Hewitson to stay on track
APPRENTICE Lyle Hewitson is well on his way to emulating the great Michael Roberts who was the first apprentice to be crowned National Champion Jockey. The circumstances leading to their championship were vastly different but that’s not to take away from Hewitson’s achievement. He is 12 clear of Anthony Delpech, currently side-lined through injury and not expected back in the saddle this season, and 40 winners clear of Muzi Yeni.
Hewitson can add another to his growing total when he partners On Your Life for John Nel in the fifth at Greyville today. On Your Life has been running consistently since his maiden win without much luck. But the handicappers have been giving him some relief, little by little, and he is down from 66 to the 58 he races off today. At his new mark he should be a lot more competitive.
He is currently on offer around 7-1 with Track & Ball who have Honest Prince and Elegant General priced up as joint favourites. Honest Prince has finished in the money in all four starts since being tried in blinkers and he could prove better over this shorter trip. Elegant General, narrowly beaten last run, has a big weight but gets 4kg off his back courtesy of apprentice Luke Ferraris.
Hewitson has another good ride for one of his main stables, although Sean Tarry’s filly, Cals Crush, faces a stiff task in the Lightning Shot Bar Handicap. She boasts some strong Highveld form and although beaten last time out she does take a drop in class. She takes to the poly for the first time but from a good draw should have every chance.
She is a 3-1 chance with Track & Ball, joint favourite with Princess Vicky. The word was out that Glen Kotzen’s filly was home and hosed after putting up a smart barrier trial, and the money was on the mark as Richard Fourie rode a confident race to get the even money favourite home. The opposition is a lot stronger this time around by Princess Vicky was only penalised a kilo for her victory and should be competitive again.
Interesting runner will be Val-A-Ree. Doug Campbell’s filly suffered her first defeat in the Strelitzia Stakes behind Saturday’s Allan Robertson third Inverroche and that form could be good enough to see her home here.
Surprisingly it took Johan Janse van Vuuren longer than expected to register his first Gr1 victory but he got that monkey off his back at Scottsville on Saturday when he won the Allan Robertson. Van Vuuren saddles the Australian import Deerupt n the opening leg of the Pick 6 and she is likely to be a popular exotic bet banker. Track & Ball have her short at 7-10 with first timer Believe The Best finding some support after a smart barrier trial. She comes from the powerful Glen Kotzen yard so any support needs to be taken note of.
Kom Naidoo has taken to his new surrounds at Ashburton and Innocently Naughty can fly his flag in the Itsarush.co.za Maiden place.
She is rated way higher than any of the exposed runners and her biggest threat could come from Garth Puller’s filly Tuulikki that has been priced up favourite.
Puller gave her two barrier trials before stepping into a race proper and she surprised by finishing a close-up second at long odds. In contrast, she is on offer at around 15-10 this afternoon and Mandla Ntuli stays with the ride.