Kyle and Rachel race for honours on ‘appy day’

Kyle Strydom and Rachel Venniker, reigning champion apprentice and current log leader respectively, look likely to fight out the individual honours on an “appy day” at Greyville on Monday.

The youngsters could even ride two winners apiece at the Polytrack meeting, which features four Apprentice Handicaps on the eight-race card.

Venniker is well placed to put first points on the board in Race 4, with Our Emily, trained by her champion and mentor Muis Roberts.

The filly, by rising speed sire Rafeef, won at the second time of asking a fortnight ago, getting the better of well-thought-of Yatta. That win saw her handed a rating of 75, which makes her the top-rated – and top-weighted – runner in this handicap for fillies.

Venniker’s 2.5kg claim reduces the burden a tad and Our Emily looks progressive enough to dominate this field.

Strydom partners Sting Ray for Glen Kotzen and could challenge for top honours with a blinker strike in an open race.

The young champ teams up with champion trainer Justin Snaith in the next Apprentice Handicap, Race 6, aboard Orange Bowl, who is one of the better bets on the card.

Orange Bowl has had two runs since transferring to Snaith’s Summerveld satellite yard, making late progress over 1400m and 1600m, and is clearly ready to execute on a plan over this 1700m.

Venniker rides Alysson Wright’s Kingsmead’s Kristl, who will have her supporters despite inexplicably failing to justify favouritism last time out – following a debut victory in the run before that.

The young woman on a roll goes on Roberts’s Philispiel in Race 7 – the third leg of the jockey challenge and another very competitive event.

Philispiel has been running prominently of late, without finding the reserves to finish off her efforts. A spot of Venniker magic might be what he needs to best this competition, which includes Strydom’s mount Brazil Nut.

Race 8 is shaping up as a straight fight between the two top apprentices: Strydom on Dennis Bosch-trained What A Blast and Venniker on Roberts’s Patronage. A battle royal perhaps.

SELECTIONS

1: 6 Yata, 3 Austen, 7 Shezakinda Magic, 2 Venturous

2: Pray For Rain, 1 Hope Is Power, 4 Phinda Mzala, 6 Big Sky Country

3: 6 A Time To Remember, 9 Get Carter, 3 Shaken Not Stirred, 5 Zuri’s Star

4: 9 Our Emily, 1 Not Now Pussycat, 5 Brunilda, 7 Harler’s Dream

5: 2 Name Of The Game, 6 Tostada, 12 Siege Of Orleans, 1 Princess Marne

6: 1 Orange Bowl, 4 Montford, 6 Ruby Slippers, 5 Rainbow Unicorn

7: 5 Philispiel, 4 Great Guy, 6 Forest Jump, 3 Casadoro

8: 10 What A Blast, 11 Patronage, 5 Running Freely, 6 Movie Magic

Pick 6: 3,6,9 x 1,5,7,9 x 1,2,6,12 x 1,4 x 1,3,4,5,6 x 5,6,10,11 (R1920)

PA: 2 x 6,9 x 1,5,9 x 2 x 1 x 4,5,6 x 5,10,11 (R54)