Arthur to begin his legacy
LEGEND OF ARTHUR WILL ENJOY THE STEP UP IN TRIP IN RACE 2 AT TURFFONTEIN
Muzi positive about Royal Victory’s Champions Challenge chances.
Racing on Saturday takes place at Turffontein racecourse where there is a nine-race card on offer. This meeting will take place on the Inside track and it’s one of my favourite tracks in the country.
There are once again no feature races as we are gearing up towards Champions Day.
Saturday’s meeting is headlined by two Middle Stakes, one over 1200m and one over 1700m, and in both races, there are some quality horses taking their places.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very blessed Easter Weekend. For those that are travelling, please travel safely and may it be a really peaceful and enjoyable Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
On Saturday, I have five rides carded and while it’s not my strongest book of rides, I’ll be hoping to get on the board.
From a riding perspective, last Saturday was tough as I only bagged the one winner at the meeting. But I was coming off three winners at last Thursday’s meeting so while I was disappointed not to repeat that last Saturday, it was a reasonably decent week.
Horses are going through their final major workouts for Day 3 of the Championships taking place on 6 April.
It’s going to be one of the best day’s racing of the year and I really hope you try to get out to Turffontein for the day.
This week will see most of the horses doing their major workouts, so I’ll be hoping all my rides go through their paces well and that will have them spot on for the day.
For those readers who are interested in taking ante-post bets for the day, I am riding Royal Victory in the World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge, a Grade 1 over 2000m. He won the Betway Summer Cup over this course and distance last year and I really believe he is doing exceptionally well, so I think he is the horse they will all have to beat.
Of course, we will focus on the entire card in depth next week.
Now on to Saturday’s race meeting and Race 1 is a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1450m. I ride Sonic Jet who I make the value bet on the card. Her first run was a really good effort and she had the runner I believe is the main danger, Fatal Flaw, 1.50 lengths behind her that day.
Fatal Flaw then came out to run a good second next time and on that run, she stands out as the main and immediate danger.
Varvara is improving with each run and should enjoy the step up in trip and should run into the money.
Watch the betting on the unraced runners as this will be your best guide to their chances.
Race 2 is a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1450m and my best bet on the card comes up in the form of Legend Of Arthur.
This is a lovely individual who ran extremely well over 1000m last time, and on his pedigree and looks, he will love the step up to 1450m. He also has the advantage of jumping from No 1 draw so I believe he will be very hard to beat and is a banker in all bets.
Pibe De Oro is improving with each run and must be considered for wider bets.
Once again, watch the betting on the unraced runners as this will be your best guide to their chances.
Race 3 is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m and I think Dragon Dragon will take all the beating in this event.
She was really unlucky not to finish closer last time out and will be very hard to beat off draw No 2.
Someday Maybe is really consistent and is in decent form so this will probably be the best opportunity for her to win a Maiden Plate. I make her the main danger.
Empressofnormandy has to jump from a wide gate but has to be respected in what is not the strongest of fields.
Once again, watch the betting on the unraced runners for a guide.
Race 4 is a Maiden Plate (A) over 1450m, and Theres A Light looks to have found the perfect opportunity for him to shed his maiden tag.
His last two runs were his best to date and he now gets to jump from pole position, which will be a huge benefit, so he will take all the beating.
Strewn Sky ran a really good race last time out and on the evidence of that run, he’ll love the step up in trip and rates the main and immediate danger.
The Playboy Bomber has had two well-above-average runs and if he was drawn better, I would have probably made him the horse to beat. But it will be tough from the wide draw.
These horses should get you through all bets.
Race 5 is a MR 70 Handicap over 1200m. I ride Halberdier and I think he is the horse they all have to beat.
He drops down drastically in class, from a Grade 3 event to a MR 70 and you don’t see that too often.
He ran two lengths off them and ran to a far higher rating than what he will run off in this event but the conditions of the race, did not allow for the handicappers to give him an increase.
A repeat of that run will see him prove very hard to beat.
Circus Lights is in good form and looks to be my main danger, especially off a decent draw.
Longsword was disappointing last time out but he drops further in trip and that might make the difference, so he can go into wider bets.
Samthewiseman and Smelting are others to consider and must be respected.
Race 6 is a Middle Stakes over 1700m and I ride Player. He was disappointing in his last start and will have to come back to his best form to feature.
Pyromaniac ran a really good race last time out with the blinkers and rates the horse they all have to beat.
Silent War was unlucky last time not to have won as the stable companion managed to secure a massive lead that the field couldn’t peg back. He is the immediate danger and must be included in all bets.
Viva Spirit drops back in trip after a slightly disappointing run over 2000m. He has ability and can definitely win a race of this nature.
La Moohal is going through the ranks beautifully and he could still be anything. This is his toughest test, but he must go into all bets because he very well could be up to it.
Race 7 is a MR 80 Handicap over 1800m and I ride Holocene who ran a fair race last time out. I’m hopeful for another honest effort and to finish in the money.
We all have A Place In The Sun to beat as she steps back up to 1800m and when last seen over the trip she won convincingly.
Her last start, when dropped back in distance, was good and she finished off well but this is far better for her.
Pewter Sky is in good form and drops slightly in division which can definitely assist and allow him to get into the winners’ box again.
Priceless ran well last time out and she too won over this trip, so she must go into all bets.
Libeccio won really well last time out and that performance suggested he’ll be even better stepped up in trip. As a result, he is one of the main contenders.
Race 8 is a Middle Stakes over 1200m and highly progressive Mid Winter Wind is the horse they all have to beat.
He goes for four in a row and as mentioned in a previous column, he gave me a really good feel when I won on him.
He is drawn No 1 and will have no issue at all with the drop back in trip.
Tsar Bomba won a very good race last time out and on that run rates the main danger.
Karangetang ran a solid second last time out and the fact Gavin Lerena has chosen to ride him speaks volumes, so even after the small break he must go into all bets.
Aussenkehr and Zinovi are others to consider for wider bets.
Race 9 is a MR 72 Handicap over 1450m and I ride Putins Promise who has run two fair races back in Joburg. However, he will have to improve even further to feature in this race.
Run For Cover goes back over the track and trip he absolutely loves. He also gets draw No 1 and I’m almost certain there will be pace from his stable companion, so on that, I make him the horse to beat.
Feel All Right, stable companion to Run For Cover, loved it when he went to the front last time out and was a convincing winner. He can definitely follow up in a race of this nature and must go into all bets.
Arividicio has dropped big time in the ratings and is one to consider for wider bets, but I do think the stable companions will fight this out.
BEST BET
Race 2 No 4 Legend Of Arthur
VALUE BET
Race 1 No 4 Sonic Jet
PICK 6
R720 Leg 1: 1 Leg 2: 1, 5 Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Leg 5: 4, 5 Leg 6: 1, 3