Strike it rich with Strydom
STUART PETTIGREW’S CHARGE IS AN EXCITING HORSE BUT NOT A GOOD STARTER
Exquisite Touch looks hard to beat in first leg of BiPot.
We are in the nitty gritty part of the Highveld autumn season and next week we have the running of the R1-million Gauteng Guineas and the R500,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, both Grade 2 events. Naturally, you want to ride in these races because if your mounts do well you are likely to ride them in the future and that means you’re on one of the better horses in the country.
I ride Surcharge in the Gauteng Guineas. He is a really exciting horse and I think we all know his potential. But to our dismay we have another shocking draw. Unfortunately he’s not a good starter, which means we do not have much option of how we are going to ride him.
But you have to take a chance in these big races and sometimes they just pan out for you.
In the fillies race I’ve picked up the ride on Sean Tarry-trained Aurelia Cotta who I’m hoping will be able to surprise in that field.
There are also other features on the day but the final fields are only decided early next week so we will discuss more about those races in the next article.
We’ve had quite a bit of rain which could affect the training programmes of some horses so those who are super fit will have a definite advantage as at this time of the year the grass is very long and thick which makes it even more testing.
What I find weird is that we’ll have a downpour and you think we will not race. The penetrometer reading is said to be 23 yet in the middle of winter it is 21. That is strange.
We race at Turffontein today on the Standside track and Race 1 is a Maiden Plate where the horses with the best chances are Dan’s Empire, Power Of Place, Torpedo Officer and Cape Wildcat. However, there are a number of unraced horses who could easily pop up as the form of the raced horses is not that strong.
I’m riding one of those horses, Smoke, but I don’t know what to expect.
Race 2 is a Pinnacle Stakes which favours the best handicapped runner who in this case is Exquisite Touch.
She’s coming off a rest but if we take her fitness on trust she will be a hard horse to beat. If you are not sure for the BiPot add in Heaps Of Fun.
I ride Secret Star who has not raced for a couple of months and I’m hoping she can place.
Race 3 is another Maiden Plate with nothing that stands out. Once again there are some unraced horses so watch for any betting moves.
The horses I’m leaning towards are Flying Feather, Generous Notion, Peppermint Tea and Cassini, who overraced last time and could benefit from the shorter distance.
I suggest including as many as possible in the PA.
Race 4 is another Maiden Plate and here two lightly raced horses with form look likely to fight this out – Ghost Town and Liberado. Those two could be good enough for the PA but for the Pick 6 consider Delphine, who finally lands a good draw.
Race 5 is another Maiden Plate and my selections are Let’s Twist, Dunas Douradas, Sunshine Silk and Chariot Of Gold. For the PA choose any three and for the Pick 6 on current form, put them all in.
Race 6 is a fillies’ handicap and here we have a couple of young unknown fillies taking on one another.
The scratching of Pearl Of Bahrain has made it even more wide open although the runner they may all have to beat is Pretty Ballerina.
Others to consider are Saragon and Inthepurplerain, who only just won a maiden but in will be suited to this extra distance and could make huge improvement as she gets older and stronger.
For the PA go with Pretty Ballerina and Inthepurplerain and for the Pick 6 put in all three. After that you would need to consider the field as some show a chance to improve.
Race 7 is another handicap and the whole field has just about the same collateral form. The two contenders I’m leaning towards are Irish Pride, who finally has a good draw and has dropped in the merit rating, and Chepardo who came from far back last time because of a shocking draw. Those two need to be included in the PA with either Social Order or Secret Captain. For the Pick 6 you could consider the field bar Royal Honour.
I ride Kings Archer who needs things to go his way but obviously has a chance as he has very similar form to the rest of the field.
Race 8 is another handicap and a horse with decent form is Blazing Winter but Starcraft Prince has him held on the run behind Rebuked.
The fact that Candice Dawson’s yard is coming to form and Weichong Marwing is riding at the top of his game is a huge advantage. I make Starcraft Prince a banker in all bets.
I ride Stay With Me who didn’t stride out well last time and hopefully has been sorted out.
Race 9 is another handicap and once again many horses have the same form line.
My first choice is Sirtain who just won his maiden last time but managed to win with consummate ease.
Others with big chances are Led Zeppelin, Airtaxi, Manx Park, which is my ride and must have some sort of chance, and Great Shaka. Include as many of those mentioned in the PA but for the Pick 6 also consider Supanova, Bling Ball and Roman Evening.