Draws muddy Charity Mile form

CONCERN: THREE OF THE LEADING RUNNERS WILL NEED TO OVERCOME WIDE BARRIER POSITIONS

- Jack Milner

The Grade 2 Allied Steelrode On A Mission Charity Mile meeting is one of the delights on the annual racing calendar.

While horseracing is so often perceived as a “take” sport, this is a “give” event as a host of charities come away as the big winners on the day. To watch the delight on the faces of those charities who cheer home their runners is gratifying and adds an early Christmas spirit to the day.

There is an old axiom that charity begins at home, and for those people there are plenty of opportunities to bring home a pot of gold, headed up by a R500,000 Pick 6 carryover which is likely to produce a R3-million pool.

Of course, the meeting is headlined by the R1-million race and this year’s event looks particularly competitive. It is a handicap and that levels the playing fields, but what can tip the scales are the draws, especially over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside track.

The major concern is that a number of key players are drawn wide and that will require a combination of some smart jockeyship and a whole lot of luck.