Mrs G to come shining through
UNBEATEN MRS GERIATRIX MAKES HER RETURN TO RACING IN RACE 3 AT TURFFONTEIN Three-year-olds stand out in Joburg Spring Challenge.
Racing today takes place at Turffontein racecourse on the Inside track as well as Hollywoodbets Durbanville, and once again there is some fantastic racing on offer.
The Turffontein card is headlined by the R550,000 Grade 2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge and the Grade 2 Betway Joburg Spring F&M Challenge, while the Durbanville card is headlined by the postponed Grade 3 Hollywoodbets Matchem Stakes which sees the return of two champions, Charles Dickens and Gimme A Prince.
This is backed up by the Grade 3 Diana Stakes. There is a R1-million Pick 6 carryover at Turffontein with a likely pool of R6 million while there is also a R250,000 Jackpot 1 carryover at Durbanville with a likely pool of R1 million.
We will of course be focusing on the nine-race Turffontein card where I have managed to secure a full book of rides and I will be hoping to get some winners on the board.
Last week wasn’t my best as I only managed to bag three winners, well below what I was hoping for, so we will be doing everything to change that again.
In last week’s column our value bet, Galaxy Explorer, won really well, and we were on song for most of the day, so I’m really hoping that assisted our followers in making money.
We will briefly touch on the Durbanville features and as mentioned, the best race is the Grade 2 Matchem Stakes which sees the clash of two superstars in Charles Dickens and Gimme A Prince.
I feel this is a match in two and over 1400m I think it’s going to be a very close call. I am leaning towards Charles Dickens because I’ve always thought of him as the best horse in the country, but any racing purist will be tuned in to watch this match-up.
The Grade 3 Diana Stakes is more open, but I think Gimme’s Lassie is the filly to beat. She is having her third run after a rest, gets blinkers fitted and jumps from a good No 3 draw.
Her main danger is probably Golden Hostess who returns after a small break, but this is a drop in class compared to against whom she has been racing.
Now on to the Turffontein meeting but before we touch on the individual races, it’s really lovely to see some of the best horses in the country running, and from a Joburg perspective, there are some top-class horses taking their places and starting their campaigns for the season.
This is once again a beautiful time of the year, and I am hoping for this to be a very successful Joburg feature-race season.
Race 1 is a Maiden Plate for three-year-olds over 1450m and I ride Ryans Boulevard who has had two really good runs. He now gets blinkers fitted which suggests the stable is still disappointed he hasn’t won yet. On that basis and on his form, I am expecting a massive run.
I think whatever beats me will win. Green Garnet ran really well on debut and has had a break since. He was unlucky not to win as a lot went wrong for him.
The form of the race has worked out well and off draw No 2, he is the horse we have to beat. Copper Mist steps back up in trip after a good second last time out and that will suit, so include him in all bets while Just Nuisance is in good form and another good run is expected.
Race 2 is a Maiden Plate for three-year-old fillies over 1450m.
I ride Alesia’s Love who I make my best ride on the card and I think she will take all the beating.
She steps back up in trip which I believe will suit her and she has the best form to offer by a long way.
This is a perfect opportunity for her to shed her maiden tag if there are no superstars among the unraced horses. One Religion, my stable companion, looks the main danger of the raced runners because of her form but I’ll be surprised if she beats my ride.
Of the unraced runners, Gimme A Nother is extremely well bred and there has been some talk around town about her, so watch the betting closely because this will be your best guide to her chances.
Race 3 is the Bloodstock SA Sales Cup for fillies over 1450m and I ride My Lady Soul who won her maiden last time out and looks to be a well above average filly. But this is her stiffest test, and we will be happy if she runs into the money.
Equus Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Mrs Geriatrix returns for her first start of the season and she has absolutely everything in her favour.
What a season it was for her when winning five races in a row, including a Grade 1 and a Grade 2, while remaining undefeated.
She is a star and is my best bet on the card.
Her rating alone shows she is a class apart, but she also gets the benefit of draw No 1 and that makes her a banker in all bets.
White Pearl, Francine and Betula all have some serious ability and form, and they look to be the main dangers for wider bets.
Race 4 is the Bloodstock SA Sales Cup over 1450m and I ride very promising Guy Gibson who ran a career best race last time out when third in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe on Durban July day.
He was just behind Gimme another chance that day and off draw No 1 I’m expecting a massive run.
My horse was unlucky in that specific race, having to race three wide the whole way round, but he is doing well and I’m expecting a huge run.
Gim me another chance is the horse we have to beat and he is clearly really classy. His KZN season was very good and these two horses should fight out the finish and should get you through all bets.
Race 5 is the Grade 2 Betway Joburg Spring F&M Challenge over 1450m and this is an open race.
I ride Lady Of Power who returns from a break, but she is a really good filly on her day, having won the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, and even though this might be a touch short for her, I’ll be hoping for a positive run to kick-start her season.
Feather Boa is the filly we all have to beat. She is top class and had a really good last season without getting her head down first when it counts. I’m sure she would have strengthened up from the break and I think she will be hard to beat if close to peak fitness.
Gimme A Shot returns from a break but she is a high-class filly
and rates a definite danger.
Humdinger ran a career-best race last time out and defends her title. She clearly enjoys the track and trip and if she gets an easy lead, she will be right there.
Three-year-old Just Be Lekker comes in with a very handy weight and must be included in all bets.
Race 6 is the Grade 2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m and what a race this has turned out to be.
I ride Ready To Charge who is a high-class three-year-old and comes in with 50.5kg. He won on his seasonal return and as I mentioned, gave me a really good feel.
I am expecting a massive run and I believe whatever beats me will just about win.
Main Defender is the other three-year-old who takes his chances off that weight. He is clearly a really good horse who won the sales race last season and then finished second in the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes.
I think he is the horse we all have to beat and it will give us an indication of where the three-yearolds are with the older horses.
Of the older horses, Thunderstruck sets the standard after his last start when second in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint. He is a high-class horse, who now steps up in trip and a massive run can be expected.
Dave The King starts his campaign towards the Betway Summer Cup and even though he is drawn badly, he has the class, so must be included in all bets. Miss Daisy takes her chances against the colts but she is very good and another big run can be expected.
Race 7 is a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m and I ride Moonshiningthrough who is my value bet on the card. She is the joint best weighted horse and her last start was outstanding. It showed she is in really good form. Off draw No 2, I should be able to get a really good run through and I’ll be disappointed if she doesn’t win.
My stable companion, Sheldon, ran a lovely race last time when just nabbed in the Spring Spree Stakes. On that performance he is my main danger and another big run can be expected.
Mercantour returns to the sprint trip and even though I think he might be better over further now, he is the class horse and can be included in wider bets.
Mover And Shaker and Iphiko (joint best weighted horse) can be included in wider bets because they have some good form to their names.
Race 8 is a MR 80 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m and I ride My Soul Mate who won a lovely race last time out and could very well be underrated.
I make her the horse to beat. She does return after a small break, but I am expecting a huge run.
Sea Anemone is in really good form and gets to jump from draw No 1 which is hugely beneficial, and she is my main danger.
Let’s Go Now returns from a break to start her season and drops drastically in class after competing in a juvenile Grade 1 last time out and must be included in all bets.
These three horses should get you through all bets.
Race 9 is a MR 80 Handicap over 1800m. This looks wide open so go as wide as the budget allows.
I ride House Of Romanov who won his maiden last time out and comes in off a decent weight. He could still be well handicapped so must go into your bets.
Youcanthurrylove is in really good form and is possibly the horse to beat.
Mo The Man ran a really good second to a progressive horse last time and is a definite runner.
Black Lightning goes for three in a row and has a definite chance to complete the hat-trick.
Filly Woodland Glade comes in with bottom weight and could be exceptionally well handicapped, so must be included in all bets.
BEST BET
Race 3 No 1 Mrs Geriatrix
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 9 Moonshiningthrough
PICK 6
R1350
Leg 1: 1, 2
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 8, 13
Leg 3: 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 Leg 4: 9
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9