Jack Milner
There are a bunch of feature races on show at Turffontein on Sunday but the meeting is headed up by the Grade 3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m.
The race has particular importance differing reasons. Firstly, there are a number of horses looking cement a place in South Africa’s richest race, the R6-million Betway Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein on 29 November.
The second is that some trainers, with their horses already guaranteed a place in the Grade 1 race, are using this event as vehicle to prepare their runners.
One of those is Grade 1 SA Derby champion Legend Of Arthur, who has already been sharpened up with a sprint over 1160m at this track on 26 October. He finished just 5.65 lengths behind Buffalo Storm Cody which would have pleased trainer Sean Tarry and his venture into the Victory Moon Stakes will have him at his best on the big.
However, in fairness to his opposition on Sunday, this four-year-old Lancaster Bomber colt looks head and shoulders above his rivals and it would come as no surprise were he to come away with top honours, especially with Craig Zackey in the irons.
While we still have a long way to go, Zackey, on 67 winners, and Richard Fourie, on 65 winners, have started to build a bit of a gap between them and the others and Zackey has been in top form of late.
There are also a group of runners looking to book their places in the Summer Cup and perhaps the best of those could be Tony Peter-trained The Ultimate King who has been in top form since having been gelded.
He did have a slight lapse early last month when a disappointing fifth behind Luca Verde but came back to his best last time when notching up his fourth win in his last six starts. Despite Rachel Venniker having to put up 1kg overweight, he still comes into this race carrying just 52kg and that should make him highly competitive.
Others to consider are Thunee Playa, Money Heist and the Frank Robinson duo of Shoot The Rapids and Field Marshal
The meeting also features a pair of Listed contests for fillies and mares, and both offer strong betting angles.
The Betway National Colour Stakes (Race 5) over 1000m looks a contest between Peter-trained Almond Sea and Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Alpine Jet.
Almond Sea is talented but she seems to have developed the habit of conceding ground at the start and is not at her best in soft going and given the current Joburg weather, that looks to be the likely scenario.
Alpine Jet, however, has won both her starts over 100m at the last was in heavy going. With just 52kg on her back and Muzi Yeni in the irons, she looks the runner to beat.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 9 Tempranillo, 2 Seed Seeker, 4 Hammer Blow, 7 Speedman
Race 2: 7 Hathighwaytothesky, 3 Inspiration, 9 Ruby From Heaven, 6 Chariklo
Race 3: 1 Milan's World, 7 Taskmaster, 6 Dawson's Anvil, 4 Beach Walker
Race 4: 1 Buffalo Storm Cody, 2 William Robertson, 3 Greaterix, 5 Chyavana
Race 5: 5 Alpine Jet, 1 Almond Sea, 6 Instaworthy, 7 Komati River
Race 6: 1 Kisshoten, 4 Twostep Queen, 11 Sukhumvit, 10 Salenio Peninsula
Race 7: 2 Legend Of Arthur, 11 The Ultimate King, 8 Thunee Playa, 5 Shoot The Rapids
Race 8: 2 Mastership, 3 Pioneer Square, 1 Taegan's Champ, 4 Aladdin's Lamp
Race 9: 10 Buddy Boy, 3 Dark Silver, 9 Impact Investor, 8 The Playboy Bomber
BEST BET
Race 4: 1 Buffalo Storm Cody
VALUE BET
Race 7: 2 Legend Of Arthur
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 1x5
BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 3, 7, 9
Leg 2: 1, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 5
Leg 5: 1, 4, 10, 11
Leg 6: 2, 5, 8, 11
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R162
Leg 1: 1, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 5
Leg 4: 1, 4, 11
Leg 5: 2, 8, 11
Leg 6: 2, 3
Leg 7: 3, 9, 10
PICK 6
R1152
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 5
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 11
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 11
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 6: 3, 8, 9, 10
JACKPOT 1
R288
Leg 1: 1, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 11
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 11
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4
JACKPOT 2
R576
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 11
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 11
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 4: 3, 8, 9, 10