Dynasty appears a divine bet
BANKER: CRAWFORD RUNNER EXPECTED TO IMPROVE ON HIGHVELD DEBUT OUTING
➳ Vasilikos in Race 1 at Greyville looks hard to beat.
It has been a fair week for me as I have been able to boot home a couple of winners, including the Jockeys vs Work Riders race on Argo Alley, a lovely horse of St John Gray’s at Turffontein last Saturday, which was enjoyable on such a big day last week.
What a day Champions Day turned out to be and we need to touch on the brilliance of Paul Peter who had a day to remember.
He won the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery with Maharanee followed by the Grade 2 SA Nursery with the filly Miss Cool and both of them were extremely impressive and should be hard to beat for the remainder of the season.
He then bagged the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint with Master Archie and finished second with Big Burn.
It was a phenomenal performance from the three-year-old colt and he could be the sprinter to follow.
To cap off this magnificent day, Astrix pulled off the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge after receiving a top ride from JP van der Merwe.
I didn’t give him much of a chance, but he showed guts second to none to win his first Grade 1.
This is a day Mr Peter will never forget and it’s thoroughly deserved because of the professional operation they run.
Congrats to all the owners involved with all the winners on the day as well as all the jockeys who managed to bag winners on a great day.
The KZN season now moves into full swing and it’s the WSB Guineas and WSB Fillies Guineas taking place today as well as the Independent On Sunday Drill Hall Stakes, and all the big guns from Cape Town will be kicking off their season.
Watch it closely because early Durban July fancies can be found.
My best ride on the card is Vasilikos in Race 1 and I think he will take all the beating off a good draw.
Now on to tomorrow's card on the Standside track at Turffontein where I have six rides on the card. Some of them will be very competitive and I’ll be hoping to bag a winner or two.
Race 1 is a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1160m and I ride Quantum Theory who is a very well bred and is a nice type of a horse.
His work has been decent but he will definitely improve for the run and experience and could be one to follow in the future.
This is a wide-open race and the betting would be the best guide as to the chances of the unraced horses but of those that have run Mover And Shaker looks the horse to beat.
He is highly regarded and if he reproduces what he shows in work he could win.
Thunderstruck is the main danger. He ran a lovely race on debut but comes off a small break and has blinkers fitted, which is a slight concern.
However, Sean Tarry definitely knows what he is doing so he must be respected.
Race 2 is a Maiden Juvenile Plate for Fillies over 1160m and I ride Inevitable who I make the filly to beat.
She ran a lovely race to a filly who placed in the Grade 2 Fillies Nursery last week and on that form should be hard to beat.
Zoom Lady comes off the same form line and although we beat her, she was slightly disappointing and still rates a danger.
Watch the betting support for the unraced runners as the best guide to their chances.
Race 3 is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m. I ride Special Charm who is having her first run and I think she will definitely come on from the experience.
She is also looking for a bit further and could be one to follow when she does.
My best bet on the card comes up here in the form of Divine Dynasty who ran a lovely race on her Highveld debut.
She is drawn No 1 and will be very hard to beat, and in my opinion is a banker in all bets.
Ideal Future ran a lovely race on debut and rates her main danger while Allthewayfromusa is another to fill minor honours.
Race 4 is a Maiden Plate over 1400m where my value bet comes up in the form of Never To Clever.
He was slightly unlucky in his last start and I’m confident he will love this track and trip, so everything looks spot on for a big run.
Two-year-old Equestrian Affair is the main danger and must be respected while Porfirio and Big Five are others to include in wider bets.
Race 5 is a Maiden Plate over 2400m and it’s a small but competitive field.
Japan Approval is the filly to beat after a good last run last week. She gets the sex allowance and that could make all the difference.
Harold The Duke is the main danger. He showed marked improvement after stepping up in trip.
Lamborghreeni was a bit disappointing last time and could bounce back to make his presence felt.
These three horses should get you through all bets.
Race 6 is MR 92 Handicap over 2000m and I ride Grimaldi who comes in with a handy weight.
I really think he’ll enjoy this track so I’m hoping he can run into the money, but we all have my stable companion to beat, Naval Guard.
He has been a revelation since being stepped up in trip and he looks to be still well ahead of the handicapper.
His main danger could be the other stable companion in improving three-year-old Ocean Warrior who won a good race last time out and is well above average.
I’ll be surprised if these two horses don’t get you through all bets.
Race 7 is a MR 79 Handicap over 1000m and I ride Kaptein Martiens who has run well below his ability in his last two starts. He will need to improve to feature.
This race is highly competitive and my suggestion is to go as wide as the budget will allow.
Successful Secret won a good race last time out and sets the standard as the horse to beat.
Droghiere is improving and is still unexposed so he is the main danger while Grindelwald and Phinda Mzala must also be respected.
Race 8 is a MR 72 Handicap over 1400m and I ride Mike The Pilot who won his maiden last time out and will have to improve further to feature.
I think West Point is the horse to beat off a very good draw. The race could play into his hands, and with the blinkers added, it could make the difference.
Stable companions Sky Glitter and Here Is The Tiger are the main dangers as they are both still unexposed and look to have improvement in them while JP Two Thousand and In Cahoots are in good form and must be respected.
BEST BET
Race 3 No 1 Divine Dynasty
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 3 Never To Clever
PICK 6
R576
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 3, 9
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4
Leg 4: 4
Leg 5: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 Leg 4: Field of 16