Play it again, Sam

Jack Milner

The first leg of the annual Work Riders’ Challenge was literally swept away by rain last Tuesday, but a decision was taken to introduce a new meeting on Tuesday to replace the one that was lost.

This meeting will take place on the Vaal Classic course which means that all races over 1200m and above are run around the turn.

Sam Mosia has been one of the most successful work riders in this event over the years and he will be looking to defend the title he won last season.

The Challenge is run over three legs with the second taking place on 26 January with the finale on Thursday 13 April.

Work riders score points for each top-four finish with 10 points for a win, seven points for second, five for third and three for fourth.

All eight races are for maidens.

There was little question looking at the original card that Mosia’s best ride was Prime Example and fortunately trainer Ashley Fortune has declared her charge to run in Race 6, a Maiden Plate over 2400m.

This Canford Cliffs three-year-old was touched off by strong favourite Otto Luykens last time over 1800m and looks the runner best suited to the additional 600m this time.

He went off at 20-1 last time which was a slight surprise as his form had improved markedly since Fortune started racing him in blinkers two runs prior to that.

Prime Example has been priced up an odds-on favourite but does look to be the stand-out bet on the card, especially as most of his opposition has extremely moderate form and will need major improvement to win this race.

His main danger looks to be Harold The Duke who has at least raced over distance. The four-year-old son of Duke Of Marmalade was just touched off over 2600m at Turffontein in April but his subsequent form has been unexciting.

However, he was gelded in August and this will be his first run back, so one could see lots of improvement from Dianne Stenger’s charge in spite of the fact he has not raced for 84 days.

Jack Milner’ selections

Race 1: 4 Inventrix, 8 Mia Regina, 9 Pompom Queen, 7 Kabuki Mo

Race 2: 8 Mandalay, 10 Fly Isabella Fly, 9 Southern Style, 2 Last Survivor

Race 3: 3 Lovers Lane, 4 What Say You, 10 Siracha, 1 Gimme Royalty

Race 4: 1 Island Beauty, 4 Sassy, 3 Silk Garden, 10 Aunt Pittypat

Race 5: 5 Future Pearl, 6 Break Point, 11 Rosy Lemon, 1 Spring Will Come

Race 6: 4 Prime Example, 1 Harold The Duke, 7 Ballycotton, 5 The Merciful

Race 7: 2 Carnelo, 4 Warbonnet Creek, 1 Robert Burns, 8 Pembroke

Race 8: 13 Nyali Beach, 4 Memorial Day, 11 Last Wild One, 5 I Am Who I Am

BEST BET

Race 6 No 4 Prime Example

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 2 Carnelo

BEST SWINGER

Race 8 4x13

BIPOT

R108

Leg 1: 4, 8

Leg 2: 8, 9, 10

Leg 3: 3, 4

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4

Leg 5: 5, 6, 11

Leg 6: 4

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R144

Leg 1: 8, 9, 10

Leg 2: 3, 4

Leg 3: 1, 4

Leg 4: 5, 6

Leg 5: 4

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4

Leg 7: 4, 13

PICK 6

R648

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10

Leg 3: 5, 6, 11

Leg 4: 4

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4

Leg 6: 4, 13

JACKPOT 1

R54

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10

Leg 2: 5, 6, 11

Leg 3: 4

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4

JACKPOT 2

R18

Leg 1: 5, 6, 11

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4

Leg 4: 4, 13