Jack Milner: Flying Bull was touched off on the line in his last run, but the four-year-old son of Soft Falling Rain could have better fortune when he contests Race 8 at Turffontein on Saturday, a Novice Handicap over 1800m on the Inside track.
Paul Peter’s charge was always in contention in that Novice Handicap over 1600m on the Vaal Classic track but was run out of it in the final strides to go down 0.10 lengths to Purple Panther.
He meets a similar field this time but the advantage is that the track will suit him better. He has run twice on the Inside track for a win and a second place, which saw him finish 1.25 lengths behind talented Prince Evlanoff over this distance.
Warren Kennedy makes the trip from Durban to ride at the meeting and he is back aboard Flying Bull.
The main threat looks likely to come from recent maiden winner Indelible. The Sean Tarry-trained runner has only raced three times, finishing third on debut, second in his next start and then beating Motown Magic by 0.75 lengths over 1600m on the Vaal Classic track.
That form line was franked in no uncertain manner on Tuesday when the runner-up went on to win his next start by 6.25 lengths. Indelible is by Pomodoro out of a Galileo mare and looks sure to enjoy the additional 200m this time.
He will get 3.5kg from Flying Bull and will have services of current champion jockey Lyle Hewitson to guide him home.
The Mike de Kock stable is in cracking form and it would be a brave punter who ignores the chances of Aragosta. In fact, there are form lines which put this son of Rafeef ahead of Indelible.
Aragosta has run twice, winning his last start by 3.50 lengths, beating Tinder Dry into second. Third-placed Happy And Glorious came out to win his next start, beating Indelible by 3.75 lengths.
In addition, Tinder Dry, while not winning his next start has gone on to triumph twice since his defeat to Aragosta.
That looks a very strong form line but Aragosta has not raced since 1 May and could be in need of the run.
Bettors can get off to a bumper start with a lucrative double on Races 1 and 2.
Johan Janse van Vuuren has Insatiable lining up in Race 1, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m in the Inside track, and form points to this Querari filly as the bet of the day.
She has raced twice and finished runner-up on both occasions, but her last run was behind Lucy English who validated the form with an impressive four-length victory at the Vaal on Tuesday.
The step up from 1000m to 1200m should benefit Insatiable and it will be left to Raymond Danielson to bring her home.
Trainer Paul Peter holds a high opinion of Shangani and believes the Soft Falling Rain gelding will be a top stayer. He has raced three times for two wins and a second place and on Saturday he tries 2600m in Race 2, a Middle Stakes.
He has already won over 2200m at the course and as a half-brother to Chitengo, will have no trouble seeing out the additional 400m.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 9 Insatiable, 3 Moonstrike, 1 Frosted Ice, 10 No Time Is Taken
Race 2: 2 Shangani, 6 Afraad, 1 Captain Chorus, 3 White Fang
Race 3: 1 Chariot Master, 9 Courageous Cat, 10 Displace Time, 4 Integrate
Race 4: 5 Country Flame, 9 Maria’s World, 2 Burmese Tiara, 1 Ms Flower Power
Race 5: 5 Eternity Ring, 2 Mamaquera, 7 Just Fabulous, 3 Me Time
Race 6: 1 Princess Kesh, 3 Masaaken, 6 Dutchessburnedette, 2 Liverpool Legend
Race 7: 3 Franklin, 2 Traveling Wilbury, 5 Opera Glass, 1 Southern Song
Race 8: 1 Flying Bull, 5 Indelible, 3 Aragosta, 4 Flying Grace
Race 9: 1 City By The Sea, 9 Eskimo Pie, 7 Twin Turbo, 2 Theory Of Flight
BEST BET
Race 1 No 9 Insatiable
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 3 Franklin
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 2×6
BIPOT
R192
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 1, 9, 10
Leg 3: 5, 9
Leg 4: 2, 5, 7, 8
Leg 5: 1, 3
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 9, 10
Leg 2: 5, 9
Leg 3: 2, 5, 7
Leg 4: 1, 3
Leg 5: 2, 3, 5
Leg 6: 1, 5
Leg 7: 1
PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 2, 5, 9
Leg 2: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Leg 5: 1, 3, 5
Leg 6: 1, 9
JACKPOT 1
R360
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5
JACKPOT 2
R120
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5
Leg 4: 1, 9