Jack Milner
The announcement of the final field for this year’s Grade 1 Betway Summer is just one week away and even if your charge is guaranteed a spot, the rush is one to get them fully fit for the R6-million race.
Spumante Dolce is one of those. The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained filly made her comeback in the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode On A Mission Charity Mile 11 days ago and while the De Kocks did inform racegoers that she would need the run, they were probably disappointed by the fact she was beaten 16 lengths by Atticus Finch.
She was examined by the course vet and was found to be not striding out, however, that may have had more to do with the going than the filly’s condition.
With a massive hailstorm cascading down on Turffontein a couple of races prior to the Charity Mile, the course became not only heavy but also sticky and a number of horses would have floundered in the conditions.
However, the problem was not only the going. “Spumante Dolce scoped with a lot of mucus after her run in the Charity Mile, so we've elected to run her here (Turffontein tomorrow) because she gained nothing from a fitness perspective and gave us no confidence.
“We've done what we can to treat her for the mucus. We'd like to see her bounce back quickly so we can continue with her campaign with a bit of confidence," Mathew de Kock wrote on their website.
The consequence it is that this year’s Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner will have a second outing and that will happen in Race 5 at Turffontein on Thursday, a Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares over 1450m on the Inside track.
The four-year-old daughter Vercingetorix is the joint best weighted runner along with Minogue, but she might find this 1450m a touch short. This will be her first run on the Inside track but as she does like to sit close to the pace that will probably not be an issue.
It is also worth noting that the tongue-tie, which was removed for the Charity Mile, will be reintroduced for this race, and Callan Murray will be back in the irons.
However, this race is not her mission and while it would be ill-advised to leave her out of any of one’s bets, it might be prudent to look elsewhere for the winner.
Top of the pile could be Fabian Habib-trained Miss Hannigan, who has the proverbial postage stamp on her back. She is already only 0.5kg out with Spumante Dolce but with apprentice Girish Samo-Burthia claiming a further 2.5kg, she will carry just 49.5kg and that will, on paper at least, make her the best handicapped runner in the field.
She also has the benefit of having performed well over the course and distance, having finished a 1.75-length second behind Juniper Green last time out, giving the winner 10kg.
Although this is not a big field, Miss Hannigan is nicely drawn in gate No 2.
The other danger has to be Minogue, who comes off a fourth place in the Grade 2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge over this course and distance. This Candice Dawson-trained filly was beaten 8.50 lengths by winner Callmegetrix but she comes into this carrying 5.4g less.
Muzi Yeni takes the ride and they will jump from gate No 6.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Plumbago Park, 6 Russian Nobility, 2 Winter Wedding, 4 Aquarius
Race 2: 10 Power Of Pearls, 4 Echoes Of War, 1 Ubermensch, 9 Scented Path
Race 3: 1 Lava Lamp, 2 Damova, Copper Plate, Mount Etna, Trident King
Race 4: 1 Battle Ofthe Bulge, 3 Jabari Thimba, 6 War Talk, 7 Comic Artist
Race 5: 6 Miss Hannigan, 3 Minogue, 1 Spumante Dolce, 8 Juniper Green
Race 6: 6 Eiffel Tower, 2 After Hours, 3 Sutherland, 1 Zip Code
Race 7: 4 Universal Girl, 7 Can't Catch Me, 1 Calida, 5 Mattiazo
Race 8: 1 Rachel Wall, 2 Blizzard Snow, 3 Hong Kong, 6 Mystical Miss
Race 9: 1 Season's Greetings, 6 Maverick Queen, 5 Fair Proposal, 9 Princess Lola
BEST BET
Race 8: 1 Rachel Wall
VALUE BET
Race 6: 6 Eiffel Tower
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 4x10
BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 4, 10
Leg 2: 1, 2
Leg 3: 1, 3, 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 6
Leg 6: 4, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 2
Leg 2: 1, 3, 6
Leg 3: 3, 6
Leg 4: 2, 3, 6
Leg 5: 4, 7
Leg 6: 1
Leg 7: 1, 5, 6
PICK 6
R1800
Leg 1: 1, 3, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 3, 6, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 4: 1, 4, 7
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9