With just 43 days to Christmas, it is a good time as any to win the Kenilworth Pick 6 this afternoon.
The popular exotic is projected to reach R1,7 million with a R200 000 kickstart.
Finding the right banker and the correct structure is always a good way to build hopes of getting into that payout queue.
Our Pick 6 journey commences in the third race (14h25), a tricky fifteen horse Maiden Plate over 1400m. Often when it looks puzzling, it is just the reverse – so lets’s go narrow with Boundless Deep, Bella Summer, Contessa’s Glance (can never leave Fourie out) and Ruby Two Shoes. Glen Kotzen’s Boundless Deep has been rested 16 weeks but the stable feel he will be competitive from a decent draw.
The second leg is a low grade F&M Handicap.
A wise man suggested once that fillies and mares means field and more, but the budget is limited and we will go with the well drawn Kawakami (Fourie again!), Secret Depths, Sans Regrets and the better-than-recent form, Clifton Beach. With Liam Tarentaal claiming from a nice draw, Sunshine Lady steps up from the sprints again and is our kicker.
The Bookies are trying to tell us that the unbeaten Rainbow Bridge is the banker of the day. He is the shortest odds-on shot of the day when he steps out in the Cape Mile – a race where he is not well handicapped.
The son of Ideal World looks to be a few lengths ahead of the handicapper off his rating of 104. His trainer was quoted midweek saying that his charge warranted the prohibitive odds – so let’s row in with the informed money and banker the 4yo. Even though he is 3kg out with the best handicapped runners – Eyes Wide Open and Fifty Cents. Glen Kotzen feels his Derby winner will be competitive – and Richard Fourie, who was aboard at Rainbow Bridge’s first three wins, will know of any tactical weaknesses to be exploited!
The Laisserfaire Stakes is a tough handicap for the girls. This fourth leg could be the race for the upset and let’s go with a big ‘F’ and hope for a knockout. That’s not forgetting that often when one opts for the field, the favourite arrives!
In the Woolavington, we are suggesting Meryl, Ollivander (how overdue is he to register a second win!), Rock My Soul, Ballad Of The Sea and Jailhouse Rock.
There is nothing worse than bombing out in the last leg.
There is no standout so we will include Chatuchak, Cape Xtreme, Friendly Tibbs, Silver League, Hudoo Magic and the Hollywood owned Seattle Force, who was fancied last time out.
Enjoy – it should be a terrific day’s racing.