Jack Milner: Jockey Lyle Hewitson and work rider Phillip Mlangeni look at the riders to follow at the Vaal on Thursday.
Mlangeni can get punters off to a great start in Race 1, a Work Riders Maiden Plate up the straight 1400m, where he rides Grimaldi.
Trainer Paul Peter seems to have found the perfect race for this Dynasty gelding as there looks to be little opposition likely from the runners with exposed form, while the feelings expressed by trainer Stephen Moffatt about the lone unraced gelding is that he will need the run and probably wants further.
Hewitson, meanwhile, is well on his way to claim his third Champion Jockey’s title. At the time of writing, the gifted jockey had ridden 205 winners and was 52 victories ahead of current Champion Jockey and leading rival Warren Kennedy.
This is not the easiest of cards but Hewitson looks likely to extend his advantage with some decent rides for trainer Sean Tarry.
In Race 3, a FM 90 Handicap over 1600m, he rides Hotchiwitchi who is the clear favourite to record a hat-trick – and that after only four career runs. She easily beat Greenhill over 1200m to shed her maiden at the second time of asking and then, extended to 1600m, the three-year-old filly proved she has the heart of a champion when taking on the colts in a MR 80 Handicap.
Jumping from the widest gate on the notorious Turffontein Inside track, she was always chasing, but she never gave up and stole the victory on the line. Up the Vaal straight this time and back against her own sex, she looks hard to oppose.
Race 4 is a FM 72 Handicap over 1600m, and Hewitson rides Trattoria. This four-year-old broke her maiden over the course and distance three runs back and on her first return to this track could repeat that performance.
Hewitson also rides Nebraas in Race 5, a Middle Stakes event over 1800m. Two runs over the course and distance have produced a win and a second place behind Nimcha, who went on to win again in stronger company.
In Race 8 is a MR 74 Handicap over 1200m, Hewitson is aboard Viper Jet. This will be his third run after gelding and his merit rating has dropped significantly. He could provide punters with some decent value.