Royal Force to kick off Series in style

Jack Milner

The first leg of the Highveld Winter Series for three-year-olds will be run at Turffontein on Sunday.

There is a lot at stake for the connections as over and above the normal stake money on offer, there will be a R500,000 bonus for any runner who can win all three legs.

Leg 1, the Listed Secretariat Stakes, will be run on Sunday over 1400m, with Leg 2, the Egoli Mile (Non-Black Type) over 1600m on Sunday 8 June. The final race will be the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m and that take place on Sunday 6 July.

All three legs will be run at Turffontein.

The bonus will be shared proportionately and 10% will be paid to winning trainer, 10% to the winning jockey and 1% to the winning groom. If the trainer, jockey or groom changes across the series, the bonus will be shared proportionately.

There will be no consolation bonus paid in this series.

The Betway Secretariat Stakes has attracted 11 runners and it is interesting to see Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Immediate Edge making his comeback after a disappointing run in the Grade 1 SA Derby for which he was sent off as the 33-10 favourite. He was reported not to have handled the soft going that day but it is worth noting that the three-year-old son of Vercingetorix will be returning as a gelding and that may prove to be just what he needs. Immediate Edge was unbeaten in three starts going into the Derby but although winning over 1600m on debut, his next two wins were over 2000m so he could find this 1400m a touch sharp, and he could be in need of the outing.

Nevertheless, he needs to be included in all bets. He will be fitted in blinkers for the first time, and he will have Kabelo Matsunyane in the irons.

However, the runner to beat could well be Royal Force, a winner of three of his five starts. This Lucky Houdalakis-trained Heavenly Blue gelding is ideally suited to 1400m, his last run being an excellent victory over Aristotle over this course and distance.

He is well drawn in gate No 2 and has the services of Piere Strydom.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Spiritrix, 2 Tina Lovelace, 6 Merryweather, 4 Eight Hats

Race 2: 1 Charming Cheetah, 4 Zalatoris, 2 Red Penny, 3 Tin Pan Alley

Race 3: 8 Soho Heartthrob, 6 Lava County, 5 Xenophon, 1 Mizzen Sword

Race 4: 2 Tamarisk Tree, 1 Parisian Walkway, 4 Silent War, 3 Navajo Nation

Race 5: 1 The Ultimate King, 3 Pretty Analia, 8 Gloria Mundi, 5 Futurewolff

Race 6: 5 Truth, 6 White Pearl, 4 Legend Of Arthur, 2 Purple Pitcher

Race 7: 1 Royal Force, 2 Immediate Edge, 10 Paul Revere, 6 Dance King

Race 8: 6 Mount Pinatubo, 4 Cosmic Star, 1 Dreamland, 2 Quantum Theory

Race 9: 2 Night Vigil, 6 Virgin River, 10 Neerah, 4 Cosmic Queen

Race 10: 4 Phantom Express, 13 Captain Selvie, 1 Omnipotent, 3 Shake It

BEST BET

Race 6: 5 Truth

VALUE BET

Race 7: 1 Royal Force

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 1x2

BIPOT                          

R108

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4

Leg 2: 6, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 3, 8

Leg 5: 5

Leg 6: 1, 2, 10

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R72

Leg 1: 8

Leg 2: 1, 2

Leg 3: 1, 3

Leg 4: 5

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 1, 4, 6

Leg 7: 2, 6, 10

PICK 6

R640

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8

Leg 3: 5

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6, 10

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 6

Leg 6: 2, 4, 6, 10

JACKPOT 1

R80

Leg 1: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8

Leg 2: 5

Leg 3: 1, 2, 6, 10

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 6

JACKPOT 2

R320

Leg 1: 1, 2, 6, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 6

Leg 3: 2, 4, 6, 10

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 8, 13