Jack Milner
We all know the expression “horses for courses” when it comes to studying form and if that is one of your benchmarks for finding winners, then Tulip Tree has to be at the top of your list for Thursday’s meeting on the Inside track at Turffontein.
It is very simple.
The Stuart Pettigrew-trained filly has run four times at the track for three wins. Her lone unplaced run at the track came on debut over 1200m where she went off at 33-1 and ran accordingly.
Since then, she has raced three more times at the course, over 1450m, 1600m and 1800m, and has won all three. One could even take her preference for this course a step further – as this is the only track at which she has won.
So, when she lines up in Race 6, a MR 88 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m, this three-year-old daughter of What A Winter has to be a strong contender for top honours.
Not only is she at her favourite course, but also as the advantage of jumping from pole position.
Diego de Gouveia rode her to victory last time and he is back in the irons once again.
In fairness, this is not the only course where Tulip Tree can perform as in her form line, she has also been runner-up on three other occasions, all at different courses.
The obvious danger has to be Cape Lights from the Robbie Sage yard. This three-year-old daughter of Ideal World took a while to win her maiden, although she is highly thought of by her connections.
She finally cracked the ice at her seventh attempt two runs back, running out a facile winner by 5.50 lengths. That form line has been franked as two winners have come of it.
In addition, Cape Lights followed up that win with a highly promising second place – beaten 1.75 lengths by Tulip Tree.
She comes into this race 2.5kg better off so on paper is weighted to reverse that result. However, Tulip Tree was going the better of the pair in the closing stage over 1600m and now they are going 200m further and she will have to jump from No 10 draw.
Apprentice Kaidan Brewer now takes the ride.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 4 Efficient Trader, 3 Writteninthesand, 2 Unyielding, 7 Southern Style
Race 2: 2 Pure Predator, 1 Fire 'N Flames, 6 No Place Like Home, 3 Anamericaninvenice
Race 3: 2 Ice Star, 1 Global Thunder, 8 Platina Princess, 6 Egyptian Mau
Race 4: 1 Raptor Island, 3 Phantomoftheforest, 9 Sky Velocity, 7 Knights Table
Race 5: 8 Burmese Tiara, 7 Welcome Breeze, 6 Napoleon, 4 Bloomington
Race 6: 2 Tulip Tree, 1 Crimson Princess, 8 Cape Lights, 10 Paschals Samore
Race 7: 2 Call The Wind, 3 Island Beauty, 1 Summer Fling, 9 Lidl Miss Sunshine
Race 8: 9 Luthuli, 3 Oyster King, 1 Monsieur Chevelle, 4 Black Lightning
Race 9: 8 Power Ranger, 3 Pendragon, 9 Dark Tide, 1 Mcebisi
BEST BET
Race 4 No 1 Raptor Island
VALUE BET
Race 8 No 9 Luthuli
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 1x2
BIPOT
R162
Leg 1: 1, 2
Leg 2: 1, 2, 8
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 6, 7, 8
Leg 5: 1, 2, 8
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 2, 8
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3
Leg 6: 2, 3, 9
Leg 7: 3, 8
PICK 6
R768
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 4, 6, 7, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 9
Leg 5: 1, 3, 4, 9
Leg 6: 1, 3, 8, 9
JACKPOT 1
R192
Leg 1: 4, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 9
JACKPOT 2
R192
Leg 1: 1, 2, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 9
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 8, 9