With no runners until next Thursday, Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock said on Friday: “All is well, we’ve been waiting for the first spring rains that thankfully arrived earlier this week. We’re hoping the tracks will be in top condition as we go into the Highveld feature season. We have a few nice horses to step out soon, watch this space.”
The big event of the weekend is the much-anticipated return to the track of Equus champion colt Charles Dickens, who will be pitted against sprinting star Gimme A Prince in the G3 HWB Matchem Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville.
Here are some form pointers for the meeting. Note that there is a R250,000 Jackpot Carryover to Jackpot One (Race 5). A Pool of near R1-million is expected and star colt Charles Dickens will be pivotal in play, for most punters. You can place your Tote Jackpots via the
Betway portal.
Race 1:
A cracking Maiden contest in which
Tenango, Guarding The Wall, Moint Loisir, Celtic Chief and Magic Verse have winning chances. Box the five in your exotics, most of them will go on to bigger things and their trainers will all be hoping to go close here.
Race 2:
One has to expect a big run from Hawwaam’s half-brother
Foudre, though the form of his debut has not yet been franked. This could swing things the way of
Lindbergh, who races from a better draw and was touched off in a strong Maiden last time.
Race 3:
Most competitive, again, but
School Policy was considered unlucky not to have won his most recent start. He looks well equipped from a good draw.
Race 4:
A nightmare of a race, perhaps best to seek a Pick 6 result early, with ‘Field’ in your play.
Race 5:
Three-year-old
Zoomie is a class act coming off a rest. If he is ring-rusty, the likely winner will be
Prevalence, peaking in his third run after a rest and gelding. Good reserve runners, watch in case of scratchings.
Race 6:
Charles Dickens is reportedly in good nick, having had a recent grass gallop at Durbanville. “He’s a stronger horse as a four-year-old,” said trainer Candice Bass-Robison. Her confidence gives him an edge over rival
Gimmeaprince, reported well below his peak but capable of a good run
. Exciting contest, whatever the outcome.
Race 7:
Varying fitness levels make this quite tricky, though
Golden Hostess has the best high-level form and Bass-Robinson’s returning runners are seldom far off race-ready.
Cala Muretta has turned the corner under Michelle Rix and Richard Fourie is an interesting jockey booking.
Race 8:
The old soldier
Elusive Trader is a five-time winner against one-time winners here and has Bernard FayHerbe in the irons, but if his big weight stops him, anything can win. Consider another “Field” leg.
Race 9:
One has to take note here of Justin Snaith’s comments about
Double Grand Slam – “Putting in great work back home, huge runner!”. That gives this one banker prospects, although highly regarded
La Divina and Winter Rainfall are not without appeal.
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