The race for a share of the R100 000 Tipstar prize offered by the
racing industry to the countrys media tipsters has entered the
final straight and with just six graded races remaining, the battle
at the top of the log has become excitingly close.
Gold Circle and Phumelela have run the competition over the past
racing season on graded races run throughout the country. Points
are allocated to successful selections in the races and the tipster
earning the most points will receive a R60 000 cheque on Canon Gold
Cup day. The tipsters finishing second and third will receive R30
000 and R10 000 respectively.
After the running of the Vodacom Durban July, the Phumelela Tipsters
operating in the Citizens Racing Express had their lead narrowed
from 33 points to a mere 12 as they only managed to score two points
on the day while Johan Stassen of The Herald scored 16. Monty Mariemuthoo
picked up eight points on the day to put him in joint third with
Chad Cooke and Andrew Harrison scored six points to move him three
places into sixth.
Charl Pretorius of the Phumelela Tipsters said he was beginning
to feel the pressure as the competition moved into the final stage.
``Just a few weeks ago I was 33 points clear and very confident
of winning it, but with only six races to go that lead is now only
12 points. Greg Norman squandered a six-shot lead going into the
final round of the 1996 US Masters and lost to Nick Faldo. I guess
this competition will go right down to the line, but it's been hands
and heels so far and it's time to pull the stick!''
The positions on the log after the Vodacom Durban July day meeting
is:
1 Phumelela Tipsters The Citizen (Racing Express) 280
2 Johan Stassen The Herald 268
3 Chad Cooke Daily News 252
3 Monty Mariemuthoo Top Turf (Bobby Bean) 252
5 Damien Paterson Pretoria News 250
6 Andrew Harrison The Witness 247
7 Etienne Louw Beeld 241
8 Richard McMillan Mercury 240
9 Gold Circle Tipsters Official Racecard 237
10 Chris Ntuli Ilanga 236
11 Phumelela Tipsters Computaform 226
12 Harold Sterley The Star 218
13 Eric Beyleveld Superform (Clocker Riley) 209
14 Matthew Lips Winning Form 202
15 Ronald Madikane Daily Sun 196
16 Des Cooney UmAfrica (Gonondo Omplophe) 191
17 Lionel Derbyshire Sowetan 184