Rookie v Veteran: take R7 Exacta
De Kock may be on a Royal Crusade
The competitive nature of today’s Vaal racing suggests the BiPot and Place Accumulator could be the way to go and those seeking a banker in all bets should look no further than Fish River Canyon in Race 7, a FM 63 Handicap over 1500m on the Classic track.
The Gary Alexander-trained Mullins Bay four-year-old will be ridden by apprentice Lyle Hewitson, who has ridden her in her last two starts, both noteworthy efforts.
They won by a neck two runs back and Fish River Canyon produced a lethal turn of foot over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track when failing to catch Tammany Hall by 0.40-lengths.
This four-year-old enjoys 1600m and has much in her favour. She is beautifully drawn in stall gate No 3 and will have 57.5kg to shoulder, 0.5kg less than biggest danger Beautiful Shay.
This front-running Mambo In Seattle fiveyear-old was only beaten a neck into second by Parisienne Chic over 1700m on this track last time out.
This Stephen Moffatt-trained mare has been knocking hard of late and her consistency must soon be rewarded.
Gunter Wrogemann takes the ride and the race could well become a matter of the rookie (Hewitson) versus the veteran (Wrogemann).
Both jockeys are unlikely to miss the top two positions so a boxed Exacta could the best play.
Lately Highveld meetings don’t conclude without the De Kock yard saddling a winner or two. They could have a great chance a win with Royal Crusade in Race 6, a MR 70 Handicap over 1500m.
Although returning from a 180-day rest, this Silvano colt won well at the second time of asking and could be hard to peg back.
Two other runners with chances are Silvan Saint and Ekuseni.
A Trifecta could pay handsomely, so float Royal Crusade and Ekuseni with Silvan Saint, Arpad and Sleepinseattle.