Best Bet: CEASEFIRE (Race 7)
Value Bet: OFF DA HIZZLE (Race 6)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
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4 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
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10 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
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9 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
6 |
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|
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Cost: R72.00
Race 4
NOVEMBER RHYTHM has consistent formlines to his name, finishing fourth last time out over 900M, two lengths behind the winner. He jumped awkwardly, but recovered quickly to take up the lead and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire, only to be run out of it late. He is drawn wide in gate nine, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
Two 3yr old fillies could chase him home, with the slight preference going to INVEST IN LOVE who is seldom far off the action, finishing third last time out over five furlongs, 1.7L back from the winner, but she did race five wide without cover that day, so that effort was encouraging. She returns from a 21-week break and a change of trainer, but she has finished third in her only barrier trial. She faces an even wider draw twelve, but should nevertheless still turn in another honest performance today.
HOT SUNDAE was returning from a 20-week rest when finishing fifth last time out over 90M, 2.3L back from the winner. She jumps from a kinder gate six and will have ex-SA jockey Brandon Lerena in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle. There is an unraced runner in the field, so keep an eye on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether his connections believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for him should be respected.
Race 5
TITRATION’S last three runs have yielded a second and two third-place finishes, the latest over six furlongs by just under a length. The gelding struck the front at the 250M mark, before being reeled in over the closing 50M. he gets a wideish draw eight, be he looks to be the one to side with in this line-up.
SECOND HALF is drawn one inside the top choice and has won two of his last four starts. He finished fifth in his latest outing over a mile, two lengths back from the victor and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He raced just behind the leaders on that occasion and stayed on well over the closing stages. He should not be troubled by the drop in trip.
SAMMIBALLERINA is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she won over six furlongs three runs back, finished ninth in her penultimate start over seven furlongs and then disappointed to end up in fifteenth last time out over a mile, but that was at a stronger centre. She gets a handy draw two and should be included in all bets.
Race 6
A 3yr old and a 4yr old filly could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but the day’s value bet, OFF DA HIZZLE is taken to lead the field home. She has cracked pole position and has only had the three runs to date, winning on debut over 1100M, finishing third next time out over six furlongs and then fifth last time out when stepping up to 1300M, three and a half lengths adrift of the winner. She has her first run after a 17-week rest, but has had the two barrier trials, winning the latest and will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways here.
EXTRA SMART has consistent formlines to her name and followed up her penultimate run victory over five furlongs with a third-place finish next time out over the same sprint trip, 2.2L back from the winner, but she was returning from a 23-week spell that day and came four wide approaching the home turn. She has pulled a useful gate four and gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time. If these have the desired effect, she should be a big runner here.
MON PIERRE has only had the two runs, finishing fourth first time out over five furlongs and then showing the expected improvement to win by 3.8L next time out over the same distance. He will have to negotiate gate nine and takes on stronger, but he would have come on further with that run under his belt and may well be up to the task at hand.
Race 7
The day’s best bet, CEASEFIRE is a four-time winner and raced wide in the middle stages when finishing sixth last time out over 1300M, 1.8L behind the winner, but the form of that race has been franked. The gelding has a useful draw three and could give jockey Aaron Bullock the last two winners in the day’s Jackpot.
RISING raced just behind the leaders, but was hampered at the 200M pole when finishing eighth in his latest outing over 1300M, just under seven and a half lengths behind the victor, so he had his excuse. That was also at a stronger centre and from draw five, he should be right up there when they hit the line.
SMOKE BOMB has changed trainers since finishing sixth last time out over seven furlongs, 5.2L behind the winner. He returns from a 58-week spell but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, finishing third in the first and second in the latest, but the fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them. He is drawn one outside the latter and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.