The R1 million Allied Steelrode Onamission Gr2 Charity Mile is always a special race. Besides having some of the best equines around competing. it is a day in which horseracing gives back to the community.
For punters there is a R1-million Pick 6 carryover with the pool likely to reach R5 million – so there is big money to be won.
The 6yo Pathfork gelding Bingwa is clearly SA horseracing’s charity poster boy.
Bingwa’s Charity double in 2022 – Gavin Lerena rides Puerto Manzano on Saturday (Pic – JC Photos)
On Saturday he goes for his third consecutive victory in the Allied Steelrode Onamission Gr2 Charity Mile.
The two features are the only two races he has won in two years. So don’t discount him on current form for Saturday’s big race.
There has to be something in the fact that Bingwa finds his best stride at this time of year and his course-and-distance affinity suggests it would be folly to pass him by in the feature. No horse has achieved the feat of winning three Charity Miles, so he has a chance to gallop his way into the record books.
Having changed stables and coming off a 20-week break Cousin Casey is having his first run for the Sean Tarry stable.
He has won twice and finished second once from five starts over this distance. Grant van Niekerk makes the trip up from the Cape to ride him and if finding his best form, this classy galloper should have a say in the outcome of this contest.
In the past 16 charities have benefited, but this year even that figure has been increased to 21.
However, there will still be 16 runners contesting this R1-million Grade 2 race over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside track and almost any one of them can win.
There are a number of runners warming up for the Betway Summer Cup including reigning champion Puerto Manzano, Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion as well as Charity Mile legend Bingwa, who will be seeking his third successive victory in this race.
The two three-year-old Grade 3 events – the Graham Beck Stakes and the HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes for fillies – over 1400m are also mouthwatering contests.
Sandringham Summit, Main Defender and Gimmeanotherchance renew their rivalry in the Graham Beck Stakes while Egyptian Mau and White Pearl are the two fillies most likely to fight it out for top honours in the Starling Stakes.
The first race is off at 13h50.
The Pick 6 starts in race 4 at 15h35.
