Into the valley of the Vaal rode the 28

30 September 2016 - 09:32 By Mike Moon

Warfare used to be much more exciting, with cavalry charges and stuff. It's always been a ghastly business, but nowadays it's a lot less spectacular: drone arrives overhead, man many miles away presses tit, boom, you're dead. Back in the day, horses were the "drones", carrying death in the form of aggressive young fools dressed up in ludicrous outfits - brightly coloured tunics, with shiny insignia and silly tall hats, or cumbersome flowing robes held together with knotted shiny brocade. These bloodthirsty desperadoes gathered their horses together in a line, then galloped hell-for-leather at the enemy, yelling and flailing away with sabre and lance.Very messy. But more thrilling to behold (from a distance) than a grainy, anonymous puff of smoke viewed on CNN.The cavalry charge has been re-invented by horse racing - minus the slaughter at the end, maybe for the best. It's called The Grand Heritage and it's at Vaal Racecourse tomorrow.A rail dividing two tracks at the venue has been removed to create a wide expanse of turf, allowing 28 horses to line up across it, then gallop shoulder-to-shoulder down the straight course for 1475m.It's the biggest field for a race in South Africa for yonks and should present a magnificent sight of flying hooves, flared nostrils and colourfully clad combatants jostling for supremacy as they swoop down upon a hollering mob in the grandstand.We punters have the unenviable job of determining a winner from such shenanigans. For these horses are a mish-mash class-wise, with a wide range in the handicap. The whole idea is to give a variety of handy handicappers a go at a decent prize of R750000.The difficulty of the task is evidenced by the ruling favourite being quoted at remarkably long odds of 9-1. This is Lunar Approach, from the barn of champion trainer Sean Tarry, and his popularity stems from a decent third-placed finish to highly rated Kangaroo Jack on a recent return from a rest.The next two in the betting are at 10-1, followed by seven chargers at 12-1 and the top-weight, Pivotal Pursuit at 14-1. The latter must shoulder 64kg, giving a gob-smacking 15.5kg to the bottom-weights.To be honest, selection is a blindfold-and-pin job, especially when you chuck in the unfathomable of barrier draws on an unknown, unpredictable surface.Extra jockeys are flying in from around the country to complete the cavalry regiment, but two top riders who won't be in the fray are Piere Strydom and Anthony Delpech. They'll be in Europe, partnering our equine ambassadors in a couple of very big races.First up is Delpech, in the saddle of Smart Call as the 2016 Met winner makes her international debut in the Grade 1 Sun Chariot Stakes over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket, England.It's been nine months since she's gone to the races, having endured a long, circuitous journey due to unfair European quarantine protocols, so Alec Laird's charge might need the outing to get back into the swing of things.But Smart Call is a helluva horse and I wouldn't be surprised if she shocked the Poms.Then, on Sunday, Paul Lafferty's Harry's Son steps out at Chantilly in France on Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe day. Strydom will steer the popular, gutsy fella over 1400m in the Grade 1 Prix de la Foret.Let's hope they summon the spirit of southern warriors past: Ipi Tombe, JJ The Jet Plane, Jay Peg ...

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