Vote For Emperor’s Palace Ride Of Month, Win Golf Stay

By June 13, 2024SA Racing

Graceland’s stay and play package has a beautiful setting and top class accomodation and golf course (Picture: Emperor’s Palace) 

Choose one of the five rides below as the Emperor’s Palace Ride Of The Month for May and email your vote to editor@turftalk.co.za and you can win the below fantastic prize:

1 x Night stay at Graceland for 2 including breakfast
1 x round of golf for 2
1 x Dinner Voucher

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE ABOUT GRACELAND’S STAY AND PLAY GOLF PACKAGES

Previous winner comments:

Don was a previous winner of the Emperor’s Palace Ride Of The Month competition and had this to say: “Thank you very much for the excellent and professional arrangement for our stay at Graceland . The cold weather and nippy wind did not stop us from having an awesome round of golf  and we thoroughly enjoyed and supported all the inhouse facilities.”

 

Nominees for the Emperor’s Palace Ride Of The Month for May:

1. Richard Fourie Future Swing Gr 2 WSB 1900 Hollywoodbets Greyville 11 May
Fourie rousted the Futura gelding just enough to be able to secure the rail from draw three in the 14 horse field, but not so strongly that he overraced. It was also just enough for the horses coming around from higher draws to slot in front of him, meaning he was in the box seat in about fifth place with cover. In the straight Future Swing ran on well down the inside and Fourie managed to keep him going with his powerful drive coupled with two deft changes of whip hand, the first to get him to change legs and the other to keep him on a straight line. He held on by 0,30 lengths.
2. Aldo Domeyer Oliver Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 1200m 11 May
Oliver was backed in to 14/10 favourite and Domeyer rode an ice cool race. This horse comes from off the pace and has a short but strong burst of speed if left alone for long enough. The draw of one was thus problematic as the jockeys tend to bring their mounts over from the outside and it can get a bit crowded towards the inside. Domeyer was content to sit on the horse from the off. He weighed up his options nearing the business end and was decisive when spotting a gap. Olver burst through and won cosily by 2,50 lengths.

3. Charles Ndlovu Can’t Say No Fairview poly 1300m May 17

Charles had won a  maiden on this horse by seven lengths over 1400m, beating the stablemate favourite by 9,25 lengths. When Alan Greeff asked him whether he wanted to keep the ride he said wittily, “Can’t say no”, and he took the opportunity with both hands. From a wide draw of nine out of nine he got the horse up there early and settled her nicely on the quarters of the second placed horse. In the straight he just had to use the hands to accelerate into the lead. He kept her going with the hands to win by 2,50 lengths with the Fourie-ridden stable favourite beaten 4,25 lengths this time.

4. Gavin Lerena Joker Man Turffontein 1600m 23 May

It is not easy to win four races on the trot with an up and coming horse and in this Middle Stakes event the Vercingetorix three-year-old gelding was weighted off a 94 merit rating having started out handicapping in February as an 80. This was also the first time he was going this far. Nevertheless, Lerena confidently took him to the front from draw five out of six. He got the fractions corrrect because in the straight Joker Man stretched away to win by 1,80 lengths, converting 14/10 odds. A promising horse with a bright future expertly handled.

5. Anthony Andrews The Futurist Gr 3 Pocket Power Stakes over 1950m 26 May
Andrews had never ridden The Futurist before but knew from watching him and speaking to other jockeys that this horse liked to stretch out in front and did not like to be reined in as that just caused him to increase his speed. “You just have to trust his speed,” said Andrews after the race. The other riders were severely criticised in this race for allowing The Futurist to get away, but Andrews rode the horse to perfection and the fractions he went at were spot on. He romped in by 9,25 lengths at 33/1 odds.
Share