Jack Milner
Will work rider Tshepiso Matsoele be able to achieve something that the likes of Piere Strydom, Gavin Lerena and Muzi Yeni have been unable to do – get Dylan’s Champ into the No 1 box?
In his eight starts so far, the three-year-old Rafeef gelding was placed six times, four of them being second place finishes. In all of those runner-up spots Fabian Habib’s runner has not been beaten by more than 0.30 lengths.
On Tuesday he lines up in Race 1 at the Vaal in a Work Riders Maiden Plate over 1300m, and once again he has been priced up an odds-on favourite to finally shed his maiden tag.
Dylan’s Champ has been costly to follow so his current odds of 4-10 do not look attractive but it is not the strongest of fields and this does look the kind of race that could give this gelding a boost of confidence.
This meeting is all about the work riders who get their rare opportunity to strut their stuff, and the eight-race card, all of them Maiden Plates, does afford the industry's unsung heroes the opportunity to get some well-deserved exposure for the tireless work they do behind the scenes in caring and preparing the thoroughbreds for the races.
Often, all their efforts go unseen back at home in the stables and on the training tracks, at times under difficult circumstances. So, they look forward to a Work Riders' meeting as their chances to shine.
Phenisile Mongqawa has ridden twice as many winners in Gauteng this season (6) than Tom Lukhele and Matsoele, and the region's leading work rider will confirm his status as the Highveld's Champion Work Rider by adding to his tally with another two scores at the meeting.
He rides improving two-year-old colt Sylvan Warrior in Race 3 over 1000m for Tony Peter, with whom he has already forged a potent partnership. In 17 rides for the trainer, Mongqawa has ridden five winners to go with six places.
Peter-trained youngster Sylvan Warrior finished a close-up second over the same course and distance just a fortnight ago and the son of Querari need not improve much to provide his rider with a seventh success of the season.
Mongqawa's record with trainer Weichong Marwing is even more impressive and Royal Miracle will likely keep the combination's 100% (two-from-two) record intact by winning Race 5 over 1600m.
This three-year-old son of Royal Mo has improved his form and found consistency since he was gelded late last year, earning in each of his four subsequent starts since the turn of the year.
Royal Miracle finished second over 1600m on the Classic track when last seen five weeks ago and a repeat of that performance under Mongqawa should suffice.
Elsewhere on the card, it should pay to follow two Sean Tarry-trained runners that Siyabonga Mkhumbuzi rides.
Querari filly Artic Silver should improve for the step up to 2000m in Race 6 so could open her account and stablemate Saudi Sweep should follow suit in Race 8.
The latter finished third over 1160m before filling the runners-up berth over 1400m last time and the daughter of Pomodoro won't be winning out of turn in her peak outing over 1300m.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Dylan's Champ, 2 Highveld Storm, 6 New Life, 7 Milo's Millionaire
Race 2: 4 Bilingual, 2 Panthera Uncia, 3 Empress Wu, 5 Chilli Marmalade
Race 3: 7 Sylvan Warrior, 3 Jet Querari, 1 Ringho, 5 Act On Snow
Race 4: 6 Lava Lamp, 2 Intro, 8 Lady Noir, 4 Flightlight
Race 5: 1 Royal Miracle, 9 Two For The Boys, 4 Mystic Vision, 5 Chieftain's Shield
Race 6: 1 Artic Silver, 2 Lunar Rainbow, 3 Jinger Jam, 7 Red Sparrow
Race 7: 2 Heroic Act, 4 Gift Of Royal, 3 Brigham, 1 Santiago's Pride
Race 8: 1 Saudi Sweep, 9 Sasha Lee, 10 American Socialite, 2 Like A Prayer
BEST BET
Race 4: 6 Lava Lamp
VALUE BET
Race 2: 4 Bilingual
BEST SWINGER
Race 6 1x2
BIPOT
R36
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 2, 3, 4
Leg 3: 1, 3, 7
Leg 4: 6
Leg 5: 1, 9
Leg 6: 1, 2
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R144
Leg 1: 2, 4
Leg 2: 3, 7
Leg 3: 6
Leg 4: 1, 9
Leg 5: 1, 2
Leg 6: 2, 3, 4
Leg 7: 1, 9, 10
PICK 6
R432
Leg 1: 1, 3, 7
Leg 2: 6
Leg 3: 1, 4, 9
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 6: 1, 2, 9, 10
JACKPOT 1
R36
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 1, 4, 9
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4
JACKPOT 2
R144
Leg 1: 1, 4, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 4: 1, 2, 9, 10