TAB Jackpot the bet to play as sprint stars square up

Sprinting stars - young and old - from all over the country will clash at the annual “Festival of Speed” race meeting this Saturday that features the only Grade 1 TAB Jackpot on the South African racing calendar. The four 1200m sprints (Races 5 to 8) make up Jackpot ONE, which starts with a R1-million carryover and is set to offer a total pool of well over R3 million!

The R850,000 Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint (Race 8) tops the bill and is supported by the R750 000 Grade 1 South African Fillies Sprint (Race 7), as well as the two juvenile contests with prize money of R700,000 each. The Gold Medallion (Race 6) is open to all two-year-olds with the Allan Robertson Championship (Race 5), restricted to two-year-old fillies, kicking off the carryover Jackpot in Race 5 at 14h03. Pick the four winners and you could collect big bucks!

Sean Tarry has a strong hand in both juvenile races and his unbeaten charges Mrs Geriatrix and Lucky Lad will be popular choices. Both preserved their 100% records when winning 1160m Grade 2 races in Joburg five weeks ago.

Tarry has won the last two renewals of the Allan Robertson Championship - Under Your Spell in 2021 and Sweet Pepper in 2022 - and his hopes of a hat trick lie with exciting Vercingetorix filly Mrs Geriatrix. On the form of her last win in the Gauteng Fillies Nursery, there’s not much between her and Mike de Kock-trained Red Hot Rose. The latter improved with blinkers on that occasion and should be involved if confirming that improvement. Cape raider Winter Cloud will have supporters after a winning KZN introduction at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. That track experience should stand trainer Candice Bass-Robinson's runner in good stead.

The Gold Medallion looks a lot harder and Lucky Lad is one of four unbeaten runners in the line-up. Tarry's charge does set the standard though, having already won at Grade 3 and Grade 2 level. Richard Fourie, who has ridden this son of Gimmethegreenlight to each of his three victories, holds the colt in high regard and will be aboard again. Cliff Hanger is two from two, with both wins coming at Scottsville, and renews rivalry with Outlaw King, who suffered his first defeat in the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb five weeks ago. Both warrant respect, but will need to raise their game to threaten Lucky Lad. Debut winners Red Bomber and Egyptian Mau, the only filly in the race and with a 2,5kg sex allowance, could be anything and may be dangerous to dismiss. Both are open to any amount of improvement after impressive first-up victories on the Highveld.

Princess Calla and Desert Miracle are the star attractions in the SA Fillies Sprint and are obvious inclusions in all Jackpot perms. The former was third in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m last time out and will like the extra 200m here. She is undefeated over 1200m and represents the powerful Tarry-Fourie combination. Desert Miracle will probably find this trip a touch on the sharp side, but has already won twice at Grade 1 level this season and class could prevail when the chips are down. Beyond them, smart three-year-old Cape filly Golden Hostess and returning Iphiko are preferred ahead of Cold Fact, who has won three of her last five outings.

In the Golden Horse Sprint, Bartholdi is looking to go one better after finishing second to ill-fated Alesian Chief in 2022, and jumps from gate No 1 as he did 12 months ago. We're Jamming, Surjay and Countdown have solid credentials and are dangerous to dismiss under the conditions, while Rio Querari appeals most of the quartet of Cape raiders. Gimme A Prince, one of six Grade 1 winners in the big field, won the Cape Flying Championship over 1000m during the summer. He was an eye-catching second in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes on his comeback and will have no issues with this shorter trip. He is preferred ahead of outsider Gladatorian who is capable of making his presence felt under a light weight.

R150 SUGGESTED PERM JACKPOT ONE (races 5-8): 10, 12  x  4, 5, 8, 9, 11  x  1, 9, 10  x  4, 9, 12, 13, 14