse on Thursday and the early leaders in this competition could well place themselves in an unassailable position.

The competition is an initiative to give the work riders a chance to get their share of the limelight reserved for the jockeys and spans three race meetings.

At each of the three meetings, work riders accumulate points allocated according to their finishing position in every races.

A win is worth 10 points, a runner-up finish earns them 7 points, third spot gets 5 points, and the fourth placed finisher is awarded 3 points.

Phenisile Mongqawa leads the challenge with 44 points after the first leg, thanks to his two wins, two seconds, and two third places in the first meeting.

Hot on his heels is Sam Mosia in second place on 36 points. He scored two wins, two seconds and two fourth place finishes in the opening meeting.

While Mongqawa has secured five rides on Thursday, Mosia will be in action in seven of the eight races.

All eight races are reserved for maidens.

Mongqawa’s best chance for a 10-pointer is most definitely in Race 4, a Maiden Plate over 1400m where he will be aboard the Paul Peter-trained Corapi.

This Elusive Fort gelding is the banker bet on the day as he has finished close-up in all three his career runs. The latest betting sees him at 12-10. The only real threat in the field seems to be Coming In Hot, who will be ridden by last season’s champion work rider Joe Gwingwizha.

Gwingwizha scored 17 points in the first leg of the competition this year and has his work cut out if he wants to successfully defend his title.

Mosia’s best chance of scoring full marks on Thursday comes in Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 2400m. He will mount Johan Janse van Vuuren’s Arizona Lady.

This four-year-old filly is way overdue her first win, with nine top-four finishes in her last 10 attempts to shed her maiden tag.

The biggest threat again will be Gwingwizha, who will be riding Monsieur Chevelle for Paul Matchett.

The three-year-old gelding has been running on well of late and should relish the longer trip.