SEEMYVISION
Jack Milner: Apprentice jockeys get the opportunity to steal the limelight at the Vaal on Thursday.
Racing is on the Classic track and three of the eight races have been devoted exclusively to the apprentices.
In the past these races have been relatively easy to decipher as one apprentice regularly stood out and in any case, the likes of Lyle Hewitson and Luke Ferraris generally picked up the best rides.
However, we appear to have landed a competitive bunch of apprentices now who all have the ability to challenge one another.
Jeffrey Syster recently passed the 60 winners’ mark and has now lost his apprentice claim. However, he could be on the mark in Race 6, an Apprentice Classified Stakes over 1000m, where he rides Seemyvision for the Roy Magner yard. This five-year-old mare won a similar race in July and comes into this event as the best weighted runner by at least 1kg.
She was a shock winner on that occasion, going off at 50-1. However, she proved it was no fluke when almost causing another upset in her next start where she went down a short head to strong favourite On Cue.
She is in top form and hopefully her hot streak can continue.
An interesting runner is Just As Rich, who will be having his first start for trainer Joe Soma. While only a one-time winner, this four-year-old gelding has some decent form over 1000m and although he has not raced since May, if he does produce his best form, he has to be a contender.
Philasande Mxoli takes the ride and also takes 2.5kg off the back of Just As Rich.
Rozara is difficult to assess as she has only raced three times for two places followed by a 0.40-length win over Emerald Flame. This will be her first start as a three-year-old and she could show any amount of improvement. Gabriel Pieterse rides but as she carries just 54.5kg he can only claim 1.5kg claims his 2.5kg allowance.
Kyle Strydom claimed last season’s Champion Apprentice title and he will be out to prove that the win was no fluke. It could be wise to include his mount, Masango Machine, into one’s calculations as Clinton Binda’s runner is 5.5kg better off with Seemyvision for a 2.20-length beating.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 5 Run As One, 2 Brenner Pass, 3 Joe Harman, 4 Parker Getrix
Race 2: 4 Olympic Silk, 1 Stunning Kitten, 3 Shikuru, 6 After Me
Race 3: 1 Chief Of State, 3 Epic Dream, 8 Theory Of Flight, 2 Singfonico
Race 4: 3 Dockofthebay, 4 Super Agra, 2 Lucy In The Sky, 6 Jet Cat
Race 5: 2 Informative, 7 Allez Les Bleu, 9 Meet The Captain, 6 Life Goes On
Race 6: 2 Seemyvision, 1 Just As Rich, 7 Rozara, 3 Masango Machine
Race 7: 4 Now You See Me, 5 Belle Of Belize, 8 Bella Rosa, 7 Strada Statale
Race 8: 5 Florida Keys, 4 Soul Of Wit, 2 Dancing Arabian, 6 Zulu War Cry
BEST BET
Race 8 No 5 Florida Keys
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 2 Informative
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 1×4
BIPOT
R324
Leg 1: 2, 5
Leg 2: 1, 4
Leg 3: 1, 3, 8
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4
Leg 5: 2, 7, 9
Leg 6: 1, 2, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R243
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 1, 3, 8
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4
Leg 4: 2, 7, 9
Leg 5: 1, 2, 7
Leg 6: 4, 5, 8
Leg 7: 5
PICK 6
R1200
Leg 1: 1, 3, 8
Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
Leg 3: 2, 6, 7, 9
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8
Leg 6: 5
JACKPOT 1
R1200
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
Leg 2: 2, 6, 7, 9
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8
JACKPOT 2
R80
Leg 1: 2, 6, 7, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8
Leg 4: 5