ARC WEEKEND 👍👁

ARC Weekend Update – Health, Racing, and Rugby Insights

Good morning, Clan – it’s Arc weekend! 👍

Health update:

Unfortunately, the doctors can’t fix my eye, but at least I don’t need to visit another hospital or stick my head in another machine for a couple of months. My next check-up will focus on my good eye.

Not sure what my next ailment will be after my recent hospital stay, but hopefully nothing drastic. As the song goes: “things can only get better” (except the eye 🫣).

On the brighter side, I’ve been offered a role with the NHRA after their reshuffle – checking the photo finish equipment following recent anomalies.

In the meantime, I’m trying to balance the financial situation and keep my sense of humour in the face of medical bills.

Options considered:

Find a high block of flats or a big cliff – the start of the flight of the lemmings?

Move into the Stevie Wonder wing at Steve Biko Hospital 🏥

Or stick to my old story: many years ago, one of my supervisors had a call in my office from a lady chasing outstanding payments.

He picked up the landline phone (invented by John Logie Baird of Scotland – yes, I still have my Heritage Day props) and told her:

“My income is only X rand per month, but my commitments are more.
To be fair, I place all my debts into a top hat and pay the names that come out first.
If you continue to harass me, your account won’t even make the hat.”

On the spiritual side:

My neighbour, being rather religious, even brought his pastor to bless me 🙏. A kind gesture – and if it works, I’ll be the first to cast a stone at the eye 👁 institute.

Local news:

Chaos reigns – from the police commission to service delivery and corruption. The ANC appear to be in panic mode after turning a blind eye 👁 for 20 years.

Credit to the police generals 👏 – let’s hope the sudden “illnesses” aren’t linked to darker elements, and that some people finally do end up behind bars.

As for Donald Trump… he’s a seminar on his own.

Kubala tribe in Jedburgh – a classic.

Racing outlook:

Hollywoodbets Greyville hosts racing on Friday.

Turffontein kicks off its feature season on Saturday with Spring Challenge day – a pointer toward the Summer Cup.

In PE, I’ll be checking the Zietsman runners.

Summer Cup is only a few weeks away but not an indication of ante post market where with July we were pricing up with 3 months to go. Drumnadrochit is where Nessie stays at lock Ness but hope it does not get its long head in front of John's Witching Hour. Greaterix and Callmegetrix double plus Lucky Lad runs.

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – Sunday:

One of the greatest races to win. Legends like Mill Reef, Dancing Champ, Alleged, Enable, Treve, Zarkava, and Sea the Stars remind us why this race is so special.

This year feels wide open. I’m siding with the O’Brien maestro – Minnie Hauk, who has both a good draw and Christophe Soumillon in the saddle 🏇.

Local hopes rest with Aventure, while the improving Japanese runners could feature strongly – though poor draws may have dented their chances.


Final field:

Giavellotto – Andrea Atzeni (5)

White Birch – Dylan Browne McMonagle (9)

Arrow Eagle – Ioritz Mendizabal (16)

Sosie – Stephane Pasquier (3)

Los Angeles – Wayne Lordan (14)

Byzantine Dream – Oisin Murphy (15)

Estrange – Danny Tudhope (18)

Quisisana – Alexis Pouchin (7)

Kalpana – Colin Keane (10)

Aventure – Maxime Guyon (12)

Daryz – Mickael Barzalona (2)

Leffard – Cristian Demuro (6)

Cualificar – William Buick (8 )

Hotazhell – Shane Foley (11)

Croix Du Nord – Yuichi Kitamura (17)

Alohi Alii – Christophe Lemaire (4)

Minnie Hauk – Christophe Soumillon (1)

Gezora – Tom Marquand (13)

Rugby Championship:

Really looking forward to the Boks winning rugby 🏉 championship.  The Boks vs Pumas last game was a classic with 10 mins before half time plus second half performance..unbelievable. 

Hope you took the 8.5/10 😉 

Australia to give the All Black's a tough game in the other match.

Good punting and enjoy the weekend of racing and rugby!