Runner comments, Guineas Day

Last weekend’s TAB carryover Pick 6 on the Cape Town Met meeting paid in excess of R585,000 to 14 winners, but more punters could share in the payout at Turffontein this Saturday when a R500,000 carryover is set to generate a pool of R3 million! With a possible banker in top stayer Zeus (Race 4), who should get punters over the first hurdle, this is a bet not to miss. Place your Pick 6 via the tote portal on Betway, and remember that you will get your 6% tax back on tote bets, at month-end, a welcome bonus to start every new month!

Saturday marks the start of the 2024 TAB SA Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara, and Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock is well represented in both feature races and elsewhere on the card.

Mike has a particularly strong hand in Race 6, the G2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Guineas with the unbeaten Gimme A Nother, Cape Fillies Guineas placed Silver Sanctuary, up-and-coming Champagne Cocktail, White Pearl and Mary’s Greenlight.

He said: “Gimme A Nother has enjoyed a good preparation, she is doing well at home and there is not much to say, her ability is in her form. But a bad draw is a bad draw, this is always a concern and we’re hoping the race works out for her. Silver Sanctuary, similarly, goes into the race following a good prep and her Cape Fillies Guineas conqueror Beach Bomb went on to the win the Paddock Stakes. Champagne Cocktail, too, is in good shape coming into the race, but as I’ve always said, the mile is just a bit short, she is better over further.

“White Pearl is a very honest filly, always gives of her best but she, in turn, is stretched at the mile. Mary’s Greenlight has made good progress recently but she has a few lengths to find in this league. In looking at the race overall, I’d say whatever beats Gimme A Nother will win.”

Gimmeanotherchance takes on his old rivals Sandringham Summit and Purple Pitcher in the TAB colt’s Guineas and Mike said: “He needed his last run badly and he’s come on really well since. He has the top two to beat on form, but I like him. He won’t be far off them.”

East Coast takes on hot favourite Zeus in Race 4 over 2400m and Mike feels he is worthy of inclusion in the Carryover Pick 6. “He was gelded after the Summer Cup and his work is good. I’ve always wanted to try him over this trip, he is bred to stay. I think he’ll run a good race.”

Strong galloper, Dave The King, returns to the track in Race 8, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m. Mike said: “Dave The King has been rested and gelded. He’s been working well and we have Piere Strydom back on, but they have a wide draw to contend with and he will just need it. He will come on with this run. Safe Passage, too, will need this run. It’s too short for him and he is drawn widest of all.

“Humdinger is in the race too, and JP van der Merwe gets on really well with her. She’s a course specialist, a distance specialist in what looks like a contest in which a number of her rivals are having preparation runs and may be short of their best. She’s game, doing well, should run a good race.”

Mike’s last pair for the day is Silver Hunt and Woodland Glade in Race 9 over 1600m and he commented: “Woodland Glade needed her last run and should improve on that. She sees out the trip. Silver Hunt hasn’t raced since November when she finished eight lengths off Gimme A Nother and looking at the form now, that wasn’t a bad run at all. I can’t give much confidence here, but it is a tricky kind of fillies handicap so I’d include them.”

The stable’s Precipeace has been scratched from Race 2.