Danie Toerien
It is said that there are only two kinds of bettors: those looking for the most likely winner of a race, and those searching for the one to beat the favourite.
Onn Thursday at the Vaal, Roha could well be the one filly to spring a surprise and beat her more fancied competitors in Race 7, a FM 90 Handicap over 1450m.
Trained by Paul Peter, this daughter of Flying The Flag could jump at pretty decent odds, offering good value in a very competitive race where 14 runners are carded to go to post.
Although she will be turning five on the first of August, she has only raced 11 times. Her career has been somewhat of a stop-start affair, but she has nevertheless racked up three wins, with two of those coming second out after a rest.
As this is again her second run after a break, she must be taken seriously, especially jumping from gate 5. Craig Zackey will be in the irons.
Peter will also saddle Fromheretoeternity, and on riding arrangements, one would expect this Captain Of All filly to be the more fancied of Peter’s runners, as she will have Warren Kennedy aboard.
Peter has been one of the driving forces behind Kennedy’s success this season, so it is generally accepted that Kennedy would have had first pick.
Kennedy has ridden both the fillies on numerous occasions, while it will be Zackey’s first time aboard Roha.
While both Peter’s runners are expected to be involved in the finish, Roha gets the nod as she has twice taken on much stronger fields than she meets here, and on both occasions acquitted herself with honour.
Bettors looking for the most likely winner will all pour their money on JP Two Thousand, who lines in in Race 6, a MR 84 Handicap also over 1450m.
Also trained by Peter, this Elusive Fort gelding has won four times from his last five starts and there is no reason to believe he will not improve on that record.
The three-year-old has been in phenomenal form of late, winning even when encountering problems along the way.
Gavin Lerena will be in the saddle when they jump from gate 5, and the pair look to be the banker bet on the day.
Danie Toerien's selections:
Race 1: 5 Mo Jive, 2 Destiny Of Souls, 7 Ships At Sea, 1 Billy Spellbound
Race 2: 10 Tayooba, 6 Kill Shot, 4 Feather Boa, 9 Southern Style
Race 3: 1 Quest From Afar, 9 Skyfull, 2 Mayenne, 5 Arizona Lady
Race 4: 6 Electric Gold, 4 Parker Getrix, 5 House Master, 1 Master Of Coin
Race 5: 14 Silly Fella, 2 Duke Of Rain, 3 Indus Knight, 11 Triple Decker
Race 6: 2 Jp Two Thousand, 3 Noble Sniper, 12 Expeditioner, 4 Duke Of Sussex
Race 7: 10 Roha, 5 Florentine, 3 Fromheretoeternity, 9 Say When
Race 8: 3 Emerald Princess, 1 Call The Wind, 8 Silvery Blue, 9 Letha
Pick 6 (R576)
Leg 1: 1, 2, 9
Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 2, 14
Leg 4: 2, 3, 12
Leg 5: 3, 5, 9, 10
Leg 6: 1, 3