Highveld Hawks look to retain their Rider Cup title

The Highveld Hawks will be looking to retain their title in Sunday’s New Turf Carriers Rider Cup on the Greyville Polytrack.

This year’s team has two replacements as Gavin Lerena, who led the team last year, is out with an injury so apprentice Lyle Hewitson, a member of last year’s line-up, will captain the side. Marco van Rensburg has been replaced by Muzi Yeni while Ryan Munger gets his call-up. Craig Zackey has retained his place.

The Rider Cup is run over four races and they are Races 3, 4, 6, 7. Points allocated will be 20 for first, 16 for second, 14 for third, 12 for fourth, 10 for fifth, eight for sixth, six points for seventh and a one point decrease from five down to one for the remaining five positions.

Also run on the day is the Listed Off To Stud Stakes and there could be some value going for Final Judgement who makes her Polytrack debut but also takes a massive drop in class. Her last start was in the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes where the average merit rating was 104. In this race it is 89.

She is drawn No 1, is the best weighted runner so if she handles the Polytrack she could be back in the winner’s enclosure. Rider Cup teams: KZN Falcons: Keagan de Melo (captain), Warren Kennedy, Sean Veale, Brandon Lerena.

Highveld Hawks: Lyle Hewitson (captain), Muzi Yeni, Craig Zackey, Ryan Munger.

Cape Eagles: Aldo Domeyer (captain), Bernard Fayd'Herbe, Greg Cheyne, Richard Fourie.