Cynics may decry playing the horses as a “mugs game,” which is a fair assessment for the majority of recreational players who treat it as a form of entertainment that comes at a cost. Winning horseplayers do exist, however – they’re in a small, elite minority and even the best of them humbly acknowledge
Most favourites and well bet horses that win are simply much the best. There are not many angles or special factors behind their predictable victories. They’re just faster than their rivals when racing under optimal circumstances. Long shot victors are different, however. It requires more creative delving into the past performances to anticipate these
Odds-on favourites generate a special fascination among bettors, carrying the hopes of many, yet with a serious downside should they get rolled. This applies both in the fixed odds market and on exotic tickets, where they are commonly used as bankers, and raises the question -Is it possible to make proper money backing at
Four Grade 1 sprints were held at Scottsville on Saturday, attracting the best thoroughbreds from around the country, leading to excellent performances. The top speed figure of 111 was earned by a son of Bold Silvano, Bold Respect, when he galloped his rivals into submission in the Tsogo Sun. He’d run a 110 down
Two Grade 1’s took place at Greyville on Saturday with Oh Susanna (speed score 100+) and Surcharge (s/s 108) proving best in the Woolavington and Daily News respectively. Oh Susanna seemingly towered above the opposition, having scored 113 in the Met, but was unsettled early in a slow run affair. She took the whole
Early May is a stimulating time in South African racing with stellar fields entered in Joburg on Champions Day, two Guineas’ being run in Durban and even some quality juvenile action in Cape Town. Coral Fever (speed score 110) has been a revelation since wearing blinkers and he got a deserved Grade 1 when
Whilst Cape horses are running on bone-jarringly firm ground (pen at 19mm), weekend meetings on the Highveld and in Pietermaritzburg were cut short due to thunderstorms and rain- softened turf considered too dangerous for participants. Before the meeting was aborted, Return Flight (speed score 83+) romped in by a steeplechase margin at Turffontein and
Lobo’s Legend (speed score 105) won the Grade 1 SA Classic at Turffontein, downing favoured Surcharge (s/s 103) who ran gamely from a wide barrier. Regular readers know the value of a triple digit speed figure for three-year-olds, so it was a most laudable effort by Joey Soma’s Trippi gelding. Placed runners, Like a
FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH WITH MARK VAN DEVENTER Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. If you would like to listen to tips and race previews ahead of Durbanville racing today, Click the button that says Listen To Podcast below and press play! Hurry, the first race is off at 13:05! LISTEN TO
Starting with Carlita recording a smart speed figure of 95 in winning the Nursery at Fairview on Friday, there were other good efforts in South African racing this weekend. Silvan Star (s/s 97+) and Gimme Six (s/s 95+) completed a Cape sourced exacta in a Pinnacle Stakes at the Vaal. Both fillies have attained