Bank on Gimme A Nother in R8-million Pick 6 pool

With the Pick 6 pool expected to reach R8-million on Saturday at Turffontein, many bettors will be looking at Gimme A Nother as the best banker – and rightly so.

Having won both the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the SA Fillies Classic, Gimme A Nother could have earned her connections a R1-million bonus by winning the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks over 2450m and securing the Triple Tiara.

However, the prestige of a second Grade 1 win at the age of three, and the future value it could add to this filly as a broodmare, has resulted in her being declared for the TAB Empress Club Stakes over 1600m.

To say that she has won all of her six career races with consummate ease, would actually be somewhat of an understatement. Her six combined winning margins add up to more than 16 lengths – so bettors will be excused for not asking whether she will win this contest, but rather what the margin will be.

It also makes a lot more sense sending her out over 1600m – a distance she has triumphed over four times – rather than testing her over 2450m.

Unsurprisingly, JP v’d Merwe will ride her again.

Marauding Horde looks most likely to maul the opposition in the Grade 1 TAB SA Derby over 2450m.

Looking at the way he has gone about his business, it is evident that this son of Vercingetorix is something special.

Highly progressive, he has scored three in a row, the last two over 2000m, so there’s no doubt about his ability to go the distance.

Although he is still maturing, Mike de Kock’s charge has proven that he has big match temperament when scoring a 4.25-length victory in the Listed Hawwaam Stakes over 2000m in his penultimate.

Fitted with blinkers for the first time, he toyed with the field and hardly worked up a sweat last time out when dropping down to Class C.

This will be his first Class A contest, but judged on his form and ability, he ought to be more than ready to make it a winning step up with Marco van Rensburg again in the irons.

Bettors should look beyond his merit rating of 96 as he has a lot more to come.

In all five his career outings he has been the fastest finisher over the last 400m.

Purple Pitcher trained by Robyn Klaasen, on the other hand, already boasts four Class A victories, which includes a Grade 1 (SA Classic over 1800m) and Grade 2 (Dingaans over 1600m).

This colt by New Predator is rated 120, making him the best weighted runner in the field of 13.

As an added bonus, he will have Kabelo Matsunyane in the saddle and the pair have a near-perfect record of six wins from seven runs when teaming up.

Purple Pitcher does make a huge jump up in distance, but he ought have no problem staying all the way.

The surprise package in the field could well be the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Presley.

Although he didn’t impress in his only attempt over 1800m, he has won twice over 1600m. Presley also beat Marauding Horde when the latter was on debut.

Winner of three of his last four, he is untried over this distance, so could be anything.

The only runner in the field proven over marathon distances is Stuart Pettigrew’s Twenty Drachma’s.

Having won twice and finished runner-up over 2400m, this Danon Platina gelding looks a solid stayer in the making and iis most definitely in with a good money chance.

George Handel trained by Fanie Bronkhorst completes the short list.

He finished a 4.25-length second to Marauding Horde over 2000m last time out and meets his conqueror on 3kg better terms. If he stays, he’ll be in the picture.