Jack Milner
Battleground has turned into quite a useful stayer and can add another long-distance event to his record when he lines up in Race 5 at Turffontein on Saturday, a Middle Stakes over 2600m on the Inside track.
This Lucky Houdalakis-trained gelding has decent enough record at this track, having run there four times for a win, a second and two fourths. The win, most importantly, was over this distance.
In July he travelled to Fairview to contest the Non-Black Type Port Elizabeth Gold Cup over 3200m and came away with the victory, beating Juan Carlos by 0.25 lengths. There was 4.50 lengths back to the third horse, Harold The Duke, so it was a good performance.
He has had one run since coming back to Gauteng after a short rest and he ended up 5.50 lengths behind Royal Edition. The fact that he went off at 20-1 indicated Battleground was in need of the run but back to his best trip he could be the horse to beat in quite a competitive event.
Marco van Rensburg rode him the last and will be back in the irons again.
There is no shortage of dangers in this field as all seven runners (Sneak Preview is a scratching) are capable of winning this event.
Twenty Drachma’s has run three times over the track and trip for two seconds and a third, and off a handy weight of 54kg should be a factor.
Good Council has been racing against stronger and stays all day but the gelding will have to give weight all round and that might not be easy.
Muzi Yeni seldom goes home empty handed and he teams up with Weichong Marwing in Race 7, a MR 99 Handicap over 1450m, where he rides Run For Cover who returns to the scene of his last-start success five weeks ago.
The five-year-old gelding was heavily supported on that occasion, backed into 13-10 from an opening call of 7-2, and he finished well in the closing stages under 60kg to land the gamble under Gavin Lerena.
Run For Cover, who boasts three wins and a second in five course-and-distance appearances, steps up in class under a two-point penalty, but that shouldn't prevent him from making another bold bid for victory with Yeni taking over the reins.
We Are The Logans, the fourth-placed finisher in the race won by Run For Cover, subsequently franked that form by winning 18 days ago and Marwing's charge should confirm his superiority on 1kg better weight terms.
Hat-trick-seeking rivals Willow Express and Southern Blaze have the form and experience to challenge Run For Cover, while Two Miles West is unexposed and open to improvement on his reappearance if not in need of the outing.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 10 Predatrice, 1 Golden Argo, 2 Bilingual, 4 Cyber Spirit
Race 2: 7 Rondebosch, 5 Kwagga Blitz, 1 Lets Play Poker, 6 Dwight Eisenhower
Race 3: 1 Jabberwocky, 7 Milan's World, 5 Dance King, 4 Clear The Path
Race 4: 5 Lunar Rainbow, 3 Fetching Flyer, 2 Quello Che, 4 African Beauty
Race 5: 3 Battleground, 2 Twenty Drachma's, 4 Mambo Come Tesio, 1 Good Council
Race 6: 5 Doitwithdiamonds, 2 Copper Mist, 4 Theres A Light, 6 Ombudsman
Race 7: 9 Run For Cover, 2 We Are The Logans, 6 Willow Express, 8 Southern Blaze
Race 8: 4 Wild Intent, 3 Chestnut Bomber, 1 Zip Code, 8 Fireburst
BEST BET
Race 2: 7 Rondebosch
VALUE BET
Race 5: 3 Battleground
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 5x7
BIPOT
R162
Leg 1: 1, 10
Leg 2: 7
Leg 3: 1, 5, 7
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4
Leg 6: 2, 4, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 7
Leg 2: 1, 5, 7
Leg 3: 3, 5
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4
Leg 5: 2, 4, 5
Leg 6: 2, 9
Leg 7: 1, 3, 4
PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 2, 3, 5
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 6
Leg 5: 2, 6, 9
Leg 6: 1, 3, 4
JACKPOT 1
R180
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 6
Leg 4: 2, 6, 9
JACKPOT 2
R180
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 6
Leg 5: 2, 6, 9
Leg 6: 1, 3, 4
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