Jack Milner
The Non-Black World Sports Betting Grand Heritage is in every respect an average race.
This is not a derogatory statement, but it is what makes Saturday’s meeting at the Vaal Racecourse totally pleasurable and unique
Firstly, it opens the door for some of the lower tiered horses in the country to do combat for a race carrying a R500,000 purse.
Secondly, it is the only race that caters for more than 20 runners and it is the only race to be contested over 1475m.
Finally, it is run at the Vaal and an excursion to that racecourse is always an enjoyable jaunt. It is not overcrowded, and it caters for the racegoers who make up the majority of bettors in the country.
However, the race has also produced some massive upsets over the years and punters who do get it right can come away with heaps of cash. The Quartet in that race, in particular, usually pays very well.
This year 23 runners have been carded to go to post for the race and the race looks as competitive as always. What often comes up for debate is the draw as the field is spread right across the track when the starter lets them go. For a number of years inside draws proved to be the kiss of death but over the past couple of years that appears to have changed and the barrier positions have been less relevant.
Perhaps the pick of this year’s field could be Pressonregardless who is trained by Dave Nieuwenhuizen and will be ridden by Richard Fourie. The five-year-old Lancaster Bomber gelding possibly comes out of the strongest form line after finishing a 0.70-length third behind Minogue in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on Betway Summer Cup day.
That race had an average merit rating of 112 while in this race it is 96. In addition, Minogue franked that form when he came out and won again last week.
Pressonregardless will carry 6.5kg more but he does drop significantly in class. He also might be ideally drawn in barrier No 13 which puts him in the middle of the pack.
Master Christmas found Pomodoro’s Jet 5.50-lengths too good in last year’s race when finishing second. Tony Peter’s charge will be looking to go one better this time and will be assisted by having champion jockey Gavin Lerena in the irons.
The Peter stable is in top form and this five-year-old Master Of My Fate gelding has good form at the track.
Last time out he was beaten 1.20 lengths by Mastership who came back to form with a dominant victory. Dianne Stenger’s charge, however, is 2kg worse off this time and that could give Master Christmas the edge on this occasion.
Mike and Mathew de Kock also arrive at the Vaal in buoyant mood after a Grade 1 and Grade 2 double in Cape Town last weekend, and they saddle three runners. Yippee Kiyay and Calantha both bring solid credentials into a typically wide-open renewal and will have their supporters
Yippee Kiyay comes off two excellent runs since having been gelded and with just 52kg on his back must be a lively runner, although he will jump from No 2 draw.
JP van der Merwe has been in top form in the Western Cape and he will be aboard the De Kock-trained three-year-old Buffalo Bill Cody gelding.
Another runner of interest is Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Obsidian. This Erupt gelding is a model of consistency at present and crucially, appears to be peaking at exactly the right time. He is a maturing individual at the top of his game and the partnership with S’manga Khumalo only strengthens the case as Obsidian has won four times under Khumalo and finished third in their five starts together – a strike-rate that speaks volumes about the understanding between horse and rider.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Heath House, 2 Volcanic Heat, 5 Custodian, 7 Ruby Whisper
Race 2: 10 Greenside Girl, 9 Be All You Can Be, 1 Gulf Of America, 6 Emerald Countess
Race 3: 2 Tintin, 6 Ghost Town Road, 11 Quickfreeze, 1 Hammer Blow
Race 4: 6 Play With The Wind, 10 Prophet, 4 Maverick Queen, 13 Spy Story
Race 5: 3 Copper Plate, 2 Romeo’s Magic, 4 Cartagena, 9 Pomozelous
Race 6: 5 Pressonregardless, 9 Master Christmas, 7 Mastership, 18 Yippee Kiyay, 8 Obsidian, 10 Rollo The Viking
Race 7: 2 Palace Prince, 7 Amor Fati, 9 Fully Loaded, 10 Mighty Eagle
Race 8: 6 Got The Feeling, 4 Coppola, 3 Big Unit, 17 Wayne
Race 9: 9 Concordia, 15 Can’t Catch Me, 12 Golden Aspen, 5 Michael Faraday
Race 10: 8 Time For Charity, 3 Nkandla Gold, 6 Phala Millions, 2 Tiger Storm
BEST BET
Race 3: 2 Tintin
VALUE BET
Race 8: 6 Got The Feeling
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 1×2
BIPOT
R240
Leg 1: 1, 9, 10
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 4, 6, 10, 13
Leg 4: 3
Leg 5: 5, 7, 8, 9, 18
Leg 6: 2, 7, 9, 10
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R384
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 6, 10
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 5, 7, 9, 18
Leg 5: 2, 7, 9
Leg 6: 3, 4, 6, 17
Leg 7: 5, 9, 12, 15
PICK 6
R2304
Leg 1: 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18
Leg 4: 2, 7, 9, 10
Leg 5: 3, 4, 6, 17
Leg 6: 5, 9, 12, 15
JACKPOT 1
R120
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18
Leg 3: 2, 7, 9, 10
Leg 4: 3, 4, 6, 17
JACKPOT 2
R400
Leg 1: 2, 7, 9, 10
Leg 2: 3, 4, 6, 17
Leg 3: 5, 9, 12, 15
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 6, 8
This article was originally published on TAB and is reposted here with permission.
