Heritage becomes the Grand Series

The Grand Heritage, which was scheduled to be run at the Vaal on Saturday, has finally been abandoned as a race and has been transformed into the World Sports Betting Grand Series.

It was apparent following a track inspection on Monday that the Vaal course would not be quite ready for the race meeting so it therefore became necessary to move the event to Turffontein. Unfortunately, Turffontein cannot accommodate a 28-horse field so it was decided to split the field into two races, both races offering stakes of R500,000.

All the nominations for Saturday's races were reopened, but the original declared Heritage runners will get preferential treatment when it comes to elimination stage.

According to Clyde Basel, Racing Executive for Phumelela, the two races will now be called the World Sports Betting Grand Series Leg 1 and 2, both being run over 1475m.

The winners of the two races will qualify for a match race early in December at the Vaal to determine who carries the title of Series Champion. “It will give new meaning to the phrase two-horse race," Basel said. The stakes for that race will be announced in due course.

According to Basel prize monies will be paid up to 10 places in both the Grand Series races.

There are quite a few changes to the event because while favourite Mardi Gras stood his ground, second favourite and the only other horse quoted below 12-1 for the Grand Heritage, Pietro Mascagni, has been withdrawn.

All bets taken on the Grand Heritage will be refunded and new betting has been out up for the Grand Series.

Mardi Gras is carded to run in Leg 2 (Race 8) and he is now the 16-10 favourite.

Gavin Lerena takes the ride on the Johan Janse van Vuuren-tained runner but the one concern is that he is drawn No 11, not great on the Turffontein Inside track. Having said that, Mardi Gras comes from off the pace and is likely to be dropped out in any case. He has won his only race at the course.

Trainer Geoff Woodruff, no doubt, will be delighted with the move as he saddles 11-2 second favourite Zouaves who has raced four times on the track for three wins and a two-length third behind Puget Sound. In addition, he has landed an ideal No 3 draw. Chase Maujean rides.

However, Janse van Vuuren and Lerena have had better luck in Race 7 (Leg1) where they team up with Divine Odyssey. He is drawn No 3 and is quoted as the 7-2 favourite.

Soldier On is second favourite at 5-1 along with Chepardo.