Getting ready for new racing history chapter
THE VOICE. COMMENTATOR ALISTAIR COHEN GEARS UP TO MAKE THE BIG CALL ʂ Big weekend for Smart Call at Newmarket.
Abit of South African racing history will be made this Saturday with the staging of our first “Grand National”. OK, there are no jumps like the famous Aintree race. But the lineup of 28 horses for the R750,000 World Sports Betting Grand Heritage makes it similar to Aintree and - most importantly - a great betting event.
The build-up to the 1475m race in both the media and on Tellytrack has been superb so - if you’re unaware this unique event is set for this weekend - perhaps you’re on another planet.
It’s a special event for owners, trainers and jockeys, but also for Durban-born commentator, Alistair Cohen.
Between them Alistair and Nico Kritsiotis do an outstanding job on Gauteng racing.
With Nico required to call the Mauritius card on Saturday, Alistair will be behind the mike at the Vaal and I asked him whether calling such a big field held any fears?
“No, I’m really looking forward to calling a field bigger than 20 horses for the first time,” said Alistair.
“I haven’t called a big race for a while so it should be a special day,” he added.
Tellytrack has to be delighted that - in the six years since his move to the Highveld - Alistair has turned his hand to numerous various tasks at the racing channel with no signs of nerves. Apart from commentating, he does studio shifts, some on-course presenting and hosts the reinstated Saturday morning show.
In an earlier interview, Alistair said that Jack Milner, Robert Garner and Patrick Davis (now in the UK) “have all been invaluable” in his career taking off.
“Jack made me listen to Aussie commentator, Bill Collins, as a lot of callers model themselves on him. I also studied Trevor Denman - he’s out of the top drawer as is David Raphael.”
“Neil Andrews has been another great mentor and friend. He’s showed me the ins and outs of broadcasting.”
To their credit, the sponsors of Saturday’s race, World Sports Betting, were quick to price up on Saturday’s race, and – similar to many UK bookies on the Grand National – are paying out on the first six home. Betting World are paying five places.
My view is the Lerena family could have a big say on the outcome. I fancy both Gavin, who rides Irish Pride, and his cousin, Brandon, who partners Bulleting Home, to finish in the first four.
It’s been a big last 10 months for Gavin with headline-making wins in Hong Kong and Ascot proving yet again that South Africa is still producing jockeys who can hold their own anywhere in the world.
Exactly a year ago, Brandon Lerena suffered a fractured vertebra in a track work accident which put him on the sidelines for several weeks, and he will be delighted to have got the call to partner Bulleting Home for champion trainer, Sean Tarry.
While Humidor, has been supported in the ante-post market, I’ll stick with Irish Pride. It will be a shock if Gavin’s mount doesn’t make the first six.
It’s a fascinating racing weekend in Europe with Chantilly hosting the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (3.55pm on Sunday) and Smart Call making her UK debut in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket (5pm Saturday).
Bet 365 quote Smart Call at 14-1 for the Sun Chariot with Aidan O’Brien’s filly, Alice Springs, favourite at 11-8.