South African Horse Racing Betting

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13:40 Clairwood: Betting World Stakes (3yo+; 2.500m) - Grade 2 Formerly known as the Betting World Derby, this race is now open for older horses as well, in order to attract a larger field. Didn't quite work out this way as only nine go to post and trainers don't want to burn their good three year old stayers against seasoned runners. Still the quality of horses is decent enough with couple of horses in the line up who have won Graded races before. Red hot favourite Hot Ticket went desperately close in this race last year in his classic season. That day still over 2.400m, he encountered all sorts of in-running trouble and got very late into the clear, finishing a close 2nd in the end. The winner of that race went on to almost beat Jackson, the favourite for last two Durban July's. Hot Ticket himself improved rapidly to win a listed race and finish close in a couple of Graded races over shorter, however his game is staying and he demonstrated that when winning the Lektron Chairman's Cup over 3.200m in February this year. He had a rest then, started his campaign again last month then, over a shorter than ideal trip. He didn't feature but this prep run should set him up perfectly for todays run over very suitable 2.500m. He's improving all the time and can only get better now a as a four year old by Silvano. Hot Ticket has the weights very much in his favour since he is the highest rated horse in the race but receives weight all around. Tough Tribal Dance is rated the biggest danger. He is a consistent runner in graded races, however his best performances came over shorter, even though he can stay thus far in slowly run races. He's the likely front-runner and finished a fine fourth in the G2 Betting World 1900 last month. However he is one pound wrong in the weights with Hot Ticket. De Kock's Canterbury Tale is a fine stayer on his day. He finished a strong 3rd in the G1 Gold Cup last year. He encountered injury problems afterwards, had one more start in November, since then has been off the track. That must count against him as well as the weights. However he might be one to keep in mind for good stayer races later the year. Great Rumpus is a decent horse, goes well at this track and get the trip, however might be found out for class. Joe Ramsden's Disco Al improved from a handicapper into a pattern horse. He ran well in the G2 Betting World 1900 last month, but would need to improve further to be able to win this back up in trip now. He has the excellent assistance of Anton Marcus though and would be dangerous in case it comes down to a sprint finish. It's hard to make a case for the rest of the field. It would be a major shock to see one of them featuring strongly in the finish. Verdict: It comes down to tactics. If it is a slowly run race, everything can happen but Tribal Dance would have a big chance. If all goes normal then Hot Ticket will be extremely hard to beat. The Silvano son is improving, is back up in trip which should very much suit, went super close in the same race last year and has the benefit of being well in the weights here. He should be a league above this lot normally. --- Hot Ticket @ 6/4 VC

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Clairwood: Betting World Oaks - Grade 2 14:20 Clairwood: Betting World Oaks (3yo+; 2.500m) - Grade 2 The Betting World Oaks is now open to older horses and has attracted a good competitive field, including three former Oaks winner! Ilha Beha heading the market. The De Kock filly won the SA Oaks back in 2012, however her last success came in a G3 7f race eight month ago. Since then she was a bit in and out, finished 2nd in Listed races but now backed over the Oaks trip and with weights favouring her, she has every chance to run a good race. Last years Betting World Oaks winner Dylan's Promise must have an excellent chance. She hasn't been too good in her last two starts over shorter when also running against the boys, but will relish the trip and has a favourable weight on hands. Ash Cloud was a surprise winner of the SA Oaks back in April since her only win came in a poor MR72 Handicap to that date. So she improved dramatically in the last half year, however she wasn't able to follow up on this in the G1 Woolavington 2000. So it's a bit unclear whether her Oaks win was just a fluke or not. Zephira was surprisingly poor in the SA Oaks and is expected to do much better today. She has potential, the question is though if she stays the trip. Star Jet won a good Listed race over 2.000m last month, going away and beating a fine rival. She is consistent and still improving, however has been beaten a long way on her two only start over further than 10f. So stamina is a big issue. Stamina doubts hanging over the head of Omaticaya. Her best efforts came all over up to 1.600m she has also loads to find on the ratings. Allot to find on the ratings has also generally lightly raced Shingwedzi. She hasn't been out of the first two in her last six starts, winning three and improving all the time. She tackled a distance as far 2.000m for the first time in April, when was up with the pace and looked the winner until caught on the line. On pedigree it is not unlikely that she can stay the Oaks trip, in fact the step up could suit and bring out further improvement. It has to, as she has allot to find on the ratings. The other two runners in this field are very hard to fancy with stamina and class doubts over their head. Verdict: It is an open race with doubts about form, class and stamina about most of these runners. The first five in the market are hard to distinguish and any of them can win. Dylan's Promise makes the most appeal of those horses. However I go with improving Shingwedzi to cause an upset. The improving filly needs to stay but if she does she can go close in this. --- Shingwedzi E/W @ 18/1 Sportinget