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Chance for Calantha after Rachel Wall withdrawal

Written by Jack Milner | Apr 20, 2026 6:19:50 PM

Jack Milner

With Tuesday’s Vaal meeting carried over from last week, there was always going to be a lot of scratchings, and one of those just happens to be Rachel Wall.

The Tony Peter-trained filly was carded to take her place in Race 7, a MR 99 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m, but she has been nominated to run in the Grade 2 TAB Camellia Stakes for fillies and mares at Turffontein on Saturday.

That has left Tuesday’s the race wide open but perhaps we can rely on Mike and Mathew de Kock to give us the winner as they send out Calantha.

They five-year-old Querari mare won her penultimate start over 1200m on the Vaal Classic track and last time contested the Grade 3 World Sports Betting Sycamore Sprint over 1160m a Turffontein. She did not run well on that occasion, but she did hang in significantly from the 600m mark.

A vet check after the race revealed nothing but it is interesting to note that she will be fitted with blinkers for the first time.

Jeffery Syster takes the ride once again.

The main threat could come from Peter’s remaining runner, Blizzard Snow. She has lost a bit if her zip of late but her merit rating has started coming down and she comes in with just 53.5kg this time with Marco van Rensburg up.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 10 Northumberland, 3 Cosmic Cap, 12 Sands Of Valhalla, 2 Billion Stars

Race 2: 1 Alice B Toklas, 7 Storm Avalanche, 5 Platinum Shay, 8 Tax Free

Race 3: 6 Asiah's Tiara, 1 Royale Jacket, 3 Pompeii Shield, 4 Twelfth Of Never

Race 4: 7 Be My Fate, 1 Chariklo, 5 Vixeninthevineyard, 4 Cool Reggae

Race 5: 1 Battleground, 3 Damova, 2 One More Star, 5 Futurewolff

Race 6: 1 King Harald, 2 Golden Operator, 3 Wild Intent, 4 Echo Check

Race 7: 3 Calantha, 7 Blizzard Snow, 5 Green Flash, 4 Komati River

Race 8: 2 Miss Novax, 7 Lovable, 3 Wise Counsel, 8 Quiet Winter

 

BEST BET

Race 2: 1 Alice B Toklas

VALUE BET

Race 5: 1 Battleground

BEST SWINGER

Race 6 1x2

BIPOT

R144

Leg 1: 3, 10

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 3, 6

Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 7

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3

Leg 6: 1, 2

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 3, 6

Leg 3: 1, 5, 7

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 3, 7

Leg 7: 2, 7

 

PICK 6

R1800

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

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 4: 1, 2

Leg 5: 3, 5, 7

Leg 6: 2, 3, 7

 

JACKPOT 1

R120

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 3, 5, 7

 

JACKPOT 2

R72

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 4: 1, 2

Leg 5: 3, 5, 7

Leg 6: 2, 3, 7