Work Riders’ Challenge.

JACK MILNER - The work riders get the chance to display their prowess at the Vaal tomorrow in the first leg of the Work Riders’ Challenge. However, the men may all have to play second fiddle to one of the women riding at the meeting.

Vikki Badenhorst was a fully fledged jockey before handing in her licence and she has four rides on the day, all with chances. She is aboard Pretty Wild in race 1, Peacenik in race 6, Greet The Day in Race 7 and Autumn Splendour in Race 8 and it is the last named that stands out as the best bet on the card.

Alec Laird’s Charge has only raced three times for a third and two seconds. Unfortunately for the three-year-old daughter of Silvano, she has never been able to crack a decent draw and has always found herself too far back, only to be running on too late.

In this Maiden Plate the draw is of less importance as they run up the straight 1 600m but as they are racing on the inside half of the track, her No 7 barrier position looks decent enough. The opposition is pretty moderate so there is a little on form that should trouble Autumn Splendour. The only minor doubt is that this is her first run over the straight mile.

Peacenik looks to be Badenhorst’s next best runner. The John Vos inmate has just come back from a layoff and ran a credible seventh to Duke’s Woman over the Vaal 1 200m, the distance of this race. The five-year-old mare was beaten just three lengths so with normal improvement, Peacenik should be a contender.

There are a number of dangers but heading the list are Follow Your Dream and Virgin Blue. The experienced Jackson Feni gets the ride on Follow Your Dream for ``Lucky’’ Houdalakis in this MR 67 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m. In her last start over this track and trip, the Jet Master mare was beaten 3.50 lengths by Jet Flyer and that form has been well franked as Roy Magner’s charge has won twice since then.

David Rahilly has performed with aplomb since taking out his trainer’s licence and he sends out Virgin Blue, another daughter of Jet Master. She finished two lengths ahead of Peacenik in that run to Duke’s Woman but is now 1.5kg worse off. It may not be enough to swing the race in Peacenik’s favour but they should finis closer on this occasion. Nceba Mgqobozi gets the ride.

Brian Wiid has put the blinkers on Tarachello in Race 5, a MR 71 Handicap over 1000m, and hopefully that will get the six-year-old gelding back into the No 1 box after a series of places. Tom Lukhele has the advantage of having ridden the Tara’s Hall gelding before and that was in April where he ran a 1.25-length second to Bismarck over 1000m at Turffontein.

A runner here who could provide some Eachway value is Clinton Binda’s Shalako. The Lecture gelding has been running in far stronger company and with the exception of his shocker on the sand, Shalako has never been too far behind the likes of Pride ‘N Joy, South Country and National Victor.

The other danger is Castanelli, who ran superbly when upsetting the talented Waitangi (a fluent winner yesterday) in a Novice Plate over the course and distance. A repeat of that performance makes Chris Erasmus’s charge a massive runner here. Samuel Mosia is in the irons tomorrow.

John Nel steered Sailor’s Club to a long awaited maiden victory last time and although he might find this 1 200m a touch sharp, a repeat of that performance would make him a contender here.

John Nel at his best there... Rather not...

Will give the rest of the card a miss..

Stopped punting but still watching..lol

Abraham said there he was on 2M korean(monthly) when he rode work in Korea which equates to about R13k is this much more than the good work riders will be on in SA?

I would imagine it is about 4 times more than the boys in SA get.

Just saw some results/replays - thank the lord I was busy today or I'd have to sell a kidney after some of those results - I really do think that Peacnik will go close with Vicky up (i'm sure she'll get riding instructions from gav)

I think that was one of the best workriders rides I have ever seen . Excellent ride Mabaya .

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Great pics Bob!!!

Thanks.

The jock who rode Presedent outdid himself!!
Great ride for sure.

Excellent Bob, please send us emails to forward to the lads and lassie, or via trainers

thanks again great job!