Image for illustration. Picture: Tracey Lee Stark
The second leg of the Work riders’ Challenge will be run at the Vaal tomorrow and the opportunity to earn the R20,000 for the rider who earns the most points over the three legs is wide open.
The Challenge carries total prize money of R50,000 with R5,000 going to the winner of each leg, R20,000 to the overall winner, R15,000 to the runner-up and R5,000 to the third-placed rider.
It is a magnificent venture and it demonstrates the talent of these hard-working guys.
Once again the card is made up of nine Maiden Plates but as is always the case, there looks to be some very good bets on the card.
The best of these has to be Sheza hotti who run in Race 8, a Maiden Plate over 2000m.
This is the first time this Paul Matche -trained filly will be racing over the distance but was narrowly beaten over 1800m last time and should have no problem with the additional 200m.
She is by SA Derby winner Irish Flame so staying the distance should be well within her grasp.
She really looks a cut above her opposition in what is a very weak field and it will come as a major surprise if she gets beaten.
The field meets at level weights and she is at least 6kg better off , based on her merit rating.
She has one of the leading work riders up in Chamu Mabaya and he is unlikely to make any mistakes.
If there is danger it could be Vida Amorosa, purely because she has run and placed over 2400m and will have no problem with the distance.
Midnight In Paris is a bit of a mystery as she ran poorly first time out, then finished second over 2000m and last time ran poorly again to end up almost 14 lengths behind the winner.
This four-year-old has some ability but perhaps there are some soundness issues troubling her.
So if she is in a galloping frame of mind, Midnight In Par-is could be some sort of threat.
Mabaya also has three rides for the Mike de Kock yard and all of them top the bookmakers’ boards.
He is on Takatul in Race 1, Indy Ice in Race 7 and Noble Princess in Race 9.
Perhaps the best of the trio is Indy Ice, who has a record of four seconds and two fifths in six starts.
To take a bet, go to www.ta-bonline.co.za or www.betting-world.co.za
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