Favourites go missing at Turffontein
Munger and Marco could help punters get back to winning ways
Big exotic bet payouts were the order of the day on Saturday at Turffontein where only one favourite arrived on the 10-event card – that was in the last race when top-flight Piere Strydom got Grant Maroun’s Prince Jordan (7-2) home by 0.50-lengths from Profit Ratio (100-1) in a blanket finish. Such were the results that there was a percentage Pick 6 payout of R1,183,797 and a carried forward amount of R751,037.
Race 5 and main event, an Assessment Plate over 1800m, proved no exception. Sean Tarry-trained Warrior’s Rest with champion Lyle Hewitson up topped the betting boards at even-money. But the four-year-old found one too good in Mike de Kock-trained filly Silver Thursday (27-4) who was equipped with blinkers for the first time with Warren Kennedy aboard and was up against allmale opposition.
Gavin Lerena’s mount Orpheus went into an early lead from Warrior’s Rest and March To Glory (5-1), with Silver Thursday held up mid-field just three lengths off the pace, while Master And Man (9-1) was the backmarker.
Let loose 450m out, Silver Thursday quickened readily and, hitting the front 300m out, powered away to an increasing 2.30-lengths from Warrior’s Rest. Master Of Man ran on stoutly to claim third place 1.40 lengths back while Orpheus faded out a further 3.25 lengths behind. Maximum-claiming apprentice jockey Kabelo Matsunyane was the top-scorer of the meeting with a fine double.
His first strike was in Race 3 aboard Paul Matchett-trained Hands Of Man (27-4) in a 1600m Maiden Plate.
Though trapped wide for much of the race, the three-year-old made steady progress in the straight where he dashed clear 300m out and went on to score by two lengths from Voodoo (15-1) who ran on strongly from last.
Adopting different tactics in Race 6, a 1800m MR 74 Handicap, he had Paul Peter-trained Seventh Of June (30-1) up with the speed and, rallying gamely in a driving finish, the five-year-old held on by 0.50-lengths from Corrido (10-1), with fast-finishing Master Magic (8-1) a short-head off in third place.
There are a few runners worth following at today’s meeting at Flamingo Park. Stephanie Miller-trained Royal Delight (Ryan Munger) has a bright chance to get punters away to a profitable start in Race 1, a 1000m Maiden Plate. This threeyear-old was an improved fourth and then a promising close second.
Stick with Cliffie Miller-trained Quantity (Marco van Rensburg) who contests Race 3, a 1300m MR 77 Handicap.
This four-time winner was a runner-up in his last three starts in big fields and the combination should be rewarded this time.
Another who will be tough to beat is Dennis Cason-trained Brookie (Munger) who steps out in Race 5, a 1600m MR 66 Handicap.
This gelding has not been out of the money in his five runs this season – the last of which was a gutsy close second over the distance.