Chance for Indlamu to notch up sixth win

Jack Milner

One has to go back to 28 May 2022 to find the last time Indlamu paid a visit to the winner’s enclosure.

Trained by Sean Tarry, the five-year-old Pomodoro entire looked quite useful early in his career and his first seven starts resulted in three wins and four places. His consistency continued and when he finally notched up his fifth success in May last year, his merit rating was upped to 99.

It did touch 100 when he finished second in a MR 105 Handicap last October but it then dropped back to 99 after unsuccessful performance in the Grade 2 Charity Mile and Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes.

But his subsequent consistency of four places from five starts has resulted in that merit rating of 99 remaining firmly in place with no sign of a drop coming from the handicappers.

However, he gets the perfect opportunity to add a sixth win to his tally when he lines up in Race 5 at the Vaal on Tuesday, a MR 96 Handicap over 1600m on the Classic track.

Based on the average merit rating of 92, this is one of the weaker fields he will be meeting in recent times. The distance is also ideal as his record over 1600m has resulted in three wins and seven places.

Kabelo Matsunyane takes the ride.

Meridius and filly Supreme Quest stand out as the main dangers and both look held by Indlamu based on their run behind Whafeef on 1 April.

Meridius, trained by Ashley Fortune, finished 1.50 lengths behind Indlamu that day but did have an excuse as his jockey dropped his crop.

However, in his next start, Meridius was penalised 1.5kg for finishing a 0.50-length second behind Willow’s Wish and now meets Indlamu on 1.5kg worse terms so he will need to find something extra if he is to reverse the places.

Four-year-old filly Supreme Quest finished 1.25 lengths behind Indlamu and will be meeting him on 2kg worse terms so that will make life difficult for her to turn that form line around.

S’manga Khumalo takes the ride for the Corne Spies yard.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: Iron Sky, Waitforgreenlight, Crown Prince, Rainbow Reward, Joker Man

Race 2: Southern Song, Red Maple, Crimson Princess, Ipso Facto, Paton's Tears

Race 3: Chrome Tourmaline, Contra Fiscum, Duenna, Heartlight, Glitterfox

Race 4: Positive Attitude, Prime Example, Afraad, Mambo Come Tesio, Banha Bridge

Race 5: Indlamu, Meridius, Supreme Quest, Bey Suyay, Johnny Dogs

Race 6: Bob's Your Uncle, Celestial City, Vitellius, Lord Varys, Southern Blaze

Race 7: Queen Of Smoke, Moraine, Golden Aspen, Intoxicating, National Star

Race 8: Radu, Lunar Ballade, Dancing Arabian, Berengaria, Lady Calavera

BEST BET

Race 1 No 1 Iron Sky

VALUE BET

Race 2 No 3 Southern Song

BEST SWINGER

Race 8 3x4

BIPOT

R324

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 3, 6

Leg 3: 4, 8, 9, 10

Leg 4: 3, 4, 5

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 3, 8

Leg 2: 8, 9, 10

Leg 3: 3, 5

Leg 4: 1, 3

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 1, 5, 6

Leg 7: 3

PICK 6

R2400

Leg 1: 2, 4, 8, 9, 10

Leg 2: 3, 4, 5, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4

Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 6

Leg 6: 3, 4

JACKPOT 1

R240

Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4

Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 6

JACKPOT 2

R120

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4

Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 6

Leg 4: 3, 4