Bee to buzz for Azzie stable

Jack Milner

The scratching of Tulip Tree from Race 5 at Turffontein on Tuesday has opened up the race somewhat and could prove the perfect vehicle for Bee In My Bonnet to notch up her second win.

All four of Tulip Tree’s victories had come on the Inside track at Turffontein and she looked the one to beat but Bee In My Bonnet appears to be quite useful and could be better than her current merit rating of 78.

Race 5 is a MR 94 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m and it will be the first time this Gimmethegreenlight filly goes over the distance. However, based on her breeding this should be no issue.

In fact, she might even be looking for further as she is a half-sister to talented stayer Salvatore Mundi, who recently won the Grade 2 Western Cape Stayers over 2800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Based on merit ratings, the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained runner is 2.5kg under sufferance but the engagement of useful apprentice Malesela Katjedi, who claims 1.5kg, has eradicated much of the problem.

Bee In My Bonnet has only raced four times, winning over 1450m on the Vaal Classic track in her second start, and following that up with two decent performances in which she finished a 2.25-length second to Just Be Nice over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track and then producing a strong finish to end up a 1.10-length fifth behind Escape Artist.

That last run was over 1400m on the Standside track where she had to come from well off them courtesy of her No 10 draw.

She now meets Escape Artist on 1kg better terms and if the race is run to suit, should turn the tables on Sean Tarry’s charge.  

This will be her third run after a layoff so she should be perfectly primed for the outing.

However, perhaps a bigger danger is another Tarry runner, Sister Light. She has been running in some strongly contested races and has acquitted herself well. She lined up in the Listed Jacaranda Handicap last time and ran on well enough to finish a 1.90-length fourth to Bureau Des Legende.

Tarry has engaged log-leading jockey Keagan de Melo to take the ride but they will have to concede 5.5kg to Bee In My Bonnet.

Another to consider is Unconditional Love, who would have been well in against Tulip Tree had she run. That puts her in with a chance in this field.

Brett Crawford’s charge did run at the Vaal last Thursday where she had 62kg on her back and did well to finish fourth, 4.75 lengths behind Stormy Winter over the straight 1400m.

While she does take a jump in class this four-year-old daughter of Vercingetorix will be carrying 5kg less and has the advantage of jumping from No 1 draw. Kabelo Matsunyane is carded to ride.

While he did scratch Tulip Tree, Stuart Pettigrew does still have Queen Of Smoke in this line-up. She has been running against stronger opposition so she also takes a drop in class. She was well beaten by stablemate Tulip Tree last time but Diego de Gouveia, who was slated to ride the withdrawn filly, will now be aboard Queen Of Smoke as carded jockey Randall Simons is medically indisposed.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 2 Silver Tudor, 3 I'm A Man, 6 Going Global, 10 Time To The Moon

Race 2: 5 Mary's Greenlight, 6 Miss Shaivi, 7 Moving In, 3 Cullinan Blue

Race 3: 8 Zinovi, 5 Linkin Navigator, 1 Dreamland, 7 We Are The Logans

Race 4: 10 Platina Princess, 1 Spirit Princess, 2 Powers That Be, 5 Southern Style

Race 5: 8 Bee In My Bonnet, 3 Unconditional Love, 6 Sister Light, 4 Queen Of Smoke

Race 6: 3 Tinder Dry, 6 Kwazzi's Lady, 2 Elembee, 5 Let's Cruise

Race 7: 1 Call Me Master, 4 Go Flichity, 8 Wild Forever, 5 Oyster King

Race 8: 4 Nettleton, 5 Permesso Avanti, 7 Great Times, 8 Smelting

BEST BET

Race 4 No 10 Platina Princess

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 3 Tinder Dry

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 5x8

BIPOT

R144

Leg 1: 2, 3

Leg 2: 5, 6, 7

Leg 3: 5, 8

Leg 4: 10

Leg 5: 3, 6, 8

Leg 6: 2, 3, 5, 6

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R144

Leg 1: 5, 6

Leg 2: 5, 8

Leg 3: 10

Leg 4: 3, 6, 8

Leg 5: 2, 3, 6

Leg 6: 2, 3, 6

Leg 7: 1, 4

PICK 6

R1280

Leg 1: 3, 5, 8, 9

Leg 2: 10

Leg 3: 3, 4, 6, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 8

Leg 6: 4, 5, 7, 8

JACKPOT 1

R80

Leg 1: 10

Leg 2: 3, 4, 6, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 8

JACKPOT 2

R320

Leg 1: 3, 4, 6, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 8

Leg 4: 4, 5, 7, 8