Royals have the edge in final GTH leg

Jack Milner

The final round robin leg of the Global Team Horse Racing (GTH) event takes place at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday evening and it looks to be a curtain raiser for the final on 2 September.

The Gauteng Gijimaz were defeated by the Cape Stingers last Friday and having lost both their matches, are to all intents and purposes not in the running to make the final.

Last Friday the Stingers came way with 445 points, 30 points clear of the Gijimaz on 415 points, and this time will take on the KwaZulu-Natal Royals.

Royals’ team captain Muzi Yeni is serving out a suspension and he appears to have been replaced by Keagan de Melo for this tie.

If the betting is any guide the Royals can get off to a powerful start as they have the odds-on favourites in both Races 1 and 2.

In Race 1 Kabelo Matsunyane rides Arividicio who although he has not raced since finishing a 2.50-length second to Karangetang in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m at Turffontein in February, has by far the strongest form in the field.

Karangetang went on to be crowned Highveld champion two-year-old gelding and the horse Arividicio beat into third, Magic Tattoo, currently has a merit rating of 96.

That should make Mike de Kock’s runner impossible to oppose in this Maiden Plate over 1000m.

The highest of the officially rated runners is Tartarus who is on 83 who has solid credentials and has secured the best of the draws and is the mount of Sean Veale from the Stingers.

In Race 2, a Qualified Maiden Plate over 1200m, trainer Wendy Whitehead, who is doubling up in this competition as the manager of the Royals, saddles Geronimo who also looks very hard to oppose.

Although this five-year-old gelding has been a long-time battler, Whitehead could not have found a better race for him. The opposition is not particularly strong and he is well enough drawn at No 2.  

Ashton Arries takes the ride for the Royals.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 8 Arividicio, 1 Tartarus, 3 Ndaka, 2 I've Got Wings

Race 2: 5 Geronimo, 8 Not Your Call, 4 Lemme Go, 3 Minstrel Gallery

Race 3: 2 Sashay Away, 8 Amarandi, 4 Caralluma, 5 Slalom Queen

Race 4: 7 Music Is Life, 2 Intimidator, 6 Greenbackcurrency, 5 Eddie The Mover

Race 5: 6 Double Martini, 5 Sequoia, 7 Pashtunwali, 3 Hippocrates

Race 6: 5 Splash Of Green, 4 Maria Corolina, 7 Flashy Kaitrina, 2 Twice The Trip

Race 7: 3 Southern Cape, 7 Silver Tycoon, 6 Macara, 1 Willow's Wish

Race 8: 1 High Moon, 3 Secret Giver, 6 Papa C, 9 Caesura

BEST BET

Race 2 No 5 Geronimo

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 5 Splash Of Green

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 2x7

BIPOT

R108

Leg 1: 1, 8

Leg 2: 5

Leg 3: 2, 4, 8

Leg 4: 2, 7

Leg 5: 5, 6, 7

Leg 6: 4, 5, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 5

Leg 2: 2, 8

Leg 3: 2, 7

Leg 4: 5, 6, 7

Leg 5: 4, 5, 7

Leg 6: 3, 6, 7

Leg 7: 1, 3

PICK 6

R1800

Leg 1: 2, 4, 8

Leg 2: 2, 7

Leg 3: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 5: 3, 4, 6, 7

Leg 6: 1, 3, 6

JACKPOT 1

R200

Leg 1: 2, 7

Leg 2: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 4: 3, 4, 6, 7

JACKPOT 2

R300

Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 3: 3, 4, 6, 7

Leg 4: 1, 3, 6