Clive Robinson
It is said that there are only two kinds of bettors: those looking for the most likely winner of a race, and those searching for the one to beat the favourite.
When racing returns to the Vaal on Thursday 9 June, Roha could well be the one filly to spring a surprise in Race 7, a FM 90 Handicap over 1450m.
Trained by Paul Peter, this daughter of Flying The Flag could jump at pretty decent odds, offering good value in a very competitive race where 14 runners are carded to go to post.
Although she will be turning five on the first of August, she has only raced 11 times. Her career has been somewhat of a stop-start affair, but she has nevertheless racked up three wins. Two of those have come second out after a rest.
As this is again her second run after a break, she must be taken seriously, especially jumping from gate 5. Craig Zackey will be in the irons.
Peter will also saddle Fromheretoeternity, and on riding arrangements, one would expect this Captain Of All filly to be the more fancied of Peter’s runners, as she will have Warren Kennedy aboard.
Peter has been one of the driving forces behind Kennedy’s success this season, so it is generally accepted that Kennedy would have had first pick.
Kennedy has ridden both the fillies on numerous occasions, while it will be Zackey’s first time aboard Roha.
While both Peter’s runners are expected to be involved in the finish, Roha gets the nod as she has twice taken on much stronger fields than she meets here, and on both occasions acquitted herself with honour.
Bettors looking for the most likely winner will all pour their money on JP Two Thousand, who lines in in Race 6, a MR 84 Handicap also over 1450m.
Also trained by Peter, this Elusive Fort gelding has won four times from his last five starts and there is no reason to believe he will not improve on that record.
The three-year-old has been in phenomenal form of late, winning even when encountering problems along the way.
Gavin Lerena will be in the saddle when they jump from gate 5, and the pair look to be the banker bet on the day.