Best Bet: OLENTIA (Race 6)
Value Bet: PUNGO (Race 5)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
|
8 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
|
4 |
3 |
9 |
10 |
|
3 |
1 |
|
11 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 4
COMPASSIONATE jumped awkwardly and was bumped at the 800M mark, forcing her to race three wide, but stayed on well when finishing fifth last time out over 1100M, just under three lengths behind the winner. She gets draw five and looks to be the one to side with here.
MORE THE MERRIER is seldom far off the action, finishing sixth last time out over 1100M, 2.2L back from the winner. She showed plenty of toe that day and will be having her third run for her new trainer. She is drawn one inside the top choice and will get 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid her cause.
CAP ESTEL made good late progress when finishing fourth last time out over 1500M, 1.8L back from the winner and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. From her handy draw two, she should be included in all bets.
Race 5
PUNGO followed up his penultimate run victory over 1250M with a third place finish next time out over seven furlongs, 1.7L back from the winner, but he was slow away on that occasion and hung out in the home straight. The form of that race has been franked and he will be having his peak run after returning from a 16 week rest. He jumps from a useful gate three and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.
PRETTY AMAZING is a 4 year old filly taking on the boys and is the stable companion to the top choice. She finished well from some way back when ending up in third place last time out over 1500M, just a half length off the winner, suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to her liking. She has pulled draw six and get 2kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd and makes a solid back-up for the powerful Chris Waller yard.
DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM won over this journey three runs back, then finished sixth in his penultimate outing, before ending up in fourth spot last time out 1500M, just over a length and a half behind the victor. The gelding stayed on well that day and from a cozy draw two and with a 1.5kg claiming apprentice aboard, he should not be easily discarded.
Race 6
Two 3 year old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but the day’s best bet, OLENTIA is taken to lead the field home. She missed out on her hat-trick after two victories over six furlongs when finishing fourth last time out over 1300M, 1.8L back from the winner, but she did jump awkwardly in that contest and the form of that race has turn out to be strong, with two runners out of that event subsequently winning. She does return from a 12 week rest and will have to negotiate draw nine, but she has finished second in her only barrier trial and could provide Chris Waller with a quick double.
SHADOWS OF LOVE on the other hand goes for her hat-trick after wins over 1100 and six furlongs, the latest when putting 3.8L between herself and the opposition. She is a speedy sort who stayed on well that day and has her peak run after returning from a 23 week spell. From a kinder gate five and with having ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham in the irons, she could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.
UNION ARMY had his consistency rewarded with a 2.3L victory last time out over 1300M and the form of that race has been franked. It should also be noted that he was bumped shortly after the start, so that effort was encouraging. The gelding has pulled a cozy draw two and should be involved in the finish.
Race 7
CAPO STRADA has consistent formlines to his name, finishing second in his latest outing over six furlongs, just under a half length off the winner. He was returning from a 23 week absence that day and came three wide into the home straight, but was only run out of it over the last 75M. He jumps from gate five and will be hoping to chalk up his fourth career win today.
KAY TEEZ COMMAND is a 5 year old mare taking on males, but she has her hat-trick run after victories over six furlongs and the latest over seven furlongs by three lengths. She returns from a 70 week spell and has her first run for Chris Waller, but has had the benefit of four barrier trials. The fact that her connections have brought her back into racing after such a lengthy absence and the engaging of champion jockey James McDonald, would seem to suggest that they believe that she still has something more to offer them.
BARTOSELLI has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when third over six furlongs, 0.8L behind the winner, this despite jumping awkwardly and coming four wide into the home stretch. He is drawn one outside the latter and should be right up there when they hit the line.
