Frances to do it for charity

FORM: CRAWFORD'S CHARGE HAS A LOT GOING FOR HER IN R1-MILLION CHARITY MILE

- Jack Milner

Tomorrow's R1-million Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile is indeed a race that provides so much for so many.

This year's 16-horse field is probably one of the strongest ever assembled for this Grade 2 race over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside track and for horse racing pundits that alone is exceptional.

In addition, one can make a winning case for the majority of the runners and that is particularly good news for the 19 charities that will benefit from the outcome of the race.

This year the minimum any charity will come away with is R30,000, up an amazing 50% on last year's lowest amount, courtesy of the sponsor of the race, global steel manufacturer Allied Steelrode.

The charities each drew a horse and the one that has the winning horse will collect R100,000, the runner-up will get R75,000, the third-placed organisation will receive R50,000 while there will be R35,000 going to the fourth-placed charity.

There is also a Pick 6 carryover of R1-million at the meeting starting off in Race 4 and the pool is likely to reach R5 million.

This meeting is competitive and this is one exotic that should pay well.

Mike de Kock has an exceptionally strong hand in the race with six runners in the final field.

They are headed up by Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King.

The five-year-old Global View gelding will be having his first run since winning the Grade 1 World Pool Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 28 July.

In addition to coming back from a layoff, Dave The King has been allotted top weight of 63kg.

However, he is well enough drawn in gate No 3 and will be ridden by Champion Jockey Richard Fourie.