Put plain and simple, the best I could manage was a 5th place selection with Eton Square! I didn’t rate Pomodoro at all, I wasn’t aware that Smanjemanje was a participant. I predicted Chesalon to run into 14th place and was confident that Vettel would need a pit-stop at the Drill Hall. I thought Solo Traveller wasn’t suited by most racing parameters.
My usual bulk load of e-mail’s were sent off to friends in the UK, US and any other possible destination on the Monday before, with selections and runners too ignore.
A group of about 10 of us carefully plotted the week so that we could gather on Saturday, wide screen, braaivleis and all. Most of my July punter friends are married and had to apply for a release of funds from their spouses.
The safeguard and anticipation of this July gamble was that William had an impeccable record with tips on ‘July day’, going way back to high school!
“Don’t worry Darlings, we’ll return with wheelbarrow loads of money. Get ready for a shopping spree!”…… was the popular line to the wives.
I am proud to say that my tipping record in the July since 1979 has lead friends to reminisce and say “remember when William dug up that winner in ….
In 2004, I tipped Greys Inn to win and ‘Mugabe-d’ Yard-Arm. My friends and I felt like kings for a day with us collecting the Trifecta of R 9k, multiple times.
The 2000 July, I rubbished Badgers Coast and got my punting clientele into El Picha @ 9/1. Happy days !
Occult beating Fools Holme in 1986 had most of the punters at The Pig n Whistle in dreamland. I had to reject round after round of drinks , offers lasting for more than a week. I did enjoy a few more pub-lunches ‘on the house’ though.
My most memorable and meaningful July winner that I tipped to my friends and family was in 1981 with Big Charles. I was casualling at Kenilworth Racecourse at the time where I collected the jackpot boxes in the days before computers. We earned R12 a meeting plus a complimentary slice of apple danish. Jimmy Anderson was one of my favorite jockeys and I won enough money to pay for my night classes the following year at UCT.
I have to hold my hands up and say that this year with all my so-called experience and so on and so on…. My selections were comfortably disastrous.
So here’s goes ….. Name and shame! 1st – Sage Throne 2nd – Beach Beauty 3rd – Gorongosa 4th – Jackson 5th – Eaton Square – 6th – WhiteLine Fever
I’ve now turned my interests to the art of playing Snakes & Ladders.
via email – William Milkovitch -not so bulletproof
