Jack Milner
Trainer Sean Tarry could provide the winner of this year’s World Sports Betting Grand Heritage (Non-Black Type) at the Vaal on Saturday.
He saddles four runners in Pyromaniac, Celtic Rumours, Paisley Park and Silver Tudor and one can make a case for at least three of the four.
The R500,000 Grand Heritage is unique in South Africa as it is the only race to contain more than 20 runners and is contested over the unusual distance of 1475m.
The race can actually accommodate 28 runners plus two reserves but this year just 25 runners remained at the final declarations and there are two card scratchings so leaves just 23.
There is also a Jackpot One carryover of R250,000 with the pool likely to reach R1 million.
A quick perusal of Tarry’s runners points to a degree to four-year-old filly Celtic Rumours. She does have to take on the colts but has achieved that with success previously. In addition, the daughter of Vercingetorix has no stamina doubts over this distance.
Tarry has engaged log-leading jockey Richard Fourie for the ride and she will jump from barrier No 21. As a rule, the higher number draws tend to have an advantage at this course.
This will be the first time Fourie will ride this filly, but he and Tarry have formed a formidable combination.
Pyromaniac has run against far better and he will have Piere Strydom in the irons for the first time. While he generally has run better over further, his last win was over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track.
In addition, on collateral form he has to be very close to Silent War on their last meeting and the latter has been priced up favourite.
But the value could lie with Silver Tudor who comes in with just 52kg on his back. This four-year-old gelding has only raced nine times for two wins, but there is a lot to like about his last two runs.
In his penultimate start Silver Tudor finished a 1.80-length third behind Sea Anemone and then last time ran one length behind One Fell Swoop to whom he was conceding 6.5kg. That winner has come out to frank that form with another victory.
There is a slight concern about the distance, but Silver Tudor did place over 1450m early in his career. Serino Moodley has picked up the ride and they will jump from No 19 draw.
Paisley Park is held on form by others but if he can produce his best form, he could trouble the opposition.
One does need to include Tony Peter-trained Silent War in all bets. He has won his last four starts and is ideally distance suited but has drawn at No 6. That means jockey Calvin Habib will probably have to get his mount over towards the outside if he is to be competitive.
Black Egret has some decent form and is a very honest performer. Clinton Binda’s charge has raced 16 times and they have yielded four wins, five seconds and five thirds. The major concern with this four-year-old Rafeef gelding is the distance as he has yet to win beyond 1200m.
He has raced over 1450m and on that occasion finished third behind Tizona, beaten 3.50 lengths. If he has developed a bit more stamina since then, he looks good value at his current price of 16-1.
Muzi Yeni is in top form, and he takes the ride and also has the advantage of No 15 draw.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Secret Chord, 12 Sabre Strike, 7 Atarime, 11 Rock Of Bismantova
Race 2: 16 Red Knot, 2 Sugary Sweet, 9 Someday Maybe, 4 French Duchess
Race 3: 9 Duke Of Rock, 14 Jet Cat, 1 After Hours, 5 What A Tiger
Race 4: 3 Captain Hindsight, 8 Rulership, 5 Gobsmacked, 2 Mover And Shaker
Race 5: 5 Reny, 6 Guy Gibson, 7 Hawkbill, 1 King's Express
Race 6: 6 On The Horizon, 1 Street Art, 7 Kwazzi's Lady, 2 Twin Turbo
Race 7: 23 Silver Tudor, 8 Celtic Rumours, 13 Silent War, 16 Black Egret, 5 Pyromaniac, 15 Chyavana
Race 8: 3 The Africa House, 5 Tsar Bomba, 2 River Queraress, 1 Good Council
Race 9: 6 Boom Boom, 2 Lady Elliot, 5 Rose Tinted, 10 Summer Of Dreams
BEST BET
Race 6: 6 On The Horizon
VALUE BET
Race 7: 23 Silver Tudor
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 5x6
BIPOT
R360
Leg 1: 2, 9, 16
Leg 2: 1, 5, 9, 14
Leg 3: 3, 5, 8
Leg 4: 5, 6
Leg 5: 6
Leg 6: 5, 8, 13, 16, 23
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R360
Leg 1: 1, 9, 14
Leg 2: 3, 8
Leg 3: 5, 6
Leg 4: 6
Leg 5: 5, 8, 13, 16, 23
Leg 6: 2, 3, 5
Leg 7: 2, 6
PICK 6
R1728
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 8
Leg 2: 5, 6, 7
Leg 3: 6
Leg 4: 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 23
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 5
Leg 6: 2, 5, 6, 10
JACKPOT 1
R108
Leg 2: 5, 6, 7
Leg 3: 6
Leg 4: 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 23
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 5
JACKPOT 2
R144
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 23
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5
Leg 4: 2, 5, 6, 10