Bad weather rains on Mardi’s parade
WSB Grand Series moved to Saturday October 20
Mother Nature refused to play ball at Turffontein racecourse on Saturday afternoon, forcing the organisers to abandon the highly-anticipated World Sports Betting Grand Series race meeting after the fourth race – the culprits being a severe electrical storm and persistent heavy downpours.
The good news is, the WSB Grand Series Leg 1 and 2, as well as the Grand Series Consolation will now be contested on the Turffontein Inside track on Saturday, October 20, confirmed Clyde Basel, Racing Executive of Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Ltd.
“Unfortunately the weather is not something we can control,” said Basel. “But despite the gloomy weather, the sponsors of the Grand Series and Consolation, World Sports Betting, have remained upbeat and are committed to ensuring that the three races will be staged successfully.”
The Turffontein meeting scheduled for Tuesday October 16 has now been moved to Thursday October 18 on the Inside track. Fairview Polytrack will now take centre stage tomorrow and lastly, the Work Riders Race Meeting scheduled for Thursday October 18 at Turffontein will be moved to the Vaal racecourse on Tuesday October 23.
Of the runners who raced at Turffontein on Saturday, I advise you back trainer Mike de Kock’s smashing grey filly Isle De France until she gets beaten. This daughter of Var made an absolute mockery of rivals in Race 1, skipping an extending 4.10 lengths clear of Vi Va Pi Pa to justify 13-10 favouritism under Gavin Lerena, who is on a winning streak of note.
Back jockey Muzi Yeni and you are destined to conclude today’s Flamingo Park race meeting having made a decent profit. Yeni has booked a plethora of rides with winning chances and should draw first blood aboard Director’s Rock for trainer Corrie Lensley in the first race, a Maiden Plate over the minimum trip.
Formerly in the care of Vaughan Marshall in Cape Town, this Seventh Rock gelding sparked tremendous improvement in his last two performances over 1000m at Durbanville – beaten two lengths into third by Shadowing in his penultimate and then 3.85 lengths into fifth by Trippi’s Express, a race where he had to overcome a poor draw.
Director’s Rock is clearly no slouch, and if takes well to the surface will have absolutely no trouble beating a field of this nature considering he is running off a merit rating of 71 while the average rating of this event is 55.
This three-year-old will also be aided by the fact he tops the best-weighted column, shouldering 1kg less than his stable companion and main danger Grizzard.
Jockey Wayne Agrella lost both irons jumping out the gates last time out, and as a result, the latter’s most recent performance when finishing 27.55 lengths behind Rocky Path at Turffontein isn’t a true reflection of his ability. Ignore it.
Prior to that performance he ran a credible third behind Corrival over this course and distance, and if he can reproduce that run, will surely give the favourite a run for his money.
Take Swingers and Exactas featuring Lensley’s pair. If the Quartet tickles your fancy, float them with Catchthemaster, Value At Risk, John Snow, Royal Delight and Space Warrior.
Pick 6 players should banker the Sarel von Willingh Smittrained Bishop Of Bombay with confidence when he lines up in Race 7, a MR 84 Handicap over 1400m.
This four-year-old gelding is the model of consistency and was in pursuit of a third consecutive triumph in his last outing, but was victim to stubbornness and could only manage third place, beaten a rapidly diminishing 2.25 lengths by Timkat over 1300m.
Roquebrune went on to frank the form, plus Bishop Of Bombay’s course and distance record jumps out the page having competed three times for two victories and a close second.
This son of King’s Chapel shoulders 5kg more than he did last time at 58kg and will unfortunately have to jump from a wide No 8 draw in this ninehorse field.
Jockey Ryan Munger is riding at the top of his game and is worth a win bet when he reunites with Lake Washington in Race 8, a MR 78 Handicap over 1300m.