adminHIGHLY rated Approval Rating takes on an equally strong field of nine horses for the Hachiman Sprint race set for Borrowdale race course this afternoon.
The race is on 3.55 pm and is slotted in as race 6 on the race card. Winners of this years’ edition which will be contested over 1 100 metres will pocket $4 000 leaving the other three runners up to collect $1 600, $1 000 and $600 according to their order of merit.
Trainer Gokhan Terzi has opted to give the reigns of Approval Rating to seasoned jockey Lance Pagel.
Pagel is the man tasked to unroll the tactical approach in the race, if he gets it right, especially towards the final stages then the connection might find their way to the winner’s podium to collect their first silverware in 2016.
However, even though this runner is highly rated at 96, a winner of 10 races from 34 competitions plus 13 place finishes, it might prove suicidal for any punter to put his/her neck on the block and pick it as the potential winner here.
Also considering the fact that Approval rating is surrounded by a lot of classy horses in the form of Gentle Brook rated (84), Picalilly (84), Pegwell Bay (81) to name but a few this makes this race a tricky assignment indeed.
No to be counted out, Road To Dubai a winner several times between 1 000m to 1 300m might prove to be the toughest and trickiest opponent for Approval Rating.
Jockey Francois Herholdt from the stable of trainer Kirk Swanson will be the pilot. Road To Dubai comes along with an impressive course record of 13 runs with six wins and three place finishes, all recorded last year in 2015.
Therefore, trying to find a winner here is like trying to look for a needle in a hay stack — A very difficult task by any stretch of imagination.
At the end of the race any team that has a trick or two up their sleeves stands a better chance of being the first over the line this afternoon.
The rest of the field stands as follows Approval Rating (96), Atso’s Scheme (89), Pacifica (92), Gentle Brook (84), Picalilly (84), Thriller In Manila (82), Pegwell Bay (81), Road To Dubai (81),Newton Power (78) and Nimble Dancer (73).
According to the Mashonaland Turf Club (MTC) racing manager, Betina Gurajena the stage is now set for this afternoon.
“The race card was released on Wednesday. As MTC we are happy with the ground we have covered so far in terms of our preparations for this race day, therefore we are ready”, declared Gurajena.
There are six more races on the programme, among them the All To Come Maiden Plate, Bipot Merit Rated 70 Handicap, Place Accumulator Maiden Plate, Soccer GG Merit Rated 70 Handicap, Pick Six Novice Plate and lastly the Jackpot Quick Mix Merit Rated 50 Handicap race.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo