A free ride for Muzi

Jack Milner

In his column on 1 June in

In his first seven starts he was unplaced once, run third twice and was runner-up on four occasions.

However, the popular jockey was right on the money that day because Free Movement finally shed his maiden tag when beating Rossore Finale by 0.75 lengths over 1400m on the Standside track at Turffontein.

It so often happens that when a horse eventually does win a race, they go on to repeat success. That is exactly what Free Movement achieved. Returning to the course on 2 July, this time over 1600m, the Robbie Sage-trained runner romped to a facile victory under Gavin Lerena, to beat The Chosen One by 2.50 lengths.

It’s also worth mentioning that Godspeed, who finished last in the Maiden Plate won by Free Movement, came out to win his next start over 1450m on the Inside track at Turffontein.  

Free Movement will line up again in Race 9 at Turffontein on Thursday, a MR 80 Handicap over 1800m on the Standside track, and he could win again.

Interestingly, he is a half-brother to Capoeira, who won the Grade 3 Cup Trial and finished third behind Hawwaam in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000. So, it could be he is looking for this sort of distance.

Yeni will be back in the irons once again and will no doubt be hoping his mount can complete a hat-trick of wins.

The main threat is likely to come from Brett Crawford’s charge, Nothingelsematters, who has had three excellent runs since arriving up from the Cape.

He has yet to find the No 1 box but he is sure to be competitive in this event. Kabelo Matsunyane takes the ride.

Earlier in the day, Napoleon can finally taste a second career victory 519 days in the making. He lines up in Race 7, a MR 68 Handicap over 1600m.

This Rafeef-gelding has been host to no less than 14 jockeys in his 20-race career, and that tally will go up to 15 when Gavin Lerena gets a chance to throw a leg over the four-year-old.

Napoleon has not only been threatening to land another victory lately, but he has also been well backed since moving to the yard of Tony Peter seven runs back.

It’s definitely time for him to deliver and reward his faithful.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 8 Lady Lennox, 6 Heart Peaks, 10 Outer Dimension, 9 Mocha Macaroon

Race 2: 8 Tyson The Brave, 10 Vivacious Vicky, 9 Viva La Victor, 1 Care Taker

Race 3: 13 Shine In Memphis, 11 Foreverinmydreams, 3 Secret Recipe, 8 Blup Blup

Race 4: 5 Captain Wara, 1 Magic Prince, 10 The Octagon, 6 John Wick

Race 5: 1 Tayooba, 2 Iron Sky, 3 Axel Collins, 4 Pendragon

Race 6: 1 Princess Philippa, 6 Elembee, 8 Golden Aspen, 2 What A Honey

Race 7: 3 Napoleon, 5 Lady Elliot, 1 Funky Music, 9 Green Sceptre

Race 8: 5 Perfect Witness, 2 Raffles, 1 Indlamu, 8 Millahue

Race 9: 1 Free Movement, 13 Nothingelsematters, 3 American Star, 8 Youre My Sunshine

BEST BET

Race 4 No 5 Captain Wara

VALUE BET

Race 8 No 5 Perfect Witness

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 8x10

BIPOT

R144

Leg 1: 8, 10

Leg 2: 3, 11, 13

Leg 3: 5

Leg 4: 1, 2

Leg 5: 1, 6, 8

Leg 6: 1, 3, 5

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 3, 11, 13

Leg 2: 5

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 6, 8

Leg 5: 3, 5

Leg 6: 2, 5

Leg 7: 1, 3, 13

PICK 6

R1600

Leg 1: 5

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 6, 8

Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 9

Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 8, 9

Leg 6: 1, 3, 6, 8, 13

JACKPOT 1

R320

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg 2: 1, 2, 6, 8

Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 9

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 8, 9

JACKPOT 2

R400

Leg 1: 1, 2, 6, 8

Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 9

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 8, 9

Leg 4: 1, 3, 6, 8, 13