A Championships Finale thriller
CLASS ACTION: SEVEN FEATURE RACES WILL BRING THE CURTAIN DOWN ON HIGHVELD AUTUMN SEASON Lucky Lad stands out as the best bet on the card.
This meeting on the Standside track at Turffontein tomorrow is Leg 4 of the Championships, the Championships Finale, and it is another blockbuster day’s racing. This meeting consists of seven feature races, including the Jehan Malherbe Senor Santa Stakes and the TAB Colorado King Stakes and it’s a day that has high quality horses, riders and trainers all round.
This meeting brings a close to the Johannesburg feature race season and I can honestly say it was one of the best seasons I have been a part of.
The lovely part about the feature race programme in Johannesburg is that we have two seasons, the summer season which culminates with the Betway Summer Cup and the autumn season which consists of the four-meeting Championships.
I was lucky enough to win the main race in both parts thanks to my champion Royal Victory, but I would like to take my hat off to everyone involved in putting together one of the most competitive and thrilling Joburg season of which I have been a part.
I have eight rides carded tomorrow and I believe a few of them should be competitive, so once again I am hoping for a good day at the races.
There is also a Pick 6 carryover of R500,000 at the meeting with a likely pool of R3 million and with some tricky legs this bet could produce a sizeable payout.
I am slightly disappointed with the field sizes though, and it wasn’t easy to secure rides, but hopefully this meeting will grow next year.
Last week was another tough week for me as I only managed to bag two winners, so once again I’ll be hoping for a form turnaround.
Entries for the start of the KwaZulu-Natal season which starts on 4 May are out and some of the country’s best horses have been nominated to take their places, so as quickly as the season ends on the Highveld, it is back a week later in a different province. But before that we have a meeting filled with class to discuss and hopefully we can guide punters in the right direction.
Race 1 is a Juvenile Plate over 1600m and this is a small but really high-class juvenile field.
Mount Pinatubo won a really good race on debut and then followed up with an outstanding second in the Grade 2 SA Nursery, showing his class.
He now steps up to 1600m which is interesting, but Johan Janse van Vuuren knows what he’s doing, so I make him the horse to beat.
Legend Of Arthur won a lovely race in his second start after a really good debut behind Mount Pinatubo. He improved for the step up in trip and this could suit even more, so he is the obvious danger.
Sunset Riot looks to be well above average and after a good debut run in sprints, he romped to victory when stepping up in trip. He comes off a small break which is my only concern, but if he is close to peak fitness, he’ll be right there.
A lovely race to start off Championships Finale and I would be surprised if the winner of this race does not go on to featurerace success during the season.
Race 2 is a Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1600m and I ride Sonic Jet who has run two very good races, and with the weight turnaround with Fatal Flaw, I believe we are one of the runners to beat.
Fatal Flaw won a nice race last time out and the step up in trip looks to suit again, so she can follow up.
World Of Alice finished off the race really well on debut but my only concern is she’s had a small break. But if she is close to peak fitness, she’ll be right there also.
Too Late My Mate looks above average after a good win in her second start, and she can follow up.
Queen Of Fire improved for the step up to 1450m and the further increase could prove positive, so she must go into wider bets.
Race 3 is the Grade 3 TAB Protea Stakes over 1100m and I ride King Of Kildare. He won a good race on debut but then was slightly disappointing when quite a way behind the winner next time.
He is a horse that gives me a good feel, but this is his test and I’ll be hoping for a decent run.
However, we all have Buffalo Storm Cody to beat after his scintillating win on debut.
It’s very rare to see a horse win like that, especially when things go wrong, so he could be extremely special and is the horse to beat.
Winds Of Change is a really lovely sort, and things went horribly wrong last time out when we all expected him to win. He is the main danger and I’m disappointed not to be riding him.
Chieftain looks well above average after an easy victory down in KZN and he must go into wider bets.
Proceed ran a good race in the SA Nursery and is another who can be included in bigger bets.
Race 4 is the Grade 3 TAB Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m and this is a wide open race so go as wide as the budget allows.
On form Simply Majestic is the filly to beat. She sets the standard on her last start but she returns after a rest, and was scratched due to being injured in the saddling area when she was last supposed to run.
As mentioned earlier, Johan Janse van Vuuren knows what he is doing, so one can expect her to be close to peak fitness and therefore is the filly to beat.
We Will Rock You won a nice race in KZN shortly after her good debut on the Highveld and she looks to be the danger.
Montana Lights is interesting because she hasn’t run since disappointing when a short-priced favourite on debut, so she clearly has ability and the betting must be watched.
Race 5 is the Grade 2 TAB Camellia Stakes over 1160m and I ride White Pearl, who ran a lovely race behind two of the best colts in the country. I think the drop back in trip will suit and I’m expecting a huge run from her.
Kiss Me Captain ran her career best when fourth in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint last time out and a repeat of that will see her prove hard to beat.
Mrs Geriatrix drops in trip after finishing third behind Gimme A Nother in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m. She rates a definite danger and must be included in all bets.
Time Fo Orchids goes for five in a row and has the ability to win so rates another massive runner, as does One Fell Swoop who won her last two starts, both in feature races, and she must go into all bets.
Race 6 is the Grade 2 TAB Igugu Stakes over 2000m, named after one of the absolute greats of our time, and I ride Bellevarde who gave me a really good feel when winning two starts back. Although she disappointed in her next start, I believe she has the ability to be competitive in this race and must be included in wider bets.
My Soul Mate looks the filly we have to beat after an outstanding second in the Bridget Oppenheimer Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks in her latest start.
She gets the benefit of jumping from gate No 1 and has lots in her favour.
Future Girl has her first run on the Highveld after a small break, but her Cape form is really good and she rates the main danger.
Beating Wings ran fourth in the Oaks last time and can definitely run into the money.
None Other ran a good race when returning from a rest and if the second-run-aftera-rest syndrome, doesn’t affect her she is another who will be right there.
Race 7 is the Grade 2 TAB Colorado King Stakes over 2000m and I ride Safe Passage who ran a much better race when running on into fifth in the Premier’s Champions Challenge and even though he finished behind some of these runners, he is doing really well and I make him my value bet on the card and one of my best rides too.
Stable companion Aragosta ran third that day and put up an incredible run, so he rates my biggest danger on that.
Three-year-olds Pure Predator and Hotarubi ran third and fourth respectively in the Grade 1 TAB SA Derby and naturally they would be close to my first choices, but the form of the race took a knock when fifth-placed Taxhaven ran unplaced in a maiden next time and he was beaten under three lengths in the Derby.
Puerto Manzano has run way below his ability in his last few starts but this is a race where he can bounce back, so on class alone, he must go into wider bets.
Race 8 is the Grade 2 Jehan Malherbe Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m and I ride Swing Upon A Star whose last two starts have been slightly disappointing. But I’ll be hoping for him to bounce back to his best and hopefully we can run into the money.
Lucky Lad, my stable companion, is the horse to beat in no uncertain terms and I make him the best bet on the card.
This will be his third run after a rest and what a race he ran last time out when second to Sandringham Summit. He is the class horse of the race, and I believe he is a banker in all bets.
Rulership ran an incredible race last time when third in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint, and on that run he is the main danger and another lovely display can be expected.
Surjay is having his first run on the Highveld after a small break, but he is a highclass sprinter who should finish in the money.
Winter Greeting won an outstanding race when dropped back in trip in her latest run and a repeat of that will see her in the money too, but I believe if Lucky Lad produces his best, we are all running for second.
Race 9 is the Listed TAB Gold Bowl over 3200m and I ride Breeze Over who is in decent form and will love the marathon trip. He is a definite runner and must go into all bets.
Class horse Zeus could be the horse to beat. He loves the staying trips and even though he has not raced over this trip, it should suit him, and he sets the standard.
Arumugam has his first run for Tony Peter, and he will love the step up in trip and rates the main danger.
Battleground will also love the step up in trip and off 50kg and draw No 1, he must go into all bets.
Prime Example has his first run for Weiho Marwing and he’ll also love the step up in trip so is one to consider for all bets.
Race 10 is the Master Archie At Stud Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m and I make this a race in two.
I ride Zinovi who won a lovely race last time out, showing his ability, and this is his third run after a rest, so I think he is definitely the horse to beat.
Celtic Rumours is also having her third run after a rest and her last start behind Sandringham Summit was also incredible, so she is rated my main danger.
I truly believe these two horses will fight out the finish and they are the ones to concentrate on.
Atticus Finch and Mercantour are others to consider for Trifectas and Quartets.
BEST BET
Race 8 No 3 Lucky Lad
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 4 Safe Passage
PICK 6
R2400
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
Leg 3: 5, 6, 8, 9
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
Leg 5: 3
Leg 6: 1, 4, 8