With the start of the 2024/25 racing season on 1 August there won’t be any big feature races until September when the Highveld Spring Season gets underway and November’s Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein will be the highlight of the term.
This weekend sees a good programme of handicaps and a Listed race at
HWB Scottsville on Sunday. The Winter Country Champ finals over 1200m, 1400m and 1800m, delayed due to rain, looks like it will finally be completed at the HWB Kenilworth meeting scheduled for Kenilworth on Saturday afternoon.
Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock posted more excellent results in the 2023/24 season, sending out 78 winners and 259 places from 563 runners for a high 14% strike rate. Mike trained one of his smallest strings of horses since he started in 1989, but saddled six Grade 1 winners, his highest number since the 2014/15 season. The stable’s star gelding Dave The King and unbeaten filly Gimme A Nother are both in line for awards at the Equus ceremony on 15 August.
The stable traditionally has fewer contestants during this time of vaccinations, but Mike has entered three runners for Saturday’s meeting on the standside track at Turffontein. Mike’s last runner for last season was Woodland Glade, a winner at the polytrack on Wednesday, and with a bit of luck the first runner in the new season can also land the spoils. She is Flying Hafla, a daughter of Vercingetorix, who will make her second career appearance in Race 2 over 1800m.
Mike said: “Flying Hafla had to race from the widest of draws on her 1450m debut and she ran well, staying on for fourth place. I think this longer trip will suit her. She’s not the strongest of fillies yet, but barring the Stuart Pettigrew runner (Key Worker), this is not the strongest of fields. Flying Hafla will win a few races, she is a nice filly so I give her a winning chance here.”
Bonete takes her place in Race 5 over 1600m and Mike commented: “She just needed her run last time but wasn’t disgraced in fifth, she is doing well. This is a strong race, but she has a light weight and the services of Muzi Yeni in her favour. I’d throw her into the exotics, she’s not out of it because she has improved.”
Sea Anemone ran below expectations in the same race as Bonete last time, but she was drawn wide and Mike reckons she needed her own run more than anticipated. She reverts to a sprint in Race 7 over 1160m and he said: “Sea Anemone is capable on her day, not the most reliable but has ability. Again, while she looks to have some work to do I think she is best included in your play.”
Sparkling Jubilee and Littlemarysunshine will contest Race 7, the Listed Off To Stud Stakes over 1600m at HWB Scottsville on Sunday. Mike said: “We’re hoping to get some black type for Littlemarysunshine, but she has a terrible draw. It will be tough from 12-12. Sparkling Jubilee is possibly outclassed, but she is drawn on the inside rail and has a light weight, so can’t be ignored.”
Betway’s Tote portal now gives TAB customers a chance to bet into the Australian flat and harness racing, when Quinella and Quartet bets will be added to the range of bets currently commingled with Australia’s Tabcorp.
Currently TAB customers can take Win, Place, Exacta, Trifecta, Rolling Double and Jackpot bets directly into Tabcorp pools through TAB and this list will now also feature the Quinella (first two past the post in any order) and the Quartet.
Punters who place bets on the tote via Betway get their 6% betting tax refunded at month-end.
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