Pitso: It looks like the title is going
Downs won’t back down without a fight
Atop stable, a top jockey, an international owner, a blue-blood pedigree and a R2 million price tag do not necessarily make for a racing certainty but Blue School Baby ticks all those boxes and the gentlemen of the crossbar – named when they stood out in the weather under an umbrella – have taken no chances and 14-10 was about the best price on offer ante-post yesterday. The opposition in the second at Hollywoodbets Greyville today does not look particularly strong although Lucy Lu has the benefit of a run and the experience. Slow out but finishing strongly, Lezeanne Forbes’s filly is sure to have made some improvement from that outing and should give Blue School Baby a run for her money. Most punters took a pounding a Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and they could be in for further punishment on what looks to be a decidedly difficult card where obvious bankers are in short supply. There should not be much between Ticket To Cairo and Precious Love in the opening leg of the PA with just over a length separating the pair when last they met. The former is a short-priced joint favourite while Precious Love, who was making her local debut and having her first run in five months, is 14-1. However, Johan Janse van Vuuren saddles two debutants in On A High Note and Wildeye, both short in the market. Celtic Voyager, a smart winner on VDJ Day can back up that win in the first leg of the jackpot. With apprentice Jabu Jacobs claiming 2.5kg, his handicap penalty has been nullified. He is a possible banker but once you look past him, the field in this Pick 6 leg becomes an option.
Punters face a similar dilemma in the fifth although this time around there does not appear to be an obvious standout. The books are offering 5-1 the field which just about sums the race up. Whizz Of Odds is slowly coming down in the handicap and gets 4kg off her back. Extravagant was narrowly beaten by Dice Captain last time out but the latter has a tougher draw while Clock Stopper took to the poly last run and can go one better.
Donald McDonald is unbeaten since being put over ground and will be a popular banker in the sixth but Pollard will be a threat after being touched off by the useful Christopher Robin in the KZN Breeders 1900 and the Rivalland stable is coming good. Santa Vittoria is a tentative choice in the seventh but she is a little too short in the ante-post market at 2-1 as there are plenty among the opposition that will make her gallop, including Super Fluke and Pina Colada although both are hamstrung by a wide gate.
PITSO Mosimane cut a dejected figure at Loftus Versfeld Stadium after Mamelodi Sundowns’ title aspirations took a knock on Monday, his parting shot serving as consolation for the beleaguered champions.
The back-to-back champions have recently endured a woeful run in their pursuit to retain their title, having bagged only two points out of a possible nine in their last three league matches – thanks to two draws and a loss.
During the restart of the season, after a five-month lay-off due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, Sundowns drew 0-0 with fellow title hopefuls Orlando Pirates and 1-1 with Highlands Park.
Despite Sundowns resuming their season with a late 3-2 victory over Bidvest Wits in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals, these underwhelming outings were expected considering the immaculate conditioning of both Pirates and Highlands.
But it appears those two draws were a warning for the Brazilians as they lost their third match 3-2 to Cape Town City in the nation’s capital, thanks to a brace from Surprise Ralani and a goal from Kermit Erasmus.
Sundowns unsuccessfully fought their way back with an own goal from Edmilson Dove and a late goal from substitute Keletso Makgalwa.
Monday’s result left second-placed Sundowns six points behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs, who’ve also played 24 league games this season.
“The manner in which we are going, it looks like the league title is going because we have played three games‚ drew two and lost one‚” said Mosimane during the virtual postmatch press conference after the City game on Monday.
Granted that Mosimane knows that their fate is slowly slipping out of their hands, as they’ll need favours from other teams that play Chiefs, but he remained resolute in his last comment, saying they’ll fight until the end.
“But until it’s mathematically proven that we can’t win it‚ we will try to win the three trophies this season because we have a lot of ego and ambition,” said Mosimane, who’s still targeting the league and Nedbank Cup after already winning the Telkom Knockout in December.
“That is football for us, that is the story of Sundowns inside Covid-19. But we will try to fight and keep going. We are too ambitious and we can’t just leave it and say it’s done. We will go for it but if we don’t win it‚ the table will say so and we should accept it.”
Those informed will tell you that Sundowns’ success in the past two seasons was due to the ability to switch on during “championship time”. The task of juggling between continental and domestic football often made them start slow.
However the uncharted territory of resuming the season in the bio bubble, which enforces Covid-19 protocols, has seen the Brazilians becoming a shadow of themselves as they can’t seem to hit top gear.
“We are struggling. But we are a team that struggles with a fight. If we were doing very well, we should be winning but we are not. We drew two matches and lost one,” Mosimane said. “It is a fact that we can’t hide. After we came back, Sundowns hasn’t been the same.”
The Brazilians will be hoping to return to winning ways on Friday at 6pm when they visit Maritzburg United, who lost their first game since the restart to Black Leopards, at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium.