Jack Milner
There is competitive racing at the Vaal on Thursday, but the most intriguing event on the card comes up in the final race of the day.
Race 8 is a MR 90 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m and the outcome could depend on two aspects.
The first is the well-being of Robbie Sage-trained United Council and secondly, whether the merit rating drop for Rock The Fox is sufficient to bring her into contention.
United Council looked to have a bright future when, after finishing unplaced in a sprint on debut, won two races impressively over 1600m. The three-year-old daughter of The United States was then put against some of the best fillies of her age group in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas in which she ran a real shocker.
She dropped out after the start from a wide draw and never got into the hunt, finishing at the back of the field, 21.50 lengths behind Lady Of Power.
She was given a three-month break and returned last month in a similar contest to this but over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside track. There was no betting support for her but she stayed on nicely to run fourth, 1.40 lengths behind Elembee.
The conundrum for punters is whether that race has brought her on well enough to be competitive in this event, or whether she will go flat in her second run after the layoff. She is, however, likely to benefit from the additional 400m this time.
Gavin Lerena takes the ride and he is well drawn at No 4.
Sean Tarry-trained Rock The Fox won her maiden in her third start and next time out finished like a rocket to go down a short head in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
That second place appears to have been a disaster for the daughter of Canford Cliffs because as a three-year-old she had to run off a merit rating of 104, which has plagued her for the season. It did come down two points a little later but has stayed fixed on that figure until she finished unplaced in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
It dropped five points and then went down a further three points in her first run back, which saw her finish a 3.75-length fourth behind Perfect Witness.
That has given Tarry the opportunity to now race his charge against lower-rated opposition in quite a while. She will try 1800m for the first time so it will be interesting to see how she will cope.
S’manga Khumalo will take the ride on this well-bred filly for the first time.
Tarry also sends out Escape Artist who has to be a contender, while both Kwazzie’s Lady and Special Charm, who are very close on the form of their last meeting, could also have a say in the finish.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 8 Silver Sanctuary, 4 Mocha Macaroon, 2 Fairy Circle, 7 Play With Fire
Race 2: 8 Pocket Watch, 2 Brotherhoodofmagic, 6 Hat Hot Hat, 4 Emporium
Race 3: 6 Vivacious Vicky, 7 Andi's Girl, 8 Cue The Rebel, 5 Count Your Chances
Race 4: 10 Midnight Stroll, 9 Azaleas For All, 12 One Fell Swoop, 14 Whirlybird
Race 5: 8 Little Miz Swagger, 1 Countess Danza, 2 Inevitable, 7 Explosive Bond
Race 6: 9 Jordan, 7 Holocene, 6 George Handel, 2 King's Express
Race 7: 1 Storm Dictator, 5 Fort Lauderdale, 4 Samoa, 11 Dark Tide
Race 8: 3 United Council, 1 Rock The Fox, 2 Escape Artist, 10 Special Charm
BEST BET
Race 5 No 8 Little Miz Swigger
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 1 Storm Dictator
BEST SWINGER
Race 6 7x9
BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 2, 4, 8
Leg 2: 2, 4, 6, 8
Leg 3: 6, 7, 8
Leg 4: 9, 10, 12, 14
Leg 5: 8
Leg 6: 7, 9
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 2, 6, 8
Leg 2: 6, 7
Leg 3: 9, 10, 12
Leg 4: 8
Leg 5: 9
Leg 6: 1, 4, 5
Leg 7: 1, 2, 3, 10
PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 2, 9, 10, 12, 14
Leg 3: 8
Leg 4: 6, 7, 9
Leg 5: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 11
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10
JACKPOT 1
R90
Leg 1: 2, 9, 10, 12, 14
Leg 2: 8
Leg 3: 6, 7, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 11
JACKPOT 2
R108
Leg 1: 8
Leg 2: 6, 7, 9
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 11
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10