DURBAN – It’s July week, and the legendary ‘Guv’nor’ Jeffery Lloyd aged 56 is back for what I hope will be a fitting swansong. So, let’s talk horses.
It’s an open race for these Grade 1 beauties come Saturday afternoon at Greyville. ‘African Night Sky’ is a favourite at 5/2, ‘Do It Again’ at 15/2 and Made to Conquer at 17/2, with 10/1 bar the rest.
This Sangoma says ningadlali lana (don’t play here) and miss a big payday, so please take a dip on the outsiders.
If you don’t fancy my tips, then just go with your best colours and fancied names - you may surprise yourself.
Bones calls the Guv’nor’s horse ‘Made to Conquer’ for a win or place at least, with Tilbury Fort (Lyle, a Kearsney oldie is the jockey), Yakeen from the De Kock stable, or Mark Khan’s mount in Fiorella – all at 20/1 and better.
Enjoy the pomp and pageantry all that attend. Some of us will be working.
It’s July week, and the legendary ‘Guv’nor’ Jeffery Lloyd is back for a fitting swansong. Photo: VodacomDbnJuly on Twitter
Russia has given us a treat for the World Cup quarter-finals. It’s quite a lovely mix, with two of the South Americans to potentially upset the Europeans who have the favourites amongst them - outside of the Samba boys, of course.
Uruguay vs France; don’t underestimate the Saurez gang, magenge. It’s hard for me to ignore my Parisian brothers, as I did always fancy them.
And we know how, as Africans, we despise that buck tooth fella after 2010 against Ghana.
So, let’s do goals under 2.5, and look at the double with under 2.5 goals and a draw.
Brazil vs Belgium is the champagne game, and I’m quite sure it will not disappoint.
Samba time, I would say, but Romelo Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne come with that X factor. Besides, we are sick of Neymar -so he can roll out!
Then there is Sweden vs England and the latter insist “It’s coming home”.
Will Gareth Southgate and his Boys 'Bring it home' ? Photo: Lee Smith/Reuters
In reply, the cheeky Swedes might sing “Go home, to your ugly wives” – with the Poms chiming back “You’re s**t, but your birds are fit”! We say, ‘England, your wives need loving boys – go home!’
Hosts Russia take on Croatia, and the bones like to see the home team go far in these tourneys. But, have they gone far enough? I think not, so let’s give it another go and get them into the semis, baba.
The ever tainted and MAD Tour de France starts in Paris too. Will ‘Saffa born’ Chris Froome come up with the magic on the back of ‘Giro di Italia’?
This feat may not be as easy for Froome the favourite, but…
Let’s look at a sneaky upset. Chris Froome and Vincenzo Nibali seem like they are the only two men on the race to have won a Tour de France, but this Sangoma looked for some of the riders hoping to contend for the title.
There is one Bardet, who finished in 2nd and 3rd in 2016 and 2017 respectively; he has also become more tactically aware of descents, which will bode him well, no doubt.
Le Tour with'Saffa-born' Chris Froome kicks off on Saturday... Photo: Kim Ludbrook/EPA
The Bones have fallen and show some of the same, which points to Froome, but we like an upset (hence World Cup 2018 has been an absolute treat), so wink a peak at Romain Bardet at 16/1, Richie Porte at 4/1 and Vincenzo Nibali at 11’s. Peter Sagan should spin in as a strong favourite at 5/10 and should take the points classification.
The best part - if not better than the main dala - is “King of the Mountains”, where top favourites are Barguil 3/1, Landa 9/2 and De Gendt 11/1. I say go with the nicely priced, legendary 2ndfavourite Landa. Take that and waai.
In rugga, go Crusaders, Rebels, Chiefs,
Canes, Tahs, Jaguares and Sharks and be merry.
Don’t forget a Wimbledon punt on Serena and Rodger to serve us up some strawberries and nostalgia.