Racing tip: Melech could rule Charity Mile

The Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile is always a special race. Besides having some of the best equines around competing for top honours, it is a day in which horseracing gives back to the community.

Even top jockeys have admitted they bear that extra burden, knowing that if they can eke that little bit extra from their mounts, a placed finish will add to the bonus that charity will earn.

In the past 16 charities have benefited, but this year even that figure has been increased to 21.

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However, there will still be 16 runners contesting this R1-million Grade 2 race over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside track and almost any one of them can win. For bettors there is a R1- million Pick 6 carryover with the pool likely to reach R5 million so there is big money to be won.

The problem one has when analysing this field is that a number of them are using the race as a stepping-stone to the R5-million Betway Summer Cup next month so they might be coming into the Charity Mile a little underdone.

Nevertheless, that does not mean they cannot win.

That group are Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion, Cousin Casey, Bless My Stars, Future Pearl, Second Base and Shoemaker, none of whom has raced this season.

Some of the others, such as last year’s Summer Cup champion Puerto Manzano, Dave The King, Safe Passage, Melech and Meridius have at least had one recent run, but other than Melech the others are being aimed at the Summer Cup.

For Melech, this is one of his main missions for the season and while he did not impress all that much in his comeback run when a 2.95-length fourth to Atticus Finch, he was found to be blowing post-race so was clearly in need of the run.

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He carries just 53.5kg, has Muzi Yeni up and could be good value at around 16-1.

Another runner one cannot write off for this race is Bingwa. He is a 1600m specialist and has won the last two editions of this race. He might be getting older but it is as if he gets this alarm going off in his head when Charity Mile comes around.

Last year’s winning jockey Gavin Lerena has opted to go with Puerto Manzano who will surely be his Summer Cup ride but trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren has engaged S’manga Khumalo and a third successive win for this six-year-old gelding is not beyond the realms of possibility.

There is little doubt Brett Crawford-trained Winchester Mansion is loaded with class and although this could be a touch sharp, he does race well when fresh.

“He’s very, very well,” assistant trainer James Crawford said yesterday. “Although this race is not my main goal, on work and wellbeing he is capable of winning.

“This is just a prep run, so I just want to see him run well. But I wouldn’t be shocked if he won.”

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“The distance is no issue. On his current wellbeing, I’d be happy to run him in a 1200m,” quipped Crawford.

Kabelo Matsunyane rode him to victory in Durban and is back in the irons once again.

Mike de Kock has five runners and it would come as no surprise if he walked off with the majority of the spoils but his best could be Safe Passage, who could be coming into form. He ran well enough in the Betway Joburg Spring Challenge last time to indicate a big run is not far off.

He finished 6.95 lengths off Winchester Mansion in the Durban July and is now 6kg better off, so this could be the race.

Then there is Cousin Casey who will be having his first run for Sean Tarry.

“He’s doing well. Obviously, it’s not his main mission. It’s his first run for me. We have to see how he goes. I haven’t had him a long time so I’m giving him a run so we can see what to expect for the rest of the season,” said Tarry.

“He is doing reasonably well and I’m expecting a decent run.”