Introduced in 2016 after the closure of the Vaal sand track, the Grand Heritage was touted to 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.
Irish Pride (Gavin Lerena) wins the 2016 Grand Heritage for Laurence Wernars (Pic – JC Photos)
The race was run in its opening year for a stake of R750 000 and paid cheques all the way down to 15th finisher, as long as 28 ran.
What made it unique was that a capacity field of 28, as opposed to the regular number of 20, could be accommodated.
The race is open to all horses with a net merit rating of 106 and below, and thus gives the slightly lesser gallopers the chance to earn nice prize money.
On Saturday, as if we needed reminding, the fifth renewal illustrates the sad reality of the sport’s fall from grace.
In that opening year, a Grand Jackpot – four fields of 28 runners was offered. On Saturday, the four jackpot races consist of 9, 8, 17 – with the consolation race only starting 10 horses.
Only 17 acceptors will start in the headline feature from the 56 nominations originally received.
The stake is now R150 000.
Well done to staunch racing sponsors World Sports Betting. They rescued Saturday’s Gauteng Summer Cup and they have come to the party again.
On Saturday, Oscar Wilde, from the Mike de Kock stable, has been priced up 7-2 favourite. The four-year-old son of Dynasty has been allotted 52kg and will be ridden by Callan Murray.
Expressfromtheus is next best at 5-1 on the bookmakers’ boards. Stuart Pettigrew’s charge will be ridden by Marco van Rensburg and carries joint top weight of 60kg with Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Full Mast who has S’manga Khumalo up.
Rouge Allure will be well suited to the course and distance and the Stephen Moffatt-trained mare is next best at 11-2.
Clinton Binda’s Whorly Whorly won the final race on Summer Cup day under Piere Strydom but Jason Gates is in the saddle on Saturday with Strydom riding All Of Me for Corne Spies.
1st R90000, 2nd R37500, 3rd R15000, 4th R7500
WSB GRAND HERITAGE (Non-Black Type)
For Horses rated nett 106 and below
WFA: 4yrs-0kgs 3yrs-6kgs
No Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 9 | ExpressFromTheUS | 60 | 101 | A | M V’Rensburg | Stuart Pettigrew | |
| 2 | 13 | Full Mast | 60 | 101 | BA | S Khumalo | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | |
| 3 | 16 | Rouge Allure | 59 | 99 | TBA | G Lerena | Stephen Moffatt | |
| 4 | 10 | Whorly Whorly | 57.5 | 96 | *J Gates | Clinton Binda | ||
| 5 | 11 | Finchatton | 57 | 95 | BA | J Greyling | Gokhan Terzi | |
| 6 | 12 | Dan The Lad | 56.5 | 94 | A | M Yeni | Paul Matchett | |
| 7 | 15 | Golden Pheasant | 56 | 93 | A | C Maujean | Corne Spies | |
| 8 | 6 | Naafer (AUS) | 56 | 93 | T A | *L J Ferraris | Mike de Kock | |
| 9 | 1 | What You Are | 56 | 93 | A | P Strydom | Corne Spies | |
| 10 | 5 | Strada Statale | 52.5 | 86 | A | L Hewitson | St John Gray | |
| 11 | 2 | Spanish Boy | 52 | 85 | T A | C Zackey +1.0 | Lucky Houdalakis | |
| 12 | 8 | Diorama | 52 | 84 | BA | *N Klink | Mike de Kock | |
| 13 | 3 | Oscar Wilde | 52 | 82 | BA | C Murray | Mike de Kock | |
| 14 | 4 | Elusive Swann | 52 | 81 | A | C Habib +0.5 | Paul Matchett | |
| 15 | 14 | True Words | 52 | 78 | A | J Penny | Corne Spies | |
| 16 | 17 | Stop For Nothing | 52 | 76 | TBA | C Bantam | Stephen Moffatt | |
| 17 | 7 | Street Flyer (AUS) | 52 | 58 | BAM | *J R Syster | Paul Matchett | |
| Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote | ||||||||
| (3,16) (6,14,17) (7,9,15) (8,12,13) | ||||||||
