Best Bet: BARMERA (Race 5)
Value Bet: TOESONTHENOSE (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
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2 |
1 |
5 |
7 |
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1 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
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11 |
6 |
3 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
BARMERA had his consistency rewarded with his maiden victory last time out over 1500M, putting 6.3L between himself and the opposition. He came three wide into the home straight that day, before striking the front at the 250M and despite shifting out over the closing stages, he recorded a comfortable win. He takes on stronger here, but from draw six, he could be up to the task at hand and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
SAVVY LEGEND won his latest start over today’s journey, albeit by just a head, but he did come five wide into the home straight and his jockey dropped his crop during the race. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate nine, but he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice, given that he should be doing his best work late.
STELLAR PERFORMER is a five year old mare taking on the boys, but she stayed on well from some way back to end up in thirteenth place last time out over seven furlongs, just over six lengths behind the winner and on that performance, she should appreciate the extra ground on offer today.
Race 6
PHAROAH’S REIGN is a four year old filly taking on males and followed up her penultimate run victory over 1300M with a tenth place finish next time out over a mile, just under ten and a half lengths back from the winner, but that was in a Group 1 event and she had to be held up approaching the home turn. She has pulled a handy draw three and will be having her peak run after returning from a 17 week rest. In addition, she will have 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice and looks to be the one to side with here.
CASUAL CONNECTION won over a mile three runs back and then finished a close-up sixth over the same trip in his penultimate outing, before ending up in fourth spot in his latest start over ten furlongs, just a half length back from the victor. The gelding is drawn wide in gate eleven, but he will have ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.
GORSHIN is seldom too far off the action, finishing fourth last time out over 1500M, two and a half lengths back from the winner, but it should be noted that he jumped awkwardly at the start, bumping another runner and then came four wide into the home stretch, before finishing off his race well. He has a useful draw two and should be included in all bets.
Race 7
TOMISLAVA is a four year old filly taking on boys, but she put her disappointing penultimate start over six furlongs firmly behind her by winning her next start over this sprint trip by just under a half length. She raced up with the leaders on that occasion and then kicked clear of the field at the 125M mark before holding off the chasing pack in the dash down to the wire. She jumps from a cozy draw two and could chalk up her third career win today.
SPORTS LEGEND has produced two solid last efforts and showed plenty of toe to win his last start over 1100M by one and a half lengths and the form of that race has been franked. He is drawn wide in gate ten, but the gelding has his peak run after returning from a 23 week spell and should be right up there when they hit the line.
DAME CARTLAND is a three year old filly who turned four wide into the home straight before delivering a powerful finish to win her latest outing over 1100M by a neck. She will have to overcome a wide draw fifteen, but given her style of racing, she is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the latter part of the race.
Race 8
The day’s value bet, TOESONTHENOSE jumped awkwardly, but recovered quickly to race up in third position and then stayed on well to finish second in his last start over seven furlongs, just a half length off the winner. He gets gate five and could prove hard to topple.
CATAPULT has cracked pole position and has finished third in two of his last three outings, the latest over seven furlongs, beaten just under a length, this despite racing three wide without cover and coming four wide into the home stretch. The form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning, so he should be viewed a big runner in this line-up.
BUDHWAR raced three wide approaching the home turn before ending up in third spot last time out over 1100M, 1.8L behind the winner. The gelding will have to deal with a wide gate eleven, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
