Master Archie looks like a young prince

Grey colt Master Archie goes for a hat-trick of wins when he runs at the Vaal Classic on Thursday and stands out as a banker bet.

After just five outings, the newly turned three-year-old glories in a merit rating of 104, which makes him easily the best horse in Race 6, a Graduation Plate over 1000m. The race rules have him carrying 58kg, so, theoretically, he should win on his tod.

Master Archie is clearly highly thought of by his owner-breeders, and why not? His father is blue-blooded Rafeef, who won the Computaform Sprint and the Hawaii Stakes in his racing days and whose offspring are starting to fetch big prices.

Owners Vasan Harry and Sean Hanna initially sent him to Candice Bass-Robinson in Cape Town, where he showed instant promise in juvenile sprints. On his third start, the money went down, but he disappointed by running out of steam over 1200m.

The racing men opted for a quick tactical shakeup and switched their colt to Paul Peter’s Joburg yard. The two-year-old took to his new home and promptly smashed a maiden line-up by 7.50 lengths in a 1000m work rider race. A month later, in mid-July, he effortlessly strolled away from a four-horse juvenile field by 2.50 lengths.

Track and trip of that last effort are reprised. Leading jockey Warren Kennedy gets aboard. Punters have no worries about Leg 4 of the Pick 6. Master Archie looks set for bigger things.

There are some decent horses among the opposition, but they are likely to be competing for second place. Top-weight Captain Morisco has seldom run a bad race in 16 bashes and will surely give of his best again, while Phinda Mzala, Retallick, Jet Cat and Warrior Captain look evenly matched.

A roughie to chuck into Trifectas and Quartets is Bronco Blitz.

SELECTIONS

Race 1:

3 Monsoon Kenny, 4 Invincible Wall, 1 Jackson’s Duel, 2 Passing Shot

Race 2:

5 Ontheverge, 1 Shikuru, 2 Stunning Kitten, 4 After Me

Race 3:

1 Gilda Gray, 2 Rockingthetimeaway, 5 Nena’s Star, 4 Lilly Langtry

Race 4:

11 Golden Aspen, 1 Timbavati River, 2 Coming In Hot, 7 Cosmic Rush

Race 5:

5 Alabama Anna, 2 Naarah, 6 Waya Yire, 3 Spanish Song

Race 6:

4 Master Archie, 1 Captain Morisco, 9 Bronco Blitz, 5 Retallick

Race 7:

1 Eliud, 3 Nartjie, 2 Approach Control, 4 Imperial Master

Race 8:

2 West Coast Lover, 1 Letsdoit, 12 Bitter Wind, 4 Midnight Gem

Pick 6:

1,2,5 x 1,11 x 1,2,3,5,6 x 4 x 1,2,3,4,5 x 1,2,4,11,12 (R750)

PA:

1,5 x 1 x 11 x 2,5 x 4 x 1,3 x 1,2 (R16)