Arion
Phumelela Betting Executive Vee Moodley may have an enthusiastic combination of stars and dollar signs in his eyes with suggestions of a R4 million J&B Met quartet pool for Saturday, but the mouthwatering prospect of a big payday for a nominal outlay and just over two minutes of competitive stress, is enough to tempt even the most disciplined of tastes.
The quartet pays a dividend when the top four horses to finish are correctly forecast.
It is not easy with 15 horses lining up, but a boxed (combination) facility means we don’t have to predict them exactly in order. And the mathematical joy of fractional betting tailors it to suit the budget – and we can take anything from a minimum of R6 and 1%.
Power King
But for all the expert opinion and advice on structuring of the bet, (catching the right straight line is tough!) the best route to go for a fun dream dividend in a major race(where apparently mug money proliferates) and where everybody wants it desperately, is to look for the golden thread – and then take the boxed four-horse bet route for just R24.
What about boxing Tellina (7), Punta Arenas (9), Arion (13) and Power King (14)?
What does that pay if they finish in the ‘right order’? Big money!
Punta Arenas
The thread is that they are all Maine Chance Farms bred Silvano progeny.
It’s a lucky dip – but a calculated one, and why not?
Justin Snaith’s Arion is one of more than 40 local stakes winners for his sire, who was represented by no fewer than 11 black type winners last season.
He won the recent Gr2 Peninsula Handicap, with Power King in second and Punta Arenas, carrying top weight into fifth.
Tellina
Tellina, the only visitor in the quartet, ran a decent race when just over 2 lengths behind Futura in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. He will be ridden again by the very competitive Gavin Lerena from a decent 2 draw.
Champion Sire in South Africa in 2012-2013, Silvano has been represented by 14 individual Gr1 winners to date.
And for those with short memories, that list includes Martial Eagle, the long-priced winner of the 2013 J&B Met – who was ridden by Aldo Domeyer – who just happens to be riding Punta Arenas on Saturday.
This game can look easy sometimes…
