The World Sports Betting Grand Heritage heads a triple non black-type feature day at the Vaal on Saturday.
The unique Grand Heritage, run over 1475m, was introduced in 2016, with Gavin Lerena booting home Irish Pride for the staunch Wernars racing family.
Gavin Lerena salutes as Irish Pride wins the inaugural Grand Heritage (Pic – JC Photos)
The concept was created from an idea that it would become South Africa’s equivalent of famous big field handicaps like The Cesarewitch, The Cambridgeshire and the Tote Ebor, which are three of the biggest annual betting heats in England.
The race is designed through the conditions to accommodate lower-level horses competing for a larger stake than they usually would.
Run for R300 000 this time round, the World Sports Betting Grand Heritage is the only event on our national programme to comprise more than 20 runners – although after scratchings we are only left 26 will line up on Saturday
TAB reports that there were originally 26 runners declared for this year’s event, but many were allocated the minimum weight of 52kg and that made it difficult for trainers to find jockeys able to ride at that weight.
That resulted in four runners being switched to the WSB Heritage Consolation over the same distance.
With two other runners scratched for different reasons, the field has been reduced to 20 runners. However, many horseplayers probably received that news with a sigh of relief as it partially simplifies what remains a highly competitive race.
Sean Tarry – four runners (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Trainer Sean Tarry originally had seven runners but three of them have been switched to the Consolation race.
That still leaves him with four strong competitors in Willow Express, Indlamu, Eskimo Pie and Silver Tycoon. All have winning potential but Willow Express, to be ridden by Calvin Habib, and Indlamu could be the pick of the Tarry quartet.
Habib and Tarry teamed up recently to win the Gr1 Gauteng Summer Cup and they could be successful once again with Willow Express, who drops significantly in class. He last ran in the Gr2 OnamissionMile in which he finished unplaced, but he will appreciate the lower level of competition and has good form down the Vaal straight.
Indlamu is ultra-consistent and won his only race at this track. It will come as a major surprise if this four-year-old son of Pomodoro does not finish in the Quartet.
Trainer Paul Peter also has some decent runners and there is a lot to like about his charge Fromheretoeternity. She has run 10 times at this course for three wins and four places, and last time triumphed carrying 62kg. She now carries 10kg less and has log-leading jockey Warren Kennedy in the irons.
The first of ten races is off 11h50.
Don’t miss the inside edge on Saturday & Sunday morning!
