The annual Air Mauritius International Jockeys Challenge is always an exciting meeting and South Africa will be looking to extend their record to eight wins in the tenth renewal of the contest.
The official eleventh race on the card allows Tote players to bet on the jockeys themselves. R12,000 has been added to both the win and place pools for this race and R6,000 to the quartet pool.
The jockeys are awarded 30 points for a win and 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4 from second down to ninth respectively. Eleventh and twelfth earn 0 points and a jockey without a ride earns 7.
The six Jockeys International races comprise the six legs of the Pick 6.
Costa Da Sol
The first international race is an uninspiring maiden for fillies and mares over 1600m. First-timer Flaming Hot is a four-year-old Australian-bred by Flying Spur out of a half-sister to Summer Cup winner Delta Form and Irishman Seamie Heffernan is aboard from pole position. First-timer All Abuzz is a four-year-old by Bezrin and is a half-sister to eleven-time winning Listed winner Formation. Gavin Lerena is aboard from a tricky draw of ten. Secret Potion by Elusive Fort stayed on nicely on debut over 1160m and has a good draw of five under high-flying Irishman PJ McDonald. The concern will be how the filly handles her first start around the turn, considering she was slow away and green on debut. Tigerlace has been knocking on the door and ran on in her penultimate over this course and distance. Craig Zackey rides from draw nine. Truth Of Beauty could earn under Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Corey Brown.
The second international is a Maiden over 1800m. Finding Troy should be improving all the time being by Go Deputy and having gone close over 1700m last time should be right there from pole position under SA captain Anthony Delpech. Hard-kocking Flexible Fugitive’s sire Wanted is a Grade 1-winning sprinter, but her dam is by middle distance sort Giant’s Causeway and is a half-sister to a USA champion filly who won up to 2000m. However, Gavin Lerena has a tough draw of ten to overcome. Soldat has a tough draw under McDonald, but has the form to earn.
In the third International event, a MR73 handicap over 3000m, Ali Bon Dubai lost three lengths at the start last time but on his going away wins over 2000m before that makes appeal. England’s Martin Dwyer rides from draw three. Stunned finished strongly over 2400m in his penultimate and has Lyle Hewitson up. Out-and-out stayer Fortune Fella enjoys this course and has pole position under Lerena.
In the next, a MR 86 for fillies and mares over 1600m, Sabina’s Dynasty could be on a capped merit rating having won easily last time over this trip. Delpech rides from a fair draw of six. Noceur is promising and can be forgiven her last run, but Heffernan has to overcome a wide draw. Costa Da Sol should enjoy the trip and is drawn two under S’Manga Khumalo.
In the fifth of the internationals, a MR 65 for fillies and mares, Wrap It Up was due to run on Thursday but if she takes her place has a shout from a good draw under Dwyer. Monarch Air won well last time but has a six-point merit rated raise to overcome. McDonald rides. Flowing Gown can do better than her last run and has Delpech up.
In the finale over 1450m Captain Chips (Dwyer) is distance suited and jumps from pole position. Sabre Dance (Heffernan) and Private Ruler (Khumalo) make most appeal of the rest.
By David Thiselton
