Jack Milner
It is said that sometimes, the best man for a job is a woman.
Well, this saying will certainly come under scrutiny at the Vaal on Thursday when Kelsey Mayhew-Munger gets her fifth career ride in the card opener.
Wife of jockey Ryan Munger, Mayhew-Munger will be aboard three-year-old filly Poursomesugaronme for trainer Ashley Fortune, making them the only all-female trio in the race – and on the card.
Mayhew-Munger, a licensed assistant trainer and work rider, scored her first win on her debut ride aboard Miss Soho for Fortune in October last year, so the trainer/jockey combination look well set to double up in this Work Riders Maiden Plate over 1000m.
She has ridden Poursomesugaronme before – five runs back when the filly just ran out of steam on a yielding Vaal track to finish fourth in only her second outing.
After that, husband Ryan was tasked with the “man’s job”. Pairing up with the daughter of Captain Of All, he rode her to a third-place finish, and the pair then followed up with a hat-trick of runner-up finishes.
The highest-rated and best weighted runner in the field of 10, Poursomesugaronme is overdue to exit the maidens and in this field should have no trouble getting the job done.
One cannot help but wonder what the bragging rights will involve in the Munger-household if Mayhew-Munger does steer Poursomesugaronme to victory.
It is interesting to note that the Mayhew-Munger couple will be leaving South Africa shortly to seek greener pastures in Canada.
The couple are on their way to Ontario where Munger will be in action at Woodbine when the Canadian season begins on 22 April. The pair are due to arrive in “Maple Syrup country” a few weeks before the start of their season.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 5 Poursomesugaronme, 1 Fulliautomatix, 2 Crown Prince, 4 Summer Lightning
Race 2: 6 Jerusalema Rain, 5 Hawkbill, 3 Emporium, 11 Zoombomber
Race 3: 3 Cala Muretta, 9 Queen Of Camelot, 13 White Hills, 5 Micke's Bomb
Race 4: 5 Harold The Duke, 6 Broadway, 1 Godfather, 2 US Open
Race 5: 2 Broadlands, 3 She's A Klawer, 4 Impersonation, 1 Lady Zultanite
Race 6: 1 Flag Bearer, 2 Absolute Value, 3 Prime Example, 6 Queen Britanna
Race 7: 1 Sheldon, 8 Siberian Steel, 4 Herecomestherain, 2 Godswood
Race 8: 5 The Mauritian, 1 Unconditional Love, 11 Cian The Conqueror, 4 Johnny Dogs
Race 9: 1 Calibre Crest, 6 Waqaas, 7 Suryavarman, 12 Timbavati River
Race 10: 1 Run For Cover, 5 Blue Waters, 8 Sage King, 2 Quandary
BEST BET
Race 1 No 5 Poursomesugaronme
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 5 Harold The Duke
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 3x9
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 5, 6
Leg 2: 3, 9
Leg 3: 1, 5, 6
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3
Leg 6: 1, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 3, 9
Leg 2: 5, 6
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3
Leg 5: 1, 8
Leg 6: 1, 5, 11
Leg 7: 1
PICK 6
R1440
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 6
Leg 4: 1, 4, 8
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 13
Leg 6: 1
JACKPOT 1
R288
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 6
Leg 3: 1, 4, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 13
JACKPOT 2
R90
Leg 1: 1, 4, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 13
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8