Horse Racing Tips: Onamission Charity Mile Gives Punters A Safe Passage To Glory

There’s plenty of fascinating horse racing action to look forward to this weekend, including the Onamission Charity Mile among other graded races.

Turffontein (Saturday)

Race 4 – Feather Boa 

Trainer Stuart Pettigrew has two interesting runners here and could see his horses finish in the exact spots. However, Feather Boa is the top selection over the unbeaten Captain Peg. She was ultra-impressive in her last start, although, her most impressive run to date was on Durban July day, where she ran on from last to beat Canadian Summer, who went on to win a Grade 1. She’s drawn in barrier draw 1 and should be too tough to oppose.

Race 5 – Thunderstruck

Thunderstruck looks like the class of the race and returned from his break with a resounding win to earn a hat-trick of victories, including a Grade 1 win when he won the Gold Medallion. The son of Rafeef tries the 1400m trip for the first time, but the manner in which he quickens up in the closing stages of his previous races suggests that he should have very little trouble seeing out the distance.

Race 7 – Onamission Charity Mile) (Grade 2) – Safe Passage

It’s undeniable that this is just a prep run for Safe Passage, who will be looking ahead for future races to come. However, the 4-year-old gelding from the Mike De Kock stable should be far too good for this field after finishing third in the Durban July a couple of months ago. He is unbeaten over this course and distance and gets the services of Grant van Niekerk who is in need of finding a return to his own personal form.

Race 8 – Gilded Butterfly

Stepping up to 1800m certainly paid off for Gilded Butterfly, who comfortably saw off her rivals in her last start. The filly out of the Pettigrew stable found plenty of betting support that day and should come on from that run. She is drawn in pole position and carries just 52kgs on her back. Kabelo Matsunyane is also riding at the top of his game so leave this filly out at your own peril.

Kenilworth (Sunday)

Race 5 – Nothingelsematters

Nothingelsematters makes backing the favourite fairly easy in this race. The step up in distance to 2200m will be right up his alley, especially looking at the way he finished off in his last run over 1800m. He looks like he could go even further, but this will be the best start to getting him climatized to these conditions. Richard Fourie gets the ride for Glen Kotzen – one for all multiples this weekend.

Race 7 – Bright Green

Bright Green has he opportunity to showcase his ability against some decent older horses, as well as against the opposite sex. He will be reunited with Keagan De Melo, who seems to have chosen this 3-year-old colt over Russian Rock from the Dean Kannemeyer stable, so one can only imagine the work he is producing back home. With just 52kgs on his back, I make this one of the better bets on the day.

Race 8 – Royal Aussie

Richard Fourie and Justin Snaith team up once again in the Ready To Run Stakes to bring home Royal Aussie. The son of Royal Mo has won his last two starts and is unbeaten over this course and distance. The form of his last two runs have been franked, and with arguably the best possible jockey/trainer combination in the game, this colt should take the power of beating.

Race 9 – Sugar Mountain

Sugar Mountain and Aldo Domeyer look to be the right pair in this contest. In his last run, the son of Silvano was drawn wide at gate 11 and was pipped by a half a length. Now, he is drawn at gate 2 and that should see him win this quite comfortably for the Candice Bass-Robinson stable.