It’ll be a Wild One today

As normal, it’s quite a competitive race with many horses having winning chances. I normally compare this race to the Durban July for the reason that it has a bigger field than normal and around the Greyville track, with its short straight, you need a lot of luck to get a clear run from the top of the straight, especially on stayers, which normally take quite a while to get into top gear.

I found the Durban July was very rough halfway down the straight because some of the frontrunners were getting tired and the backmarkers were getting going. Naturally, on this track, that causes us all to bunch up.

I expect the same thing to happen in this race but spoke to Gold Circle and have been assured that the false rail will not be out that wide. That’ll give us more space to fan out as we straighten. In the Durban July the false rail was out wide, which seemed to force the majority of the field towards the outside.

My first pick in the Gold Cup is Wild One because his last two runs have been top efforts over distances probably too short for him. Having his third run after a layoff over 3200m, he could be a difficult horse to beat.

His danger, I would think, is Solid Speed, while others to consider are Disco Al and Kingston Mines.

I’m riding Coltrane and thank heavens the blinkers have been taken off. This horse sometimes wants to take hold a bit, so I think over this distance, the headgear would not have been in his favour. He is held on recent form and I’m hoping he comes back to his much better old form.

Naturally we’re all hoping to win this race because this our final appearance before the curtain falls on the 2014-15 racing season.

The Champions Cup is a two-horse race between Futura and Legislate and the only other possibility is Punta Arenas, who ran second in the Durban July off a very bad draw. I’m riding Willow Magic, who should struggle in this field. In my opinion, his best distance is probably 1400m and this race is over 1800m.

There’s a carryover Pick 6 on the meeting and my suggestion for a banker is unbeaten Rabada in the Premiers Champion Stakes, which is a race for horses who officially turn three today. Obviously these “babies” can improve with each and every run but on current form Rabada looks a certainty.

He’s got a good draw, has won on this track before and his current form shows he is well clear of the rest. I’m riding Mogok Master, who is second favourite and has been beaten six lengths by Rabada. Naturally all I can expect is, maybe, a place.

Another possible banker is Night Trip in Race 10. He has finished just behind Futura and Legislate in the past and is definitely not meeting that quality of horse in this field. So, off a good draw, he’s worth a chance in the later exotics.

On Sunday we’re racing at Turffontein. I like a horse in Race 2, Rain In Africa. There are quite a few unraced horses, but sometimes experience is an advantage.

The next race is the start of the Place Accumulator and the form shows they should all finish very close to one another. I’m leaning towards Shot from Record Bid and Teagan’s Boy. I’m riding Violet Pilot, who I’m hoping will make some improvement to place. A couple of the first-timers could attract support in the betting and because this is not a strong race, I’d suggest including them.

Race 4 looks a two-horse race between Approval Rating and Talktothestars. You could also include Meissa because he seems to do well every time he runs over shorter. I’m riding Malta Rocks, who often has soundness issues. He’s held on numerous runs, but I’m hoping for a place.

Race 5 is tricky. The unknown horse is Bindaloo, who won his second start and since then has been campaigning in feature races. Of the older horses, Carter seems best. He has had some breathing problems in the past, so think about including Turbo Tom, Captain’s Anchor and Shannon’s Boy. I’m riding Bah, who is held by Carter. Again, I’m hoping for a place.

I’m riding Petrichor in Race 6. He’s a pick-up ride and as he hasn’t run for a couple of months, I’m not sure what to expect. My first call was for Mr Mulliner because I won on him last time out. He’s a progressive sort and I think he enjoys the standside track.

He could be the banker in the Place Accumulator. My value is Shepherds Warning. In his second-last start he finished just behind runner-up Scent, who came to win his next start. Mr Mulliner and Shepherds Warning could be enough for the Pick 6.

My best bet comes in Race 7, Lemonade River. The majority of this field has had many chances and Lemonade River beat Soft Sand last time out. Soft Sand represents the form of most of the opposition which makes Lemonade River a hard horse to beat. She also has the benefit of being drawn No 1.

Race 8 is very difficult and I would suggest punters include as many horses as they can afford in all bets. I’ll narrow it down, though. In Place Accumulators put in at least Delalaat, Antonia Major and Main Sunday, whose last run can be forgiven. In the Pick 6, add in Arabian Arrow, Catch A Thief and Leah’s Little Luv. I’m riding Party Magic and I’m hoping to place because she’s run behind Leah’s Little Luv in the past.

I would follow the lightly raced horses in Race 9 because they have scope for improvement. Seven Single might be a hard horse to beat because he attracted quite a bit of money last time out. That run was on the sand so it’s difficult to know if he’s any good on the turf.

His stable companion, Royal Master, is my other selection and both must be put into Pick 6 permutations. I’d suggest Place Accumulator players banker the one who attracts the most money. If they don’t make enough improvement, Gladiatore could be a good backup. He pulled hard last time over 1800m and in a faster-paced 1600m race from No 1 draw, he might not fight the rider which will naturally give him a better chance.