Craig Zackey needs a Miracle to win at Fairview

Patrick Nkosi

Tara Laing-trained Miracle Bureau is yet to run out of the money since setting his hooves in Port Elizabeth and although stepping up in class appears to be on the up and could relish the extra 200m in today’s main event, the Founders Trophy (Non-Black Type) over 1600m on the Fairview Polytrack.

This four-year-old has shown a liking for the surface, having run twice on the Poly for a third and a victory. In his first start at the track he was beaten only 1.05 lengths by Rock Me Var. His win was under Chase Maujean in a 1400m contest. The manner in which he ran on last time gives on the feeling the step up to 1600m should suit him. Craig Zackey, who has been riding close to seven days a week lately, is in the irons.

Tara Laing’s charge holds Razed In Black on form having defeated him in his last start and is now 1kg better off. There is no doubt 1600m on the Polytrack is Razed In Black’s favourite course and distance as he has a record of three wins and one place from four starts.

Although skilled and jumping from a good No 3 draw, under the current weight conditions expecting a win from Razed In Black could be too much of an ask. Miracle Bureau on the other hand will have to overcome a wider No 6 draw in this seven-horse field.

Stratocruiser, however, is 2kg better off with Miracle Bureau for 1.55 length defeat and should go a lot closer this time.

Trainer Dorrie Sham sends out a two-pronged attack in Race 7, a MR 72 Handicap over 1200m. Although both runners have a chance, it is his speedy Antonius Pius three-year-old gelding Battle Creek who makes the most appeal. He couldn’t maintain the pace last time out when staying on for second, beaten just 1.25 lengths by Seattle Flame. Much appears to be in Battle Creek’s favour: he jumps from No 1 draw and will carry a modest 50kg. One of my favourite bets is the Quartet. The payouts are often big – almost a Pick 6 every race – and you don’t have to wait long to find out your fate.

The carryover in the last race every Sunday is always worth a bet and this Scottsville Quartet looks the play of the weekend.

There will be R59,313 to kickstart the pool and it is estimated to reach R500,000.

Sometimes there is a stand-out winner, or perhaps two or three horses with chances, but this time any of the 15 runners could land in the top four. It looks particularly competitive although there are a couple whose consistent placegetting could help in your calculations.

The way I like to structure the bet is to double float two horses with the field. The reason you need the field is that invariably the horses you start to take out are the ones who will make the bet pay.

This way, if your two runners finish in the first four, you can make your way to the payout queue.

Race 9 on Sunday is a MR 62 Handicap over 1750m for fillies and mares and they are notoriously tricky. However, look at horses with course-and-distance form, good draws and strong trainer/jockey combinations. On that basis the two horses to float could be Roy’s Pony and Sitia.

Anthony Delpech rides Roy’s Pony for Alyson Wright. His record for the stable is 56 rides for 11 wins and 28 places – a figure just over 67%.

Sitia is the from an in-form Duncan Howells and Keagan de Melo combination and they have teamed up 295 times for 46 wins and 116 places. That means almost 55% of De Melo’s rides for Howells end up in the top four. In addition, De Melo has ridden Sitia five times for a win, a second and a third place – that 60% in the first three.