20250906, Kelly O’Connor, 334 Cinderellos
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Betway have come to the party, big time, with injections of sponsorship, bonus cheques for winning trainers and incentives for grooms at grass roots level. Their bonuses to grooms have been a game-changer for us. Their spring series and the R5-million sponsorship of the Summer Cup is an indication of their commitment and that gives me hope for the future.
If you’ve met Betway’s Jonathan Blumberg you will know how passionate he is about lifting racing in the 4Racing regions to higher levels. He is part of a dynamic team led by CEO Laurence Michel, who is incidentally also capable golfer when he is away from his office desk. They have a genuine desire to assist owners, trainers and grooms in the 4Racing territories, and they’re in line with Mary Slack’s objectives to develop racing from its grass roots.
Let’s give credit where it’s due. And, if you haven’t opened an account with Betway yet, you can do so here, support racing via the tote and enjoy their excellent online betting platform.
The Alec Laird-trained Varsfontein Stud-bred Master Of My Fate gelding Atticus Finch won the Gr 3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m in fine style on Saturday at Turffontein Standside and in the process opened up an interesting Betway Summer Cup formline that might highlight two or three horses as fair value in Johannesburg’s biggest race.
On a line through Victory Moon runner up Electric Gold, Atticus Finch will need to show a few lengths improvement to beat Puerto Manzano in the Summer Cup.
Electric Gold was 8kg better off then weight for age with Puerto Manzano when beaten 1,75 lengths in the Jubilee Stakes over 1800m last June.
Atticus Finch beat Electric Gold by 1,25 lengths at level weights on Saturday and as things stand will likely only be 5,5kg better off than weight for age with Puerto Manzano in the Summer Cup.
That means on paper he needs to find an extra three lengths to match Puerto Manzano.
By the manner of victory on Saturday he could do that.
His sire Master Of My Fate by Jet Master brings him enough stamina to enjoy 2000m.
His damsire is Caesour who sired the like of Irridescance, winner of the Gr 1 QE II Cup in Hong Kong over 2000m, as well as Regal Ransom, winner of the Gr 1 Champions Challenge over the Summer Cup course and distance.
Atticus Finch’s dam Alexia was an unplaced maiden but she is very well related being the dam of Main Defender’s dam Alessia (Judpot) as well as being a full sister to two stakes winners and a half-sister to two others.
Atticus Finch is currently the 13/2 second favourite with the sponsor for the Summer Cup.
However, his formline exposes a horse or two who look too long in the Summer Cup betting
The World Sports Betting Championships ups the ante this Saturday as the WSB Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara Series concludes with a high-quality R4.33 million WSB Derby Day of thrilling Graded racing.
The stakes are high in every respect, with the race day headlined by the R1.5 million WSB SA Derby (Grade 1) for three-year-olds over 2450m, the prestigious R1 million HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m and the very special R750 000 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer Oaks (Grade 2) for three-year-old fillies over 2450m.
