MALMOOS, WAR OF ATHENA CHASE HISTORY

Horse Chestnut (1999). Igugu (2011). Cherry On The Top (2013). Louis The King (2014). Abashiri (2015). Summer Pudding (2020). Six stars of South African racing who were immortalised through their winning efforts in the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara, writes Gary Lemke for GGGaming.bet


MALMOOS, WAR OF ATHENA CHASE HISTORY

by Gary Lemke, supplied by GGGaming.bet

Horse Chestnut (1999). Igugu (2011). Cherry On The Top (2013). Louis The King (2014). Abashiri (2015). Summer Pudding (2020). Six stars of South African racing who were immortalised through their winning efforts in the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara, writes Gary Lemke for GGGaming.bet

It’s never fair to compare champions from different generations, but Horse Chestnut was surely the best of those who have completed the “hat-trick”, not only because what he went on to achieve, but also because when he won the Triple Crown he did so by taking the Cape Guineas at Kenilworth, the SA Classic at Gosforth Park and the SA Derby at Turffontein. Unbeaten on different tracks around the country.

These days the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara is “only” run at Turffontein and the runners generally are taken from those based in Gauteng. That inevitably raises questions as to how good they really are considering those down in the Cape feel that the quality of their horses is favourably comparable to anything to be found elsewhere in SA.

However, a champion horse can only beat what he or she is put up against and both Malmoos and War Of Athena are odds-on favourites to win the SA Derby and SA Oaks, respectively, over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday. This would see them join the illustrious list mentioned above and also see the “Triple” achieved by both sexes for the first time in the same year.

Can they do it? They should. Although the double is only 15/10, with both facing opposition that they’ve largely disposed of in winning the opening two legs. Given the manner of their victories in the Gauteng Guineas and SA Classic it really does seem as though the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara is gift-wrapped for them.

Malmoos has won six of his seven starts while War Of Athena is a seven-time winner from 13 starts and she’s won her last four races emphatically. In fields of level weights of 60kg again it really is difficult to look past these two favourites simply to try to find one to beat them.

With the Pick Six pool expected to be well over R5-million, both War Of Athena and Malmoos will be popular bankers. As will Got The Greenlight in the Grade One Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m. He too is currently at odds-on. In fact, if you take those three favourites with the three remaining fields will cost you R588 for a 100% ticket.

At face value it looks an easy Pick Six to catch, but on big race days the best laid plans often go awry. Should one of those three “bankers” not win – especially Malmoos or War Of Athena – then the Pick Six is going to be well worth catching.

Trainer Sean Tarry is always one to factor in on big days and he could well get things off to a good start with his juveniles in race one and two, Rain In Holland and Kuuma.

A win all to come of Kuuma, Got The Greenlight, Malmoos and War Of Athena is 11/1 on GGGaming.

Racing in the Cape is back at Kenilworth and although there are some small fields, they have a competitive feel to them.

The trainer worth following is Candice Bass-Robinson. She has a strong hand throughout the day but her best bets could be the fillies Marmalisa and Marina. She will also fancy her winning chances with Barzalona, Whatsinadream, Mr Cobbs and Snow Report.

Bass Racing tip:

Kenilworth, race 5. Marmalisa.

This talented filly takes on five rivals over 1200m on Saturday. She got within a length of the vaunted Kitty Cat Chat over the course and distance last time out and a reproduction of that effort should see her take a lot of beating here. She also receives 5kg from the other three-year-old in the field, Veronica Mars

straight line jackpot
MKS Pride
Got the Greenlight
War Of Athena
Malmoos
Easy Game

Malmoos is a super star horse but one worry is that the de kock stable have been quiet but their high standard and Luke ferraris from 27 March has had 20 rides for one 3rd place finish so that's a major concern.

But good horses normally pull through.

Another horse might run well on the day is pack leader