Expect a Charity Mile blast at this weekend’s R1m event

Winchester Mansion, winner of this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July, has been priced up as the 5-1 favourite to win the R1-million Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile.

The Grade 2 race over 1600m will be run on the Standside track at Turffontein on Saturday. An outstanding field of 16 runners has been assembled to line-up a race that not only benefits owners but also a host of charities.

Other than Brett Crawford-trained Winchester Mansion, Cousin Casey, who will be having his first run for trainer Sean Tarry, last year’s Betway Summer Cup winner Puerto Manzano and twotime defending champion Bingwa are in the field.

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Mike de Kock has five runners – top weight Dave The King, Safe Passage, Humdinger, Shoemaker and Union Square – while Tarry has three in the final field – Cousin Casey, Future Pearl, Bless My Stars – and could have a fourth should Reserve Marigold Hotel get in.

Racing operators 4Racing and global steel manufacturer Allied Steelrode have again joined forces to stage this inspirational race day in that all 16 charities linked to the horses in the Charity Mile final field will benefit.

Due to Allied Steelrode’s sponsorship the charity paired with the winning horse will get R100,000 for their charity, the charity with the second-placed horse R75,000, third place getting R50,000, fourth place R35,000, and all charities linked with the remainder of the final field guaranteed at least R20,000.

In addition to the 16 charities in the final field, an additional five charities have been added to the race day beneficiaries on the day, while Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco and the Monaco Merchants have again sponsored the Grade 3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes, which will see the Adelaide Tambo School for the Physically Challenged benefiting from their R50,000 contribution.

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Betway have also come on board to sponsor the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes, ensuring that stakes will increase from R250,000 to R400,000 this year, with the mouth-watering clash sees sensational Betway Spring Challenge champion Main Defender going up against impressive Durban Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe winner Sandringham Summit.

Bingwa’s Charity Mile victory last year also benefited the Epworth Children’s Home handsomely and this time the Stonebridge family’s two-time champion is paired in the main race with the Legacy Children’s Home, as he goes for what would be an incredible third Allied Steelrode Charity Mile victory in a row.

Some of the Highveld horseracing community’s leading lights were out in force in support at the Charity Mile Barrier, including jockeys Gavin Lerena, Kabelo Matsunyane, Calvin Habib and Diego de Gouveia, trainers Mike de Kock, Tony Peter, James Crawford and Robyn Klaasen, as well as owners including Laurence Wernars, Stinkie Pooe and the teams from Maine Chance Farms and Stonebridge.

Adding to the punter experience, those using the TAB 4Racing betting app will have an option to further contribute to the charities while placing their bets. This is a remarkable example of how a day at the races can transform into an opportunity for positive change.

“This horseracing event came as a result of recognising the need to assist organisations that are making a difference in our communities, more especially post the COVID pandemic,” said Allied Steelrode CEO, Arun Chadha.

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Betting on the Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile.

5-1 Winchester Mansion; 7-1 Puerto Manzano; 9-1 Safe Passage, Future Pearl; 10-1 Dave The King, Bless My Stars; 12-1 Cousin Casey, Meridius, Union Square; 14-1 Shoemaker, Melech; 18-1 Bingwa, Humdinger, Eye Of The Prophet; 40-1 Second Base; 50-1 Lady of Power.