Grand Heritage gives us hope
CONDITIONS: DE KOCK-TRAINED MARE WELL WEIGHTED TO BEAT HER 27 RIVALS
Best bet comes up with Duke Of York in Race 1.
With continuous rain drenching Gauteng and its surrounding areas, we can only hope racing goes ahead at the Vaal today where the popular World Sports Betting Grand Heritage (Non-Black Type) headlines the 10-race programme.
The usual strong field of 28 entrants face the starter and aptly named Gimme Hope Johanna from the Mike de Kock yard is my first selection. The mare has campaigned consistently in decent company throughout her Highveld career and she has a handy galloping mass in her third run after a layoff.
She meets recent conqueror Florida Quays on 1.5kg better terms for a 1.25-length defeat and is weighted to turn the tables on both Lone Survivor and Culture Trip on their recent clashes.
There are many dangers, though, starting with mare Rouge Allure who has home-ground advantage. She has enjoyed most of her career successes on this track and was finishing off her last race well behind Celtic Sea.
Captain Of Tortuga goes exceptionally well for Piere Strydom and is a worthy inclusion though he may be a run short of peak fitness.
Champion trainer Sean Tarry has eight runners as well as the two reserve entrants and Social Order is my pick of the bunch, having undergone a solid preparation. It is slightly concerning that he hasn't won for ages but jockey Gavin Lerena is in excellent form.
Danza has been shrewdly campaigned by conditioner Alec Laird and the veteran gelding escaped without a penalty following his eye-catching last run when only 0.50 lengths adrift Social Order. He is now 3kg worse off with the former but has the brilliant services of S’manga Khumalo to call upon.
Russian Beat has also had a decent prep and together with Against The Grain, further enhances the Tarry yard's claim. I expected more from Riverstown when he was beaten fair and square last time, although by a smart type in Ikigai but the aboveaverage three-year-old has improvement to come.
The roughie could be Epic Dream who showed signs of a form return when he comfortably beat subsequent winner Dan The Lad (2kg worse off). He showed earlier promise and meets Captain Of Tortuga on 5.5kg better terms for a long neck defeat.
The consolation race is a tricky affair with 16 runners. That said, recent De Kock recruit Mr Greenlight produced a quality stable debut on this course behind Dan The Lad a fortnight ago and will strip much fitter today. The former KZN entrant has faced much stronger and could be worth following.
Ex-Zimbabwean Oden flourished to win his South African debut in fine style on Victory Moon Stakes day and he has heaps of improvement to come. Lumber Jackaroo is under sufferance but runs well for apprentice Denis Schwarz and is a worthy inclusion off a low weight.
Full brother to Lone Survivor,
Tokyo Drift, is worth including on recent form. Tarry-trained Putontheredlight hasn't had the ideal preparation and has a big mass but he has quality and comes from an in-form stable.
There are some competitive maiden races where decent value could be on offer. Race 1 is over 1000m and has a big field. I make Duke Of York, now with blinkers, the one to beat, from Captain Hindsight whom I've partnered to good success recently. It is worth noting that he just got the better of Duchess Of Windsor (stablemate to Duke Of York) in the Maiden Million last time and in-form trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren will have a good line to work with.
Have a solid bet on Duke Of York.
Race 2 sees Blue Spark take on Namaqualand over 1400m and preference is for the former who faced winners in the Ready To Run Cup last time out. Interestingly, he was runner-up to Pure State prior to that and Namaqualand was only a head behind the same horse when making an eye-catching debut just over two months ago.
Latest Craze finished his last race well in decent company while Royal Tiger also caught the eye, although well beaten into fifth on debut. Others worth including are Valetorio, Storm Commander, Franklin and Eppagilia.
Go each-way on Blue Spark and box Swingers with Namaqualand, Latest Craze, Royal Tiger and Storm Commander.
Race 3 is another 1400m maiden but open to all age groups. Dual At Dawn would have come on smartly from his quality debut over this course and distance while Trend Master has consistent form and could lay down a charge, though his last form line is suspect. Willo’thewisp has shown encouraging signs while Curious could be the real improver.
Box Swingers and Trifectas with the four runners.
In Race 4 I fancy Irish Dame to run a cracker with the 4kg claimer Jeffrey Syster up and she is a big danger to favourite Martha who I know really well. The latter showed smart improvement in her comeback run and is bred to stay all day. She will be fitter and Gavin takes the ride. Alicante is improving and appears best of the rest. Go each-way on Irish Dame. Race 5 is where my value bet, Western Dance, comes up with just 52kg on her back. She was expectedly outclassed in the Yellowwood but Emily Jay and Ronnie's Candy have won since. She drops in class. There's not much to choose between her and Emily Hobhouse.
Hat-trick-seeking Jacko Boy is an obvious inclusion along with
Jet Start who had a great last run in mixed company.
Go each-way on Western Dance and box Swingers and Trifectas with the others.
I fancy Basadi Faith strongly in Race 6, the Sophomore 1000, despite the exceptional filly being out at the weights on her belated seasonal debut. Spring Break is talented and is best weighted to keep her 100% track record intact while Fly Away rises in class but has quality and is unbeaten from three starts over this distance. Look To The Sky is a worthy inclusion in Trifectas and Quartets, along with Rio's Winter.
Race 9 is a FM 79 Handicap over 2000m and I go with Smiley River despite the huge mass. She is my early Oaks fancy and I was extremely pleased with her eyecatching last feature display over the shorter trip.
She will be seriously tested, though. De Kock-trained Pomander was a super-impressive maiden winner over this trip as a juvenile in open company but hasn't been seen since. She may have suffered a setback and is worth watching.
The pick of the older guard is Ideal Cut who could enjoy a soft lead. She meets Jive Express on 4.5kg better terms for a neck defeat suffered in the autumn. Go each-way on Smiley River. The final event is a FM 66 Handicap over 2000m and the value lies with Dancewithadragon who drops slightly in class. S’manga takes the ride from gate No 2. Hawthorn had a good handicap debut run in mixed company and could enjoy being equipped with blinkers. I know Maddox Tune quite well and her last run was solid and she has given me the feel that she wants ground.
Have a good each-way bet on Dancewithadragon!
Suggested Pick 6 R5,280
3, 4, 5, 9
1, 4, 5, 10
1
2, 4, 6, 7, 11, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 27 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12
2, 3, 4, 5, 9