Laird Duo Could Send Us Over The Exotic Moon

The two feature races on ten-race programme at Turffontein Standside on Saturday are the Betway Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes and the Betway Listed National Colour Stakes.

There is a possibility of rain – but let’s hope it doesn’t spoil a good card.

Atticus Finch and Calvin Habib team up again when they bid for the Betway Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes double (Pic – JC Photos)

Couplings matter not in the Pick 6 these days, but Alec Laird sends a powerful pair of Master Of My Fate geldings to post for the topliner, the R400 000 Betway Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes, a final Betway Summer Cup stepping-stone for a mixed bag of eleven.

The veteran Laird looks to defend his Victory Moon title with 2023 winner Atticus Finch, after also winning it in 2016 when Randall Simons booted Bezanova – a son of Bezrin, home to beat Liege.

While we are reflecting, Bezanova’s win brought back memories of that lovely story dating back to the National 2yo Sale of 2012 where, after buying him for R150 000, his late owner Chris Gerber was told by a sales official that things were ‘going so well – there were even clowns paying R150 000 for the Bezrins!’

History shows that Bezanova won over R2 million in a hard-knocking career. Interestingly, the Victory Moon was a Grade 2 when Bezanova won it and it was contested for the same stake of R400 000 as it is on Saturday – not a great advert for racing keeping pace with the diminishing buying power of the race.

Randall Simons clenches his fist as Bezanova beats Liege to win the 2016 Victory Moon Stakes – then a Gr2 run for R400 000 (Pic – JC Photos)

But back to the present. Atticus Finch’s last three starts have been good!

He raced from a prominent position over 1600m on the Inside course last time and stayed on to finish third.

With a bit of luck from his wide draw of ten, he and Calvin Habib could retain the title, but will have to keep an eye on their year younger stablemate, Greeting My Master – who is not in the Summer Cup net, although there is still time to put his hand up for an expensive late call-up.

Veterain trainer Alec Laird – strong hand for a possible Victory Moon exacta (Pic -Candiese Lenferna)

Greeting My Master comes into Saturday’s feature in top form and 1800m looks within his reach following a runaway win over the testing mile on the Turffontein Standside track recently.

He receives weight from most of his rivals, is nicely drawn at 6,and faces no pressure.

Chase Maujean is carded to ride the 4yo at a galloping 51kgs, but the lightweight was stood down prior to the final race at Fairview on Friday after an unsuccessful objection in the seventh, and we need to keep an eye on the jockey changes.

Who was Victory Moon?

So the Victory Moon should tell us plenty in advance of Africa’s richest race on 30 November with all of Main Defender, Purple Pitcher, Puerto Manzano, Pure Predator, Future Pearl, Atticus Finch, Safe Passage and My Soul Mate in the top 20 on the final big race log, while the De Kock duo of Aragosta and Shoemaker, as well as Lorenzo Karriem’s Thunee Playa will have to run out of their skin to have a shout of making the cut.

Trainer Lucky Houdalakis sends out Dyce in Race 5 and he is the possible Pick 6 banker. He is a winner of his last two starts.

He showed good speed over 1100m at the Vaal last time and won easier than the official margin suggests.

The 6yo gelding is the class horse in this contest and with Piere Strydom retaining the ride, he should take a power of beating.

Don’t forget to take the free-to-play Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge with the first due off at 11h40.

• The Bipot starts in the second race at 12h15
• The Place Accumulator starts in the third race at 12h50
• The Pick 6 starts in the fourth race at 13h25
• The first Jackpot starts in the fifth race at 14h05
• The second Jackpot starts in the seventh race at 15h17