Have a ball with Hampton Court
TALK: JOCKEY ROOM TALK IS THAT THE RACE 1 NAP IS QUITE A NICE INDIVIDUAL Curbstone Shuffle in Race 8 is a potential Place Accumulator and Pick 6 banker.
We’re starting to build up to our Spring Feature Race Season. First up is the World Sports Betting Grand Heritage, which will be run on 30 September at the Vaal.
The race is worth R750,000, so offers nice stake money. Unfortunately there are 28 runners in the field and only one of us will be lucky enough to win the first prize.
Naturally, with such a big field, we’ll all need a lot of luck in running, and here’s hoping with the one-month break Phumelela is giving the track that it will be in good condition. It’s had some issues lately.
At this stage I’m riding Arctica, who ran a nice race behind Trading Profit over 1400m at the Vaal on 22 August but unfortunately picked up another penalty for his second placing. He has gone up five points in the merit ratings without winning in his last three starts, which will definitely not be in his favour.
Plus the 1475m of the Grand Heritage is also a bit short. I’ve chatted to Mike and Adam Azzie about his preparation and they’ve assured me they are going to keep him fresh. Hopefully that will do the trick.
Today we’re racing on the Turffontein Inside track and we start off with a race for maidens over 1000m. A good draw is quite an advantage here and I think you can start the meeting off with a nice Win bet on Hampton Court. He placed on his only start to date, he’s drawn well and the Jockey Room talk is that he’s quite a nice individual. The betting showed that first time out - he started at 16-10 and finished third. His dangers could be Strikers Boy and Brigtnumberten.
Race 2 is another Maiden Plate, this one for fillies and mares over 1450m. It’s a bit more competitive with the main runners being Ossetra and Ice Art. Their dangers would probably be Microbe and Tie Dye. For BiPots the first two mentioned should be good enough.
Race 3 is an 1800m Maiden Plate and there’s another possible banker in the form of Vacquero. His danger could be Master Sword, who placed on his only start but that was in a work riders’ race, which are known to be of weaker quality. Their dangers could be Llandudno and So Long Spring and an unknown is Innovation. Banker Vaquero in Place Accumulators - or to be safe, back him up with Llandudno.
Race 4 is over 2600m and is a Middle Stakes, which is a plate race not a handicap, so the higher merit-rated horses are better weighted. To me the main runners are Bandola and Dalley. They should do for the Place Accumulator. The best merit-rated horse is AP’s Lily, who probably needs to be included in Pick 6s.
There’s a small field in Race 5 but this MR 92 Handicap over 1900m is quite competitive. My first selection is Bankable Teddy, who ran in feature races during the Durban winter season and, as most of us know, at that time of the year the opposition is quite strong. Unfortunately he hasn’t run for a little while. He’s also a little bit of a one-pacer so this track might not be in his favour. His dangers could be Wild Horizon, Amsterdam and Stonehenge, who all have the same form. For Place Accumulators consider the more consistent horse - Wild Horizon and possibly put Bankable Teddy in as his backup. I’m riding Amsterdam, who would definitely be better over the longer straight of the Standside track, as I’ve mentioned in the past. Unfortunately, he also has his issues at the start, which could jeopardise his chances completely.
There is another small field in Race 6, but this Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares over 1450m is also very competitive. My first selection is Smokey Affair, who has competed in feature races in the past and has not been beaten very far. She does come off a rest so it’s difficult to know her fitness. I’m riding Myfunnyvalentine, who might be suspect over this distance. Another big runner is Sylvan On Fire. She has won her last two starts and can only improve more, but she’s coming back in distance, which might not be in her favour. Therefore, the safe bet could be Shatoosh, who has run well over this course and distance and is the fittest horse in the field. She could be a Place Accumulator banker but for the Pick 6, put in the field.
Race 7 is a 1600m FM 62 Handicap. Such races are always quite tricky. My first selection is Spring Indeed, who has got the form, the draw and had no luck in running last time. Her dangers could be Sammi Moosa and Monarch Air. Those three would be good enough for Place Accumulators, but for the Pick 6 consider also putting in Hatfield Square and Beautiful Shay.
There’s another fillies and mares’ handicap in Race 8. In this FM 62 Handicap over 1600m you could have a possible banker in Curbstone Shuffle. She was beaten just over a length last time out in only her second start and should have improvement to come. From a good draw and with the natural pace she shows, this race could be right up her alley. In Pick 6s others to consider would be Silver Duchess, Cinnamon Slew and, maybe, Shine Bright, although she seems to come from far behind and this track might not suit her.
Race 9 is another tricky race but my first selection in this MR 72 Handicap over 1600m is Lake Kinneret, who is still a bit immature and will be improving. As he might not be quite ready to take on these older horses you should back him up with Nephrite and Resolute Captain in the Place Accumulator. Consider Mambo Symphony and Space Tornado for Pick 6s. If you don’t believe those are enough others with similar formlines need to be included Blazing Winter, Duzi Moon Dawnbreaker and, possibly, my mount Shotgun Rider. He always jumps very slowly and with the loading procedure in force, having a draw of No 1, he’ll be first into the stalls, which won’t help his chances at all because he is likely to not jump on terms.