SATURDAY RACING.(post your fancies)

Good morning all, on what should be a feast of racing.

Local racing from Kenilworth and the big T and plenty early offers on Interbet.

Captains Cheer looks the best bet in the Cape, but all eyes will be on Turffontien and we hope for good weather?

Gajima has Pericles running and I wish him well, Our Giant should run a big race and is well fancied, should be a cracking race with Dancers Daughter and the Barry Irwin runner Gypsys Warning.
I fancy the 16/1 shot Mount Hood to run a big race.

In the UK, plenty of racing,

Doncaster: Lake Legend, Lidar and West End Rocker are the best bets.

Kelso: Cloudy Lane

Kempton: Hells Bay

Newbury: Definity and Bellvano

good punting!

JACK MILNER RXP

TRAINER Charles Laird threw the proverbial cat among the pigeons when he first put stable jockey Anton Marcus on Always and declared no jockey for Dingaans winner Oracy in the Gauteng Guineas. That set up a fair amount of debate as to what the move was about.


There were rumours of French jockey Christophe Soumillon, who had ridden Oracy to victory in the Dingaans, coming out to ride him, as well as a theory that Always was the better horse over 1600m. Whatever the reason, common sense finally prevailed and Marcus is back aboard Oracy with Willie Figueroa getting the ride on Always.

The R1-million Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein tomorrow is the first leg of the Triple Crown and if a runner looks capable of claiming that R2-million bonus for winning all three legs, it is Oracy.

It takes some class to win a race like the Dingaans second time out and that illustrated that Oracy is well above average. Strangely the form-line turned out to be a disaster with only one of the 14 runners going on to win his next start - and that was Oracy himself.

Perhaps 1600m is a little sharp for him but he is unbeaten in three runs and Marcus has the bonus of a No 2 draw to get the New Zealand-bred colt well positioned. With the distance a concern, Laird has declared Oracy to run in blinkers for the first time.

Captain’s Table failed by only a neck in the Dingaans in which jockey Piere Strydom had to overcome a No 13 draw. He is slightly closer to the rail at No 9 and it will come as no surprise for Strydom to have this son of Captain Al up front if the pace is slow.

Captain’s Table’s only run after the Dingaans resulted in a short-head loss to Fenerbahce over 1800m on the inside track but he is likely to prefer the standside track.

Always has to come into the reckoning. He was an unlucky loser of his first start and won his next two with ease. Based on merit ratings, he should struggle to run a place but perhaps the failure of all the horses behind Oracy in the Dingaans indicates the handicapper has misjudged the strength of that race.
Always has pole position and ``Figgy’’ will be able to place Always beautifully. But only the race will tell if the Al Mufti gelding is in this league.

Geoff Woodruff has two runners with distinct chances - Seattle Ice and Choisir. There was talk when Seattle Ice beat Iron Wood and Mount Hood over this course and distance and three winners have come from that form-line. Unfortunately Seattle Ice failed in his next start, when beaten 1.25 lengths by Imperial Gesture, but he meets his conqueror on 2.5kg better terms and should reverse the form.

``It was the wrong race for him last time and in my view not his run,’’ said Woodruff of Seattle Ice. ``He has proven himself very competitive on the standside track and I think he will be a very big runner.’’

Mark Khan has chosen to ride Seattle Ice over Choisir, who will have Felix Coetzee aboard, and that appears to make him the stable elect. Choisir was badly balked when finishing a 1.75-length fifth behind Horatio last time out and Woodruff said Khan had been uncertain about which of the pair he should ride.
If Alec Laird has Sporting Boy fit, he will come into the reckoning. But he has not run since finishing unplaced behind Le Drakkar in the Cape Guineas in December and is poorly drawn at No 12.

go for one (veterans race at newbury)

the package (goldcup newbury) pipe going for his cheltenham bonus horse?

At the track, weather could be a problem, but ok now.
Looking at the T.V. and its pouring at Kranji,so we should be fine!

Gajima has Pericles running.

Mark I have a leg in Mac´s wee Horsie is in the same race - first past the post. . .

Jamster Wrote:

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> Gajima has Pericles running.

Brilliant stuff 10/1, well done Mark and happy birthday Uncle George.

p.s. thanks Gajima.

Well done Mark!

Happy 21st (again - lol!) Uncle George

Plus the R20K RA bonus, these Scots lads are greedy! wait for 20 races.

well laid plan ,congrats

Only the 10k bonus as only half the owners are RA members.

Brilliant Strydom - 2450 m and gets up to win in a couple of strides before the line. Brilliant judge. Seems to like to get the better of Mark Khan