David Thiselton

Big Johannesburg-based South African owner Larry Nestadt has thee part-owned horses still standing their ground in the Melhourne Cup and one of them, Just Fine, who won the Gr 3 Bart Cummings at Flemington on October 5, is one of just three horses who are now exempt.

The other Nestadt part-owned horses who are still standing their ground are Military Mission and Royal Patronage, who are in 16th and 44th places respectively on the latest Melbourne Cup order of entry log.

The Irish-bred Just Fine (Sea The Stars) won the Gr 1 Metropolitan Handicap over a mile and four furlongs at Randwick last September and was made the ante-post second favourite for the 2023 Melbourne Cup, but he was scratched after running flat in his next start. 

He will go into this year’s race fresh by Australian standards having not had to run since October 5. 

Just Fine was the only front-running sort in the 2500m Bart Cummings at Flemington on October 5 and jockey  Jordan Childs dictated before kicking into a big lead at the top of the straight and holding on in soft conditions. 

Military Mission, who ran tenth in last year’s Melbourne Cup, is an Irish-bred by Mastercraftsman. 

He has not been in top form this season and finished last on Saturday in a Gr 3 over 2600m, but he won two Gr 2 staying races at Caulfield last year and that sees him maintaining his position in the order of entry.

Royal Patronage is the only one of the three part-owned horses who carries the Nestadt colours.

Nestadt’s all royal blue colours are well known in South Africa.

He part-owns Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King and the 2010 Equus Horse Of The Year Irish Flame ran in his colours. 

In Australia his colours are also royal blue but with yellow epaulettes.

Nestadt is the chief owner in five-year-old French-bred entire Royal Patronage, who was purchased at a Tattersalls horses in training sale.

However, he might prove to be better over shorter than the 3200m of the Melbourne Cup.

As a two-year-old Royal Patronage won the Gr 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes over seven furlongs at York and the Gr 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes over a mile at Newmarket. In the latter race he beat ill-fated Dubawi colt Caroebus. who went on to win the Gr 1 2000 Guineas and the Gr 1 St. James Palace Stakes.

All of Nestadt’s horses are trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Waterhouses’s expert eye spotted Royal Patronage, whose sire sire Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) commands a fee of €200,000. 

Royal Patronage is an exciting prospect as was seen on His Australian debut when winning a Gr 2 over 1400m at Randwick.

Since then he has had three more runs including a third in a Gr 1 over 1600  at Randwick and third in a Gr 3 over 1900m at Rosehill.

He is an entry in this Saturday’s Cox Plate, Australia’s most prestigious weight for age race, which takes place at Moonee Valley over 2040m, where he will face only eight other horses.

Royal Patronage has a good kick and might have been ridden a touch too handy in his last two starts, so is an interesting contender in the Cox Plate.

Winning it will give him an automatic ticket into the Melbourne Cup.

The Cup has an interesting system of entry.

The selected entries for the Melbourne Cup are nominated in the first week of August. From an initial Melbourne Cup field of 300 to 400 horses, the committee will select the final 24 starters. However, after nominations, the owner of the runner must confirm their intention to run four more times leading to the race.

This system allows owners to gauge the competition as the selection process moves forward. This way, they are given four times to decide to whether they want to continue with the selection process by paying a fee, or to back out. Thus, the owners are essentially betting that their horse will be selected in the final field with every fee that they pay.

How is the 2024 Melbourne Cup Order of Entry Determined?

Approximately two months before Melbourne Cup day, the chief handicapper of Racing Victoria releases the weights and the first weekly Melbourne Cup order of entry.

When determining the field, horses are ranked by the amount of weight that they are handicapped to carry in the Melbourne Cup, compared with the weight-for-age scale.

With the entry of more international contenders in recent years, the scale has been complicated because international runners are virtually guaranteed a start by virtue of their larger allocated handicaps. 

The winners of several elite races from around the world are awarded ballot exemption. That means they qualify automatically for the race, without needing to enter the nominations system.

The horse that wins any of the following events will be exempt from ballot: the Lexus Hotham Stakes, Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup, The Bart Cummings, Roy Higgins Quality, Andrew Ramsden Stakes, Belmont Gold Cup and the Ebor Handicap will be invited to take part in the Melbourne Cup.

The winners of several international races will be invited to contest the Melbourne Cup: the Arlington Million, the San Juan Capistrano Handicap in the USA, the Doncaster Cup in the UK, the Irish St. Leger, and the Tenno Sho and Sankei Sho in Japan.

Under a further tweak to Melbourne Cup conditions, any placegetter from a golden ticket race, or any Group 1 held over 2000m or further, will pass the first ballot for the race that stops a nation.

Racing Victoria officials identified a trend of higher injury rates among overseas horses during the past decade, so they have toughened up their entry criteria.

Horses from overseas must now complete a series of pre-export tests to gauge their ability to complete this gruelling race without suffering an injury. 

The final field of 24 runners will be unveiled at 4.30pm local time on Saturday, November 2nd, three days before the race takes place.

The barrier draw is revealed at 7pm on November 2nd and this is a very eagerly anticipated event among punters.

RACE 1

9 LADY OF VIX   6 DIYARANI   4 DRESSEDTOTHENINES   3 FEEL THE WIND

Summary: Tony Rivalland’s filly LADY OF VIX (9) made a smart debut on the turf at Hollywoodbets Scottsville but if she has come on from that effort the poly and the widest draw should not be an issue. DIYARANI (6) was a distant fourth last run and although rested both runs were in the soft on the turf and any market support will see her as a big contender. DRESSEDTOTHENINES (4) has shown her best form on the poly while FEEL THE WIND (3) was much improved last run and has first time blinkers for Yogas Govender. (Andrew Harrison: 9-6-4-3).

RACE 2

6 GOOD LIVING   3 MO KING   1 MIND MAP   5 RAILROAD

Summary: GOOD LIVING (8) has been knocking on the door for some time now and the Paul Lafferty stable is in good form. The gelding switches to the poly but on his best form he should make a bold bid. Danger could be MO KING (3). His two best efforts have been on the poly and he should keep Good Living honest. MIND MAP (1) did show some promise in the Cape but his last run is best ignored. The poly could suit and with first time cheek pieces he could give a lot of cheek. RAILROAD (5) is struggling but can finish in the money. (Andrew Harrison: 8-3-1-5).

RACE 3

5 DEE DAY   8 RUN FOR PEACE   2 MOCHA BLEND   1 MERITORIOUS

Summary: Three unraced runners in what is a race with thin form. Take note of any market support. MERITORIOUS (1) and MOCHA BLEND (2) look the most likely to feature. Of those that have run, DEE DAY (5) has not been far back at recent outings and this trip should suit. RUN FOR PEACE (8) has been rested but did show improvement at her second start and the step up in trip should suit. (Andrew Harrison: 5-8-2-1).

RACE 4

2 MAGMA MAGIC   1 BRAVE BOMBER   6 PRICELESS PEARL   8 FIRELIGHTER

Summary: Tricky Maiden. MAGMA MAGIC (2) has been knocking on the door for Tony Rivalland and now switches to the poly. He is distance suited and should run another forward race. BRAVE BOMBER (1) has improved with each outing and from the best of the draw should be competitive. PRICELESS PEARL (6) improved nicely last run, only his third start and second on the poly. The stable is in form and he is one to watch. FIRELIGHTER (8) was much improved last run when friendless in the betting. He may now have found his form and if he can build on his last run he must have a chance. (Andrew Harrison: 2-1-6-8).

RACE 5

5 WAVE WARRIOR   3 ONE IRISH ROVER   2 L’ULTIMO   7 COUNT MARSH

Summary: Open handicap in spite of the small field. WAVE WARRIOR (5) seldom runs a poor race and takes a slight drop in the handicap. Muzi Yeni rides for Alyson Wright which could prove significant. ONE IRISH ROVER (3) made eye-catching improvement last start and is 3.5kg better off with L’ULTIMO (2) who has improved in blinkers but does look held at the weights after his three-point raise in the handicap. COUNT MARSH (7) is useful on his day and can feature prominently in this company. (Andrew Harrison: 5-3-2-7).

RACE 6

4 MISS PAGET   6 THE GHOST   3 ASPOESTERTJIE   2 CHELSEA FLOWER

Summary: MISS PAGET (4) is smart and this race looks to be at her mercy. She is a course and distance specialist and should be in with a big shout. Main danger could be THE GHOST (6). The Paul Lafferty stable is in very good form and although the grey only shed her maiden last time out, her pre-maiden form was solid and she must have a strong chance in this line-up. Carl Hewitson has two soldiers in CHELSEA FLOWER (2) and ASPOESTERTJIE (3). The former has fair poly form against slightly stronger while the latter switches to the poly and is well capable on her day. (Andrew Harrison: 4-6-3-2).

RACE 7

8 MISS LIALAH   4 GINGER DELIGHT   1 BEAUTIFUL RANIA   3 KITTEN’S ADVENTURE

Summary: The two three-year-olds GINGER DELIGHT (4) and BEAUTIFUL RANIA (1) have useful recent form and should be right up there in modest company but Paul Gadsby has declared blinkers on MISS LIALAH (8) and for an older mare that could prove decisive. KITTEN’S ADVENTURE (3) comes from an in-form stable and is better than her recent form would suggest. (Andrew Harrison: 8-4-1-3).

Andrew Harrison

There are only seven races carded for Hollywoodbets Greyville today with small fields the order of the afternoon. Fortunately racing will be on the poly as the past week’s heavy rains will most likely have led to another abandonment had today been on the turf. Fortunately racing will be on the poly as the past week’s heavy rains will have little effect on the surface.

Tony Rivalland can get punters off to a winning start in the card opener when he saddles Lady Of Vix who made a smart debut on the turf at Hollywoodbets Scottsville but if she has come on from that effort the poly and the widest draw should not be an issue. 

Diyarani was a distant fourth last run and although rested both runs were in the soft on the turf and any market support will see her as a big contender. Dressedtothenines has shown her best form on the poly while Feel The Wind was much improved last run and has first time blinkers for Yogas Govender. 

In the second Good Living has been knocking on the door for some time now and the Paul Lafferty stable is in good form. The gelding switches to the poly but on his best form he should make a bold bid. Danger could be Mo King. His two best efforts have been on the poly and he should keep Good Living honest. Mind Map did show some promise in the Cape but his last run is best ignored. The poly could suit and with first time cheek pieces he could give a lot of cheek. 

Three unraced runners make up the first leg of the Pick 6 in what is a race with thin form. Take note of any market support. Meritorious and Mocha Blend look the most likely to feature. Of those that have run, Dee Day has not been far back at recent outings and this trip should suit. Run For Peace has been rested but did show improvement at her second start and the step up in trip should suit. 

The fourth is a tricky maiden. Magma Magic has been knocking on the door for Rivalland and now switches to the poly. He is distance suited and should run another forward race. Brave Bomber has improved with each outing and from the best of the draw should be competitive. Priceless Pearl improved nicely last run, only his third start and second on the poly. The stable is in form and he is one to watch. Firelighter was much improved last run when friendless in the betting. He may now have found his form and if he can build on his last run he must have a chance

The fifth is an open handicap in spite of the small field but Wave Warrior seldom runs a poor race and takes a slight drop in the handicap. Muzi Yeni rides for Alyson Wright which could prove significant. One Irish Rover made eye-catching improvement last start and is 3.5kg better off with L’Ultimo who has improved in blinkers but does look held at the weights after his three-point raise in the handicap. 

Miss Paget could be one of the better bets on the card. She is smart on her day and this race looks to be at her mercy. She is a course and distance specialist and should be in with a big shout. Main danger could be The Ghost. The Paul Lafferty stable is in very good form and although the grey only shed her maiden last time out, her pre-maiden form was solid and she must have a strong chance in this line-up. Carl Hewitson has two soldiers in Chelsea Flower and Aspoestertjie. The former has fair poly form against slightly stronger while the latter switches to the poly and is well capable on her day.

In the last, the two three-year-olds Ginger Delight and Beautiful Rania have useful recent form and should be right up there in modest company but Paul Gadsby has declared blinkers on Miss Lialah that for an older mare that could prove decisive. Kitten’s Adventure comes from an in-form stable and is better than her recent form would suggest. 

Rugby 8 Win Margin, for Friday, 25 October 2024, C/Over: R29476
Pool Closes @ 20h35, Sport 65 Pool 1

Soccer10, for Friday, 25 October 2024, C/Over: R100 000, Pool Closes @ 19h30, Sport 7 Pool 1 Estimated Pool: R1.5 Million

Scccer13 for Saturday, 26 October 2024, Pool Closes @ 15h15, Sport 10 Pool 1, Guaranteed Pool: R57 Million 13 of 13

Soccer4, for Saturday, 26 October 2024, C/Over R25 000, Pool Closes @
18h00, Sport 17 Pool 3: Estimated Pool: R75 000

Soccer10, for Saturday, 26 October 2024, C/Over: R100 000, Pool Closes @ 15h00, Sport 12 Pool 1 Estimated Pool: R1.5 Million

Soccer ANY13 Xtra, for Saturday, 26 October 2024, C/Over, R75 000, Pool
Closes @ 14h00, Sport 13 Pool 1, Estimated Pool: R350 000

David Thiselton

Turffontein Inside stages an intriguing nine race meeting today, which will offer opportunities for both exotic and on the nose punters.

The highest rated race at the meeting is the seventh, a MR 94 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m, and Andi’s Girl is a stand out selection on form. She has run over this course and distance in her last two starts and finished a 2,25 lengths second to Back In Business and a head second to Fiery Pegasus. Both of the latter are looking to be top class and she actually gave the year younger, but 12 point higher rated Fiery Pegasus 3kg in the latter race. She also has pole position and in form Gavin Lerena aboard. The progressive Across The Pond represents the in form combination of St. John Gray and Muzi Yeni and jumps from a good draw of five. Gray has had 15 wins this season at a strike rate of 16.48%, but Yeni has been aboard for every single one of those 15 wins so their strike rate together is very high indeed. Across The Pond will be a threat and the risk averse should include him in the Pick 6. Duenna loves this course and distance and could also have a say from a fair draw of six.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Basingstoke won her maiden over 1000m from start to finish in fluent fashion and from pole position could follow up. She is a banker possibility, although giving the in form seven-year-old mare Twice As Wild 7kg won’t be easy and the latter has a low enough draw of six to make her good early pace effective. Smelting beat Twice As Wild last time, albeit with a 4kg claimer up, and she is only two points higher so could make her presence felt.

The second leg is over 1000m too and Arilena is on the up and tipped to make it three successive turf wins. She did have a run on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly in between those two wins that can be ignored as she won with ease on either side of that run over 1000m and 1200m respectively. However, she does have a tricky draw of seven and a merit rating raise of five to overcome. Therefore, Autumn Var and Stroopsoet might be worth including. Autumn Var will enjoy the step back to 1000m and has a plum draw and Stroopsoet showed big improvement last time to win her maiden, but she does have a tricky draw to overcome.

In the sixth race over 1000m Poblano looks to be promising after running on strongly down the wrong side of the track to win on debut, but she does have an 87 merit rating to deal with. Bosum Buddy has run some fine races against decent opposition and should be in the shake up from a plum draw. Nettleton has a six point raise to deal with, but might have come on a bit from that last win, although her draw of five out of eight is tricky. Valieva has not been disgraced against top sorts and won her maiden with authority, so can also be considered despite a tricky draw of six. Green Flash has ability and is suited to the minimum trip so also has to be considered from draw three with Lerena up.

In the eighth race over 1450m Alphabetty is well drawn and off a competitive merit rating might make her presence felt over this step down in trip. Queen Of Love hasn’t run since winning her maiden easily back in May but is drawn well over a suitable trip, albeit off a tough 88 merit rating. Future Date should be in the shake up if repeating her last run. She has a tricky draw but Yeni is up. Shampimpi is capable of earning here. Say It Loud could also improve and from pole position has to be considered.

In the last race over 1450m Palace Dancer has some good form and should take to the step up in trip from a good draw under Gavin Lerena. Oxalis Gold disappointed first time out the maidens over this course and distance but she was returning from a layoff and drifted significantly in the betting. The form of that race has been franked and she is now drawn in pole. Princess Lola has shown ability and should now have a chance of staying this trip. Princess Iliara is consistent and well draw and has a definite form chance. Courageous has always been well regarded and could pop up.

In the first leg of the PA Birthright is a big, scopey sort and from a good draw has a good chance over a suitable 1800m trip. Hazlo Grande showed the potential he had always promised last time and Eiger Sanction has been in devastating form since the blinkers have been removed and might make it five in a row.

In the first leg of the Bipot Guy Alexander and Callaburn could fight it out.

In the first race Panning Gold will need to bounce back from a below par run. He runs over a step up in trip that he should easily get on pedigree, but he has not been tried over it before and fading over 1600m last time does not augur well, although he was caught wide without cover which probably explains it. The Merciful ran well last time but it was a maiden handicap and this will be tougher. Yojimbo has the form to be a contender but it is his first run for three-and-a-half months.