RUGBY 8 WIN MARGIN on Saturday, 11 May 2024 C/Over R 61 759 Pool Closes at 14h00

SoccerAny13Xtra on Saturday,11 May 2024 Carry Over R 100 000 Pool Closes at 13h30 Sport 13 and Pool 1 Estimated Pool: R 400 000

Race 1: #1 My Intelligent, #10 Double Show, #6 Hero Star, #9 General Ace 
Race 2: #8 Lean Master, #1 Chateauneuf, #2 Ace One, #12 New Power 
Race 3: #12 Hang’s Choice, #3 Charming Steed, #7 Smart Beauty, #8 Asian One 
Race 4: #7 Wood On Fire, #10 Dan Attack, #11 Valhalla, #12 Multidarling 
Race 5: #6 Sea Sapphire, #8 Party Warrior, #9 Roaring Bebe, #1 Righteous Arion 
Race 6: #10 Kyrus Unicorn, #2 Serangoon, #7 Forever Glorious, #5 Storm Winner 
Race 7: #1 Hameron, #2 Red Hare King, #10 Chain Of Gold, #4 Giddy Up 
Race 8: #5 Sure Joyful, #6 Can’t Go Wong, #10 Atomic Beauty, #1 Sixth Generation 
Race 9: #8 Super Joy N Fun, #2 Sports Legend, #4 Wings Of War, #6 Happy Fat Cat

Race 1: Cochrane Handicap

#1 My Intelligent is a massive chance in this grade. He was racing well in the class above and his best form holds him in good stead for this contest. He shapes as the one they all must beat. #10 Double Show has a favourable draw and is a winner already this season. He does his best racing over this course and distance. #6 Hero Star has been consistent all season without winning. He can improve in this grade. #9 General Ace is next in line, that is, if he manages to find his best.

Race 2: Wyndham Handicap (3rd Section)

#8 Lean Master has tremendous gate speed and he is capable of finding an early lead. He gets a favourable seven pounds taken of his back and this contest is well within his grasp. One to catch. #1 Chateauneuf won well on debut. He’s a nice horse, although he will have to overcome the wide gate this week. #2 Ace One is worth consideration. He’s lost his way a touch but is clearly much better than Class 5. Hugh Bowman’s booking is a decent push with regard to his chances. #12 New Power has been competitive of late. 

Race 3: D’Aguilar Handicap

#12 Hang’s Choice needs plenty go his way, but the low impost and potential pace in this race brings him right into contention. He’s been racing well and gets his chance to win again this week. #3 Charming Steed is after back-to-back wins. He’s in the right vein of form and the inside gate is ideal for him to find a prominent position without using too much petrol. #7 Smart Beauty gets the services of Zac Purton. His latest effort was sound and he returns here as a two-time winner this season. #8 Asian One is next best.

Race 4: Wyndham Handicap (1st Section)

It wouldn’t surprise in the slightest to see #7 Wood On Fire bounce back. Expecting him to fire forward to try and lead here or sit prominent, especially from an inside gate with Karis Teetan up. He’s worth taking a chance on. #10 Dan Attack is in solid form and he continues to race well. He’s a winner this term and should be able to make his presence felt. #11 Valhalla rarely runs a bad race. He’s placed in all three of his most recent runs and this contest shouldn’t be an exception. #12 Multidarling is next best.

Race 5: The Sports Club Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup Handicap (2nd Section)

#6 Sea Sapphire has led and won already this season. He’ll find the front again here and his catch me if you can tactics could easily be rewarded. #8 Party Warrior debuts for the new stable as a two-time winner under his previous handler. He’s always been a solid competitor. #9 Roaring Bebe caught the eye late last start, closing into sixth spot. Zac Purton is up and he gets his chance to improve this week. #1 Righteous Arion continues to perform. He does need to overcome an awkward draw.

Race 6: Glenealy Handicap

#10 Kyrus Unicorn has raced well all season. He could get a reward for consistency here, especially under the lighter weight from gate four. This shapes as a suitable contest for him. #2 Serangoon is in superb form. He has the barrier to contend with this week, although he doesn’t know how to put a foot wrong. #7 Forever Glorious can roll forward and give this group something to reel in. He tends to mix his form, although shapes as a leading player here. #5 Storm Winner is improving and can do so once more.

Race 7: Graham Handicap

#1 Hameron caught the eye late last start. He’s a nice horse and he does his best racing over this course and distance. Hugh Bowman’s booking is suitable once again. #2 Red Hare King is in career-best form and he’s already netted a pair of wins this campaign. He should receive a sweet run from the inside gate. #10 Chain Of Gold slots in light and is making steady improvement. Zac Purton hops up and he’s engaged to ride two pounds over his assigned impost. #4 Giddy Up is next in line.

Race 8: On Lan Handicap

#5 Sure Joyful has hardly put a foot wrong all season. He’s collected a pair of wins already and is most deserving of another, which could easily come here. He’ll roll forward and get his opportunity from there. #6 Can’t Go Wong is another who will take up a forward position. He’s in the mix. #10 Atomic Beauty has consistency on his side, as well as a favourable draw. #1 Sixth Generation has improved with the class-drop. Vincent Ho has won on him before and he takes the reins again this week.

Race 9: Shelley Handicap

#8 Super Joy N Fun is unbeaten across two starts in Hong Kong. He’s a serious talent and is capable of adding a third here, especially with gate one on his side as well as the hands of Zac Purton. Hard to beat, even up in grade. #2 Sports Legend is seeking a hat-trick of wins. He’ll make his own luck by racing on the speed again. #4 Wings Of War just can’t quite crack it for a first win in Hong Kong, although he has shown that his day will come. #6 Happy Fat Cat will lead and give this group something to reel in.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Soccer 4:  Sport 19 Pool 1– 9 MAY 2024

Match 3 (M3): MILTON KEYNES DONS vs CRAWLEY TOWN. New Match Date: 11 May 2024. Match Is Postponed Due to a Waterlogged Pitch.

Soccer 6: Sport 5 Pool 1 – 9 MAY 2024

Match 5 (M5): MILTON KEYNES DONS vs CRAWLEY TOWN. New Match Date: 11 May 2024. Match Is Postponed Due to a Waterlogged Pitch.

Soccer 10: Sport 15 Pool 1 – 9 MAY 2024

Match 5 (M5): MILTON KEYNES DONS vs CRAWLEY TOWN. New Match Date: 11 May 2024. Match Is Postponed Due to a Waterlogged Pitch.

PLEASE NOTE!

Soccer 6: SPORT 3 & POOL 2 – 06 MAY 2024 Match 5 (M5): JUVENTUDE vs ATLETICO GOIANIENSE. New Match Date: TBC This Match Has Been Postponed to Play at a Later Date.

Soccer 10: SPORT 8 & POOL 1 – 06 MAY 2024 Match 10 (M10): JUVENTUDE vs ATLETICO GOIANIENSE. New Match Date: TBC This Match Has Been Postponed to Play at a Later Date. All results (the field) will qualify for the above match. In terms of TAB rules, all choices (the field) will apply in determining results and payouts.

David Thiselton

It was a dark day in South African racing on Saturday as the Champions Season’s always much anticipated opening meeting had to be abandoned after an unruly mob blocked the exit to the parade ring before the first feature race of “the season”, the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes.

The controversy revolved around the scratching of the hot odds-on favourite Main Defender after being tested to have elevated TCO2 levels.

The connections of the Tony Peter-trained favourite were allegedly the instigators of the protest and they were allegedly joined by punters, who were irate that with one of the meeting’s Pick 6 bankers now scratched they would have to rely on the Tote favourite in a very open race.

The three features that did not happen will now be run at the same venue, Hollywoodbets Greyville, on Wednesday.

Main Defender remains a scratching in the Drill Hall and has been joined by Texas Red, who is trained by Tony Peter’s sister-in-law Robyn Klaasen.

The Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas and the Gr 2 WSB Guineas had no card scratchings at the time of writing.

A strongly worded press release by Gold Circle, included the following statement, “Gold Circle firmly intends to sanction those responsible, which may include a banning order from it’s race tracks and facilities going forward, and would like to take this opportunity to apologise to all connections and racing fans who were compromised by the unseemly actions of a minority whose behaviour bordered on anarchy.”

Award winning veteran journalist CharlPretoriusironically wrote an article released before racing on Saturday about the subject of TCO2 (total carbon dioxide).

The administration of sodium bicarbonate (bi-carb) in the hours prior to racing, is viewed by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) as performance enhancing. It is performed using a practice widely known as ‘milkshaking’ – commonly via the insertion of a naso-gastric tube between 3 to 5 hours prior to a race.

This is intended to elevate TCO2 and therefore reduce lactate. 

The National Horseracing Authority, mandated and under increased pressure to identify trainers who use illegal methods to gain an advantage, last month introduced a new specimen analysis procedure for TCO2 (total carbon dioxide) measurement on a race day.

These are tests performed on the blood samples of racehorses to combat the practice of administering alkalizing agents for the purpose of enhancing performance.

Blood specimens are taken from selected horses approximately 50 minutes prior to race time, on any given race day. The specimens are immediately analysed using handheld blood gas analysers.

When a sample taken is found to have an elevated pre-race blood TCO2 level above of 36 millimoles per litre (mmol/L) – the threshold set by the International Horse Racing Federation (IFHA) and prescribed to by the NHA – a second blood specimen is collected, between 10 and 15 minutes later. If the TCO2 concentration of the second specimen is more than 36.0 mmol/L, the horse is withdrawn and then detained for additional specimen collection.

During the additional tests, screening can be performed for other illegal substances that may or may not be present in the blood sample.  

Dr. Matthew Bawden, the NHA’s Chief Veterinarian, remarked: “The main goal of measuring TCO2 before racing is to detect horses that may have received an alkalizing agent. Alkalinization of a horse or the use of an alkalizing agent is prohibited on race day, and a level exceeding the international threshold constitutes prima facie evidence of alkalinization. The administration of an alkalizing agent results in a measurable increase in the TCO2 over time with an intent to achieve maximal buffering capacity at the time of the race.”

Charl Pretorius continues by saying, “The implication here is that a horse could pass the TC02 test before the race, but could possibly fail it afterwards, which presents an interesting conundrum.”

He follows by questioning why pre-race tests, which only lead to a scratching at present, are done and not post-race which could lead to a career ending fine?

The tests being done by the NHA have drawn praise from many quarters including from the renowned activist against drug use in horseracing, Barry Irwin, a successful American owner and breeder who is very much involved in SA horseracing.

Irwin said, ““Welcome to the real world of horse racing. It is about time. This technology has been around for decades. This updated protocol will go a long way in levelling the playing field on the Highveld. Targeting trainers whose horses improve is a proven formula used by regulators worldwide. Not to follow this practice would be wasteful and foolish.”

However, there are detractors with one study showing that bicarbonate did not improve horses’ performance at all. The man who did the study, Dr Michael I. Lindinger, PHD, also reckoned the threshold level arrived at by the authorities was  based on statistically manipulated data and he added that the conclusion that an elevated level was caused by the administering of an alkalizing substance was based on assumption not fact.

To put some other points in to summary about a complex issue, some research suggests it is possible that different barns might create different environments for TCO2 readings given their combination of feed and exercise programs. 

The NHA are doing their best to level the playing fields, but it seems there are a few things that need to be looked at.

One of the other implications is the impact sudden scratchings have on punters. This is particularly in the case when they have splashed out on a Pick 6 with a banker, who is suddenly replaced by one with much less chance.  

However, taking the law into one’s own hands is totally unacceptable and hopefully the response to Saturday’s events by the powers that be will prevent the shocking events from happening again.