Best Bet: SCARZEL (Race 5)
Value Bet: SPARKS (Race 6)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
4 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
2 | 2 | 10 | 1 |
1 | | 2 | 6 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 4
THE LION has consistent formlines to his name and raced just behind the leaders before staying on well to finish third last over 1100M, just over a half-length behind the winner. He has a wideish draw eight, but on the plus side, he will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
Two 4yr old fillies could chase him home, with ZALINI being the narrow second selection. She is drawn one outside the top choice and is seldom far off the action and although recorded as finishing sixth last time out over 1100M, she was just under two and a half lengths back from the winner. She overraced in the early stages that day and gets cheekpieces fitted for the first time. If these have the desired effect of helping her to settle, she should be a big runner here.
PULL THE TAIL tried to go from jump to wire when ending up in eighth place last time out over five furlongs, 4.8L behind the winner and from her draw seven, she is likely to attempt similar tactics today. She does have her peak run after returning from a 19-week break and she will also get 2kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.
Race 5
SCARZEL has finished second in his last two outings, the latest over 1100M when beaten a short-head and the form of that race has been franked. He made good late progress that day to narrowly fail to overhaul the victor and from his handy draw two, he will be hoping to go one better here and is made the best bet on the day’s card.
BEAN ROCKING had his consistency rewarded with his maiden victory last time out over 1100M, by 1.3L. The gelding hit the front at the 200M mark and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. He jumps from gate six and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.
LORD OF THE SUN showed marked improvement to finish second last time out over 1100M, beaten just a short-head, but he did hang in all the way down the home straight on that occasion, which probably cost him the race. He is drawn one inside the latter and should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
The day’s value bet, SPARKS battled all the way down to the wire when finishing second in his latest outing over 1100M, just under a half-length back from the winner. On that effort, he should appreciate the extra ground on offer here and whilst drawn wideish in gate eight, he could nevertheless prove hard to topple.
TURNAWAY had finished third and second before winning his last start over 1900M by a length, notwithstanding hanging out down the home stretch. He returns from an 11-week rest, but has finished second in his only barrier trial to prove his well-being and although he drew wide in gate sixteen, he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
POET LAD followed up his penultimate run victory over a mile with a third place finish next time out over the same journey, 3.8L back from the winner, but he raced three wide without cover in that event and understandably had nothing extra to offer over the closing stages. He will have to negotiate draw nine, but he should enjoy the drop in trip.
Race 7
WINDABULL has won two of his last three runs, the latest over 1100M, albeit by just a short-head. He was returning from a lengthy 48-week spell that day and was trapped wide throughout before hanging in all the way down the home straight so that Victor was full of merit. The gelding is drawn wide in gate nine, but he could give jockey Aaron Bullock his second winner in the day’s Jackpot, should the top selection win the second leg. A 4yr old filly and a 5yr old mare could make things difficult for him though, with
INDY ROSE WARRIOR getting the nod for second spot. She goes for her hat-trick for her new stable after victories over six furlongs and the latest over seven furlongs by a length, this despite coming five wide approaching the home turn. She will have to overcome a wide gate seventeen out of eighteen, but the trio is very much on the cards.
HOLLY ROAD won over today’s trip three runs back then was a tad disappointing in her penultimate start when stepping up to a mile, but then finished sixth last time out over six furlongs, 3.2L back from the victor, when returning from a 19-week break. From her kinder gate five, she should be included in all bets.