Jack Milner: An interesting Graduation Plate has been assembled in Race 5 at Turffontein on Tuesday when they run on the Inside track.
Only seven runners are carded to go to post for this race over 1450m, but it should come down to a three-cornered contest between Stone Cold, Bowie and Trying Times.
Stone Cold is the best weighted runner but only narrowly ahead of Bowie. However, there is very little to choose between the pair on form, based on their run behind The Contractor on the Vaal Classic track on 13 May.
On that occasion Sean Tarry-trained Bowie finished second, beaten just 0.30 lengths, while Stone Cold finished sixth, a further 3.20 lengths back. But Candice Dawson’s runner is now 2kg better off, which should help him towards closing the gap, and he did have excuses as he was cut into in the running.
Lyle Hewitson rode Bowie and he is back in the irons but in-form Muzi Yeni will take over the ride on Stone Cold, so that should also help the cause of the Soft Falling Rain three-year-old gelding.
Nevertheless, Bowie has the better record at this track and in his two runs over the course and distance, he has run a close-up second on both occasions. On that basis, coupled with the slight weight advantage, he gets the nod to end a frustrating run of four successive seconds.
Swingers and Trifectas could be the way to go, but on a difficult card it might be worth taking the chance and banker Bowie in the exotics.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 5 Pride Of Paris, 2 Nussply, 1 Curfew, 8 Ablueazure