Jack Milner
There is an expression in horseracing that there is no substitute for class, and that could apply to Race 6 at Turffontein on Thursday, a MR 99 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m on the Inside track.
It might be 11 months since Marigold Hotel won a race, but this four-year-old daughter of Querari has shown in her last few starts that she is coming back to her best.
While Sean Tarry’s runner might be a notch below the best fillies around, she has contested three Grade 1 races and has not performed badly in any of them.
She ran against the colts in the 2021 Cape Guineas won by Double Superlative, finished a five-length fifth behind Princess Calla in the HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes and was beaten 6.35 lengths in the Woolavington 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville although she would have found 2000m a touch too far.
More recently Marigold Hotel finished fourth in the Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Stakes and fifth behind World Sports Betting Summer Cup winner Puerto Manzano in the Grade 3 London News Stakes over 1800m.
In between those two features she finished a 1.25-length third to Sound Of Warning in a Progress Plate for fillies and mares over 1450m and last time ran a 1.75-length third behind Gilded Butterfly over 1600m. Both runs were on the Vaal Classic track.
However, a look at her form indicates she has a very good record over the Turffontein Inside track with two wins and a second from three starts.
Tarry has engaged Keagan de Melo to ride this filly for the first time and they are well enough drawn in gate No 5.
She is reported to have made a respiratory noise in those two races in which she finished third but despite that issue, they were still decent efforts.
Once one looks past Marigold Hotel the race looks quite open.
There is little to choose between Princess Philippa and Wokonda although the latter is weighted to have the advantage. Nevertheless, Princess Philippa will be having her third run after a layoff and could reverse the placings this time.
Tipsy Tarragon could well set the cat among the pigeons as this three-year-old filly could still have a lot more to give. She ended up too far back when 3.50 lengths behind Lady Of Power in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas last time but Tony Peters’ charge was only having her second run for the yard after moving up from Cape Town.
She did run on well enough and is expected to improve on that performance.
Tarry also sends out Sister Light who won a decent race last time reverting to 1400m. She had all of reopposing Wokonda, Princess Philippa, Elusive Current and Kayla’s Champ behind her and although they are better off at the weights, they might not be able to reverse that result.
The four-year-old daughter of Visionaire has won two of her three races at this course including her only one over this distance. Sister Light was also having her second run after a layoff last time and will have come with it under her belt.
Kabelo Matsunyane has a good rapport with this filly, having ridden her four times for two wins, including her victory last time, a second and a fourth place.
Supreme Quest has also run against some of the best around but appears to have lost her form. She is held by Marigold Hotel on their last run and perhaps stablemate Golden Aspen could be the preferred runner from the Corne Spies yard.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Rosslyne, 6 Queen Britanna, 1 More For Me, 4 Cantfoolme
Race 2: 2 Global Thunder, 9 Storm Secret, 6 Miss Shaivi, 8 Soldier's Eye
Race 3: 5 Linkin Navigator, 7 Mist In Scotland, 6 Princeofgreen, 9 Sylvan Lady
Race 4: 5 Elusive Justice, 8 Sagan, 4 Cosmic Star, 1 Fulliautomatix
Race 5: 1 Stepping Out, 9 Jet Dynasty, 12 Storm Dominator, 6 Global Impact
Race 6: 1 Marigold Hotel, 7 Princess Philippa, 4 Tipsy Tarragon, 6 Wokonda
Race 7: 2 Strange Magic, 8 Kwazzi's Lady, 3 Golden Spoon, 1 Littlemarysunshine
Race 8: 5 Bushveld, 3 Bee In My Bonnet, 7 Just Be Nice, 1 Rosaprima
Race 9: 5 Tsar Bomba, 7 Texas Red, 4 Dancetildaylight, 9 Set To Go
Race 10: 3 Beaded Gown, 7 Looking Hot, 8 Pendragon, 6 Great Times
BEST BET
Race 4 No 5 Elusive Justice
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 2 Strange Magic
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 1x9
BIPOT
R192
Leg 1: 2, 6, 8, 9
Leg 2: 5, 6, 7
Leg 3: 5
Leg 4: 1, 9
Leg 5: 1, 4, 6, 7
Leg 6: 2, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 5
Leg 3: 1, 9
Leg 4: 1, 4, 7
Leg 5: 2, 8
Leg 6: 3, 5, 7
Leg 7: 5, 7
PICK 6
R672
Leg 1: 5
Leg 2: 1, 9
Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 8
Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 7
Leg 6: 4, 5, 7
JACKPOT 1
R224
Leg 1: 1, 9
Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 8
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 7
JACKPOT 2
R240
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5, 8
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 7
Leg 3: 4, 5, 7
Leg 4: 3, 6, 7, 8, 11