Jack Milner
An interesting Graduation Plate over 1160m is one of the highlights of the card at Turffontein on Sunday where they are scheduled to race on the Standside track.
The reason for using the word “scheduled” is because rain over the province has seen some meetings being shuttled between the Vaal and Turffontein like a yo-yo, depending on which racecourse has the best conditions available.
However, if the weather reports for the next couple of days are accurate, it appears we are going to have a couple of good days and as a result it looks promising for racing going ahead at the scheduled track.
The nine runners in Race 5 are made up of mainly three and four-year-olds and one five-year-old mare.
Of the four-year-olds, Winds Of Change looks the standout runner and comes in as the best weighted runner by at least 5.5kg. He has been gelded but his comeback run in October was not particularly encouraging but he should come on from that run and the Mike Azzie-trained runner needs to be respected.
However, Mike and Mathew de Kock may have the best runner in the line-up as they send out three-year-old gelding Yippee Kiyay.
The son of Buffalo Bill Cody has only raced four times for two wins. He was gelded after finishing unplaced in the Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Durban July day and made an excellent comeback with a victory at the Vaal in October.
He has his work cut out as this is quite a decent field but Callan Murray knows him well and could eke out a third victory.
Sean Tarry probably has the best bet on the card and that comes up in Race 2 where he saddles well-related youngster Turn It Up, a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Proceed, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 800m.
Turn It Up, a son of Querari, ran a blinder when chasing home well-backed Heath House on Summer Cup day. He shaped like a horse with plenty of promise and natural improvement should be forthcoming.
The market will take note of one significant pointer: top rider Craig Zackey abandons stablemate Status Symbol to partner Turn It Up. It is the kind of decision that is seldom random.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Lanzarote, 7 Volcanic Heat, 3 No Drama, 4 Northern European
Race 2: 6 Turn It Up, 5 Time Is Precious, 4 Status Symbol, 7 Iv Got My I On You
Race 3: 5 In The Willows, 15 Sakura Hanami, 13 Special Al, 1 Rockaroundtheclock
Race 4: 2 Power Of Pearls, 1 Inspiration, 7 Blooming Lovely, 9 Gulf Of America
Race 5: 2 Yippee Kiyay, 3 Winds Of Change, 7 Rondebosch, 4 One Fine Winter
Race 6: 5 Palace Attack, 6 Impact Investor, 9 Prince Of Kildare, 2 Ombudsman
Race 7: 10 One Eye On Vegas, 11 Miami Mountain, 1 Gimmethegoodlife, 3 Lead The Charge
Race 8: 3 His Lordship, 8 Nkandla Gold, 5 Inafix, 1 Bumps Last Grind
BEST BET
Race 2: 6 Turn It Up
VALUE BET
Race 3: 5 In The Willows
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 10x11
BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 1, 7
Leg 2: 6
Leg 3: 1, 5, 13, 15
Leg 4: 1, 2, 7
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 7
Leg 6: 5, 6, 9
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R243
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 5, 13, 15
Leg 3: 1, 2, 7
Leg 4: 2, 3, 7
Leg 5: 5, 6, 9
Leg 6: 10
Leg 7: 3, 5, 9
PICK 6
R1728
Leg 1: 1, 5, 13, 15
Leg 2: 1, 2, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 4: 5, 6, 9
Leg 5: 10, 11
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 8
JACKPOT 1
R108
Leg 1: 1, 2, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 5, 6, 9
Leg 4: 10, 11
JACKPOT 2
R144
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 5, 6, 9
Leg 3: 10, 11
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 8