Another gold star for Suzette?

Jack Milner

Anybody who has ever owned a racehorse hopes to have found a champion. In theory, one would believe the more you spend, the more likely the chances of finding a superstar.

But as we have seen with the likes of Pierre Jourdan, Louis The King, and more recently Anfields Rocket, there are also champions lurking among the cheapies.

For owner Suzette Viljoen the dream of finding that megastar came true when she purchased Captain’s Ransom. She and husband Basie have revelled in the success of that magnificent filly who won 13 of her 19 races, which incorporated six Grade 1 victories.

However, Captain’s Ransom has now gone off to stud and the search is on for her replacement.

While she still has a long way to go to prove she could be a pretender to that crown, Viljoen may have found a very decent performer in Golden Sickle. The daughter of Vercingetorix is beautifully bred and her dam, Victorian Secret, is a full sister to both Snowdance and Captain Fontaine. And being by Captain Al there is that connection to Captain’s Ransom.

So far Golden Sickle has run three times, winning well on debut, and then backing that up with a 3.25-length fourth behind Rascova in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes on Cape Met day before finishing a 2.25-length third to The Charleston in the Non-Black Type Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (Fillies) over 1200m, all at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Justin Snaith’s charge gives the impression there is still more to come, so it will be interesting to see whether she can show some of that potential when she lines up in Race 2 at that venue on Wednesday to contest a Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1100m.

She renews her relationship with Richard Fourie and they stand out as the best bet on a tricky card.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 9 Blue Holly, 4 Speeding Bullet, 10 Get Impressed, 1 Tyrion Lannister

Race 2: 6 Golden Sickle, 9 October Morn, 8 Green Valkyrie, 3 Knockout

Race 3: 6 Academic Gold, 5 Bye Bye Bombshell, 2 Love Is A Rose, 7 Greengrowthelilacs

Race 4: 5 Go Like Flo, 8 Bo Kaap, 9 Simply Beautiful, 7 Dreams Go By

Race 5: 7 Oliver, 8 Contiguous, 12 Rubertus, 1 Red William

Race 6: 7 Fun Zone, 9 Busy Lizzie, 6 Miss Greenlight, 4 Bonika

Race 7: 12 Hang Out The Stars, 2 Fallo Ancora, 9 On Board, 11 Just Before Dawn

Race 8: 1 Royal Watch, 5 Cosmic Event, 9 Flower Of Saigon, 2 Night Ruler

Race 9: 3 Autumn Moon, 13 Run Rudolph Run, 6 Marshall Field, 2 Donder Storm

BEST BET

Race 2 No 6 Golden Sickle

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 7 Fun Zone

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 6x9

BIPOT

R144

Leg 1: 6

Leg 2: 3, 5, 6

Leg 3: 5, 7, 8, 9

Leg 4: 7

Leg 5: 4, 6, 7, 9

Leg 6: 2, 9, 12

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 5, 6

Leg 2: 5, 8

Leg 3: 7

Leg 4: 6, 7, 9

Leg 5: 2, 9, 12

Leg 6: 1, 5, 9

Leg 7: 3, 6, 13

PICK 6

R1600

Leg 1: 1, 5, 7, 8, 9

Leg 2: 7

Leg 3: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9

Leg 4: 2, 9, 11, 12

Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 9

Leg 6: 2, 3, 6, 13

JACKPOT 1

R80

Leg 1: 7

Leg 2: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9

Leg 3: 2, 9, 11, 12

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 9

JACKPOT 2

R320

Leg 3: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9

Leg 4: 2, 9, 11, 12

Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 9

Leg 6: 2, 3, 6, 13