Odwa Ndungane with the horse he named Isivunguvungu at Del Mar racecourse ahead of Saturday’s Gr 1 US$1 million Breeders Cup Turf Sprint. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
David Mollett
“Hollywoodbets are offering their clients odds of 36-10 a place about Isivungungu – just over 7-2” – that was the message from brand and communications manager, Devin Heffer, after the 30-strong party touched down in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Del Mar – where the 2-day Breeders Cup meeting takes place – became famous in 1937 thanks to the efforts of legendary actor and singer, Bing Crosby. He and other prominent entertainers of that era built the Del Mar racecourse.
SA’s Equus champion sprinter has a tough task in Saturday’s Turf Sprint against the likes of Cogburn, Bradsell and Believing, but punters with faith in the horse can get 20-1 for a win.
Heffer will be receiving a feedback on the welfare of “Isi” from Peter Muscutt – the sprinter’s former trainer – who travelled to the States 24 hours before the main party.
Picture below: Odwa Ndungane, Isivunguvungu’s groom Jose Sanchez Torres (wearing Odwa’s Zulu head band) and Isivunguvungu’s former Summerveld-based trained Peter Muscutt.
Picture below: Kgomotso Ndungane and Isivunguvungu’s trainer Graham Motion.
Picture below: Peter Muscutt offering an apple to Isivunguvungu
Pictures below: Isivunguvungu working out
Latest UK betting on the race has Cogburn at 11-8 followed by Bradsell at 4-1, Believing (whom I believe can run a big race) at 17-2, Big Evs also at 17-2 and Star Of Mystery and Motorious both at 12-1.
Star Of Mystery, representing the Appleby-Buick partnership, is worth including in trifecta bets. She showed good form earlier in the year in Meydan and finished second in the Al Quoz Sprint. Taking on Cogburn in Saratoga, she finished a creditable third after encountering traffic problems.
Apart from their main objective in supporting Isivunguvungu in the Sprint, the party will be able to see Aidan O’Brien’s star performer, City Of Troy, run in the Breeders Cup Classic. It is a race the Irish trainer has never won.
UK bookmakers report unprecedented interest in City Of Troy and they face big payouts if the son of Justify gets home at his current odds of 7-4.
Corals spokesman, David Stevens, said: “City Of Troy’s Classic bid has really captured punters’ imagination and he’s been extremely popular in the context of antepost betting.”
“I don’t think another horse can compare in terms of interntional antepost interest and he really is breaking new ground. He always provokes plenty of debate, but one thing that has never wavered is Aidan O’Brien’s belief in him, and that’s another big factor behind the money we’ve taken.”
“We’ll take most of the money on him on Saturday, and if he does win he’ll be a significant loser for us. That will be offset by what a great story it will be and even more so for us as we love to see a Coral Eclipse winner achieve great things.”
Pat Cooney, spokesman for bet365, commented: “Such is the respect for Aidan O’Brien in America, I feel City Of Troy will continue to be popular on the day and return nearer 6-4 than 2-1 especially after the draw.”
Interviewed by The Racing Post, top UK trainer, John Gosden, who won the 2008 Classic with Raven’s Pass, gave his view on City Of Troy’s prospects.
He said: “I actually talked to Aidan about the race at York. If you get a good run up the straight before the first bend, he can win. I won a mile and a quarter race here that used to be called the Del Mar Handicap and – if you are drawn on the inside – you’ve got to break alertly because if they come across and you get kickback, that’s a problem.”
“With a horse like him, if you get a clear run to the first bend and he’s travelling well after it, then I doubt they would catch him. I think he would outclass them.”
So – with both TAB and bookmakers – betting on this important turf event, one has to have a strategy.
My bet in the Sprint is to box four runners in the exacta – Cogburn, Believing, Isivunguvngu and Star Of Mystery.
I also fancy a treble of Believing to place, City Of Troy to win and Kamala Harris to win the US Presidential election!
