The Cause And Effect of Quartet will reap Laurels
FIELD: REMEMBER TO DOUBLE FLOAT THE PAIR IN RACE 8 AND TAKE THE WHOLE FIELD
Grecian Laurel is expected to make massive improvement on her first win.
There is always a Quartet carryover in the last local race on a Sunday and this weekend that will be in Race 8 at Scottsville, a FM 76 Handicap overt 1400m. As a rule pundits will advise punters to stay away from betting on handicaps for fillies and mares but the fact that one gets upsets in these races is exactly what makes them worth playing.
Those who read this column frequently will know that I am a great fan of the Quartet and the way I like to play them is to double float two horses with the field.
There are 11 horses in Race 8 so that is a double float with the other nine, which costs R864.
The wonderful use of percentages means that 10% will cost just R86.40 and you often get quite a decent return.
The good news about this race is that Duncan Howells looks to have a very progressive horse in the form of Grecian Laurel.
Owned by Jessica Slack’s Mauritzfontein this daughter of Ideal World had a horrendous barrier trial at Greyville in May in which she finished ninth of the 11 runners so it came as no surprise when she went off at 28-1 in her first run at Scottsville on 23 June, a Maiden Plate for fillies over 1200m.
She ran from off the pace under Craig Zackey but when he asked for an effort Grecian Laurel swopped on the opposition to easily beat Eetee by two lengths. This was not the strongest of fields but there has been one winner from the form line.
She will no doubt improve over 1400m and does not meet the strongest of fields again and is perfectly drawn at gate No 3.
With Zackey claiming the ride again she is our first floating banker.
The other looks to be quite obvious. Cause And Effect has run well since returning from a lengthy break and has had a winning barrier trial, a victory over 1200m at Scottsville last time and a third place on the Greyville Polytrack separating the two. Shane Humby’s charge tries 1400m for the first time but as she is a halfsister to Greg Ennion-trained Samsara and three of her four wins have come over 1400m.
The one concern jockey Donovan Dillon will face is overcoming the draw. Cause And Effect is drawn No 10 and over 1400m that could work against her as she will need a bit of luck to win.
However, if she does not win but still runs in the first four that will be no problem for us because we will have covered ourselves and as long as Grecian Laurel is in the first four as well, we will be collecting.
Remember. The key is to take the whole field because the horse that you decide to leave out, is usually the horse you want to win.