Rumour has it that the Road Accident Fund regulations have been drafted by a Johannesburg based Defendant attorney, that they encompass most of the things that our Counsel have advised us are unconstitutional and they are ready.  So, its sit tight now and await an imminent announcement.  Then the battle will begin!

Will we be givn time to consider them?  Unlikely, but lets hope so.

A lot of attorneys know of my involvement in horse racing and today I had the usual flurry of calls for tips on tomorrows July Handicap.  Even my bank manager phoned me, because I tipped her the winner of the last two year's July's.  I explained to her as I did to the others that in 20 years I had tipped only 2 winners since the last 2 years, so with a record of 4 now out of 22, I would guess that the odds are pretty steeply against me getting it right 3 years in a row.

My horse, Festive Occasion did not make the final field, and will be running in a Grade 1 race (the highest level) at 6:35pm tomorrow - or 2 races after the July.  She is a bit of an outsider but apart from Sun Classique, it is a field of the very best fillies in South Africa and I hope she does well.  At 14/1 I can't expect a miracle.

Anyway, what do I like in the July?  If the favourite Kildonan, sees out the distance he will win by a mile.  If he does not, and I don't think he will, its open with a number of stars like Succesful Bidder, Royal Air Force and Ravishing in the running and one can't ignore a number of quality horses like Hunting Tower.  I am putting my money on a relative outsider - the only 3 year old filly in the race Sun Classique who will need a fast pace to feature.  Why?  Because she has beaten my filly 3 times this year by very narrow margins at equal weights and if we had made the July field (they chose eight 3 year old boys, but only one lady!) we would have been weighted to beat her by about 2 lengths - so I will be waiting for something to complain about!!

Its shocking that the RAF are gain trying their pay clients directly story.  They will sell it a different way of course, but we all know the bottom line is to try and get attorneys out of the system and thus make cost savings by under settling clients.  What clients will be able to afford all the experts needed to prove a bigger claim? 

The bottom line is clients are entitled to contract with their attorneys on whatever basis they want.  If that basis is that the attorney pays all expenses and is then paid directly, then that is the agreement.