Best Bet: NAVAL COMMISSION(Race 5)
Value Bet: DEFINING (Race 6)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
5 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
3 | 12 | 14 | 4 |
3 | 11 | 1 | |
16 | |||
9 |
Cost: R90.00
Race 5
NAVAL COMMISSION has cracked pole position and goes for his hat-trick after victories over 1700M and the latest over 1800M by 0.8L, this despite racing three wide without cover. He struck the front at the 300M mark that day and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The trio is very much on the cards, and he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s program.
FUNAMBULIST has consistent formlines to his name, having finished third in his last two runs, the latest over 2400M, just over a length behind the winner. The gelding came five wide into the home straight in that event and was bumped at the 150m mark, so he had his excuses. From one gate outside the top pick, he should turn in another honest performance here.
EARTH DANCE was severely hampered at the start, but took over the running midway through the race and kept going courageously to win his last start over 2100M by one and a half lengths. The gelding has pulled gate seven and could score a quick double and chalk up his third career victory.
Race 6
The day’s value bet, DEFINING is a 5-year-old mare taking on the boys, but she has posted two solid last runs, finishing second in her penultimate outing over 1300M and then third next time out over the same c&d, 2.2L back from the winner, but she did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day, only seeing daylight at the 100M mark, before finishing off her race well. With better luck in running and from gate seven, she could prove hard to topple.
WEST OF AFRICA is the stable companion of the top choice and is another who did not get a clear run down the home stretch last time out over 1300M, ending up in twelfth spot, just over four and a half lengths adrift of the victor. He has his peak run after returning from a 42-week spell and will have to overcome a wide draw sixteen, but he will have the services of champion jockey James McDonald, so he will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle, and he makes a solid back-up for the yard.
ATLANTIC OCEAN won over 1400M three runs back, finished third in his penultimate start over 1200M and then seventh in his latest outing over 1300M, 2.8L behind the winner, but he had to be held up between the 400M and 200M mark and bumped another runner when switching out to obtain a clear run, before hanging in over the closing stages. The gelding has his peak run after returning from a shorter 16-week rest and has a useful draw two to aid his cause.
Race 7
This looks to be a tricky F&M Handicap with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. The tentative top choice goes to DAZZLING LUCY who raced up with the pace and stayed on well to finish fourth last time out over 1100M, 1.3L off the winner, when returning from a 25-week break. She finished third in a subsequent barrier trial and should put her pole position to good use.
TSARINA SOPHIA put her disappointing penultimate start over 1300M behind her when finishing third next time out over 1400M, just under a half-length back from the winner. it should however be noted that she came five wide into the home straight that day, but did make good late progress over the latter stages. The filly returns from an 18-week spell, but did win her only barrier trial and from a cosy draw four and with non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd up, she should be right up there when they hit the line.
MOLLY NAILS had her consistency rewarded with a 0.8L victory last time out over 1200M. She was bumped at the start of that event and came three wide into the home stretch, before kicking clear of the opposition at the 150M pole. The filly returns from a 21-week rest without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust, but she is drawn one inside the latter and should be included in all bets.
Race 8
INQUIRING MINDS had nothing go his way when winning his last start over 1600M, albeit by just a head. He was bumped at the start, came three wide into the home straight and was reported to have been cut into on his near-hind, as well as losing a shoe in running, so that victory was full of merit. He has his peak run after returning from a 37-week break and jumping from gate five, he could give jockey Nash Rawiller his second winner in the day’s Jackpot, should the top pick win the opening leg.
RISE TO IT completed his hat-trick when winning his last start over 1800M by a half-length, notwithstanding jumping awkwardly. The gelding returns from a 29-week absence, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials and whilst draw wideish in gate eight, the quartet of victories can not be ignored.
LOCO was slow away and hung in down the home straight when ending up in seventh place last time out over 1600M, 3.7L behind the winner, but the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He faces the widest draw of them all in gate eleven, but he should be doing his best work late.
