Cavalry charge awaits at the Vaal

Big-race action returns to the Joburg horseracing circuit this afternoon with the World Sports Betting Grand Heritage over 1 475m and it’s set to be a thriller.

The Grand Heritage is a novel contest that was introduced to the South African horseracing calendar last year.

It’s run on the straight course at the Vaal and 28 horses are allowed to participate instead of the normal maximum of 16.

The race is run on handicap terms, which means that horses carry different weights to theoretically equalise their chances of winning.

It’s sure to be a grand spectacle, resembling an old-fashioned cavalry charge.

It’s a great opportunity to win lots of cash for a small outlay and a likely huge TAB Quartet pool on the race is adding to the excitement.

The pool is set to total some R800 000 as a result of a carryover and those lucky or astute enough to pick the first four to finish should collect a handsome payout.

Trainer Mike de Kock’s runner Elevated is the current favourite at around 8-1 and there’s lots to like about this ex-Cape four year old, which made a winning debut for the stable earlier this month.

He showed a touch of class when finishing fourth in the 1 600m Cape Guineas last year and is drawn towards the outside, which should be in his favour.

Mathew de Kock, assistant trainer to his father Mike, says the gelding is working well and makes him a worthy favourite.

Expect a big run, but the best eachway bet in the race looks to be Zouaves, a lightly raced fouryear-old who has been aimed at this race for some time by trainer Geoff Woodruff.

He’s won two of his five starts and finished second or third in the others, so he packs plenty of promise.

More important, Woodruff fancies his chances and you have to respect his opinion.

Woodruff ruled the roost in the big races on the Highveld last season, winning both the Sansui Summer Cup and the Champions Challenge, so it will be no surprise if he continues in the same vein today.

A likely R4-million TAB Pick 6 pool will be another big drawcard for horseplayers and you can get top jockey Piere Strydom’s views on the race meeting in Form Focus today.

The race is run on handicap terms, which means horses carry different weights to equalise their chances of winning.