Charity Mile is known for upsets
THE Grade 2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile to be run this Saturday on Turffontein Standside has gained a reputation for upsets and in the last six renewals only one winner has started in single figure odds.
The reason for this is likely due to the race being used by a few as a stepping stone into the Summer Cup and this year there looks to be a couple of value runners who could upset the applecart again.
Noble Secret
The favourite is Noble Secret and according to trends he does not make appeal at around 33/10 as he looks to have the Summer Cup as his chief target. However, this classy sort will surely go close carrying just 55kg from a plum draw as he will be coming into his own and does not face a vintage field.
The next in the betting is Matador Man whose optimum trip is a mile so he ticks one important box as this is his likely chief mission. His Turffontein Standside record is dismal without a single place in seven starts. However, he has been prepared where he is happiest this year, in KZN, and comes off a superb win at Greyville.
He is drawn in pole and will likely sit off the pace and with a nice galloping weight of 56kg its just a question again of whether he can reproduce his Greyville form. The third favourite is Coral Fever.
Last year he ran well in the Victory Moon Stakes in his second run of the season and this will be his second run of the season here so he could surprise.
He was staying on very well in the Spring Challenge over 1450m and much prefers the Standside track with its long straight so this much improved horse can’t be written off despite having to carry 61kg from draw 14 as he has class and is ultra consistent.
The fourth favourite at 7/1 is the winner of two years ago New Predator, who was a close fourth last year. He has been off form but has consequently come down the merit ratings and carries 3kg less than he did two years ago.
He has a tough draw of eleven and might not be quite the same horse he once was. The fifth favourite is last year’s winner Hat Puntano, who carries the same weight as last year and is drawn one wider in eight if the reserves come out.
Spring Challenge
He did not enjoy the best preparation last year either, but his reappearance this season after a break in the Spring Challenge was too lacklustre for him to be fancied.
Champagne Haze is next in the betting. He won over 1600m early in his career but since then it has become apparent he is better up to 1400m. Tilbury Fort at odds of 16/1 is an interesting contender as he responded to gelding last season by reeling off two good wins in succession over this course and distance, so goes well fresh and this is his first outing of the season. He does have a tricky draw of nine and the handicapper might have caught up with him. Captain Aldo is a specialist 1400m horse so is hard to fancy here. Full Mast had to overcome a wide draw in the Spring Challenge to go handy, but his stride was shortening late and he now has an even wider draw over 1600m.
Doosra looked promising early in his career but became disappointing, although blinkers have livened him up and he is in good form. It is questionable whether he is good enough to win this race.
Romany Prince showed his class when winning the KZN Breeders Million Mile carrying 60kg and he needed his last run. He is a miler and has landed what by trends is just about a draw of six, so he should be in the shake up.
Social Order finished second last year carrying 52kg and now carries 55kg and is drawn ten as opposed to two. He is suited to the Standside track and ran a good recent preparation race, but the Summer Cup is likely his aim as this is just his second run of the season.
Bulleting Home has a plum draw and is one to consider as he has never quite fulfilled his potential and a mile is his best trip. His lacklustre last run over 1400m, his third run after a year long layoff, was a touch off putting. Unagi comes off a good preparation but has a tough draw and appears better on the Inside track. Infamous Fox is an improved sort who reeled off four on the trot last season and he needed his last outing when a touch strong in the running before moving up well and fading.
Arctica is the joint biggest outsider but represents fair value as he had no luck in running last time out and now has a good draw and carries just 53kg with in form Ryan Munger up. The three top horses in the betting should be in the mix, and the value contenders look to be Arctica and Romany Prince. Infamous Fox would have been included if it were not for his tough draw.