Jack Milner
Trainer Joe Soma has a good record with long-distance runners and when he gets a runner who stays, he is able to get the best out of them.
That is the case with six-year-old mare Damova, from whom he has been able to extract five wins from 26 starts, with four of them over 2400m or further.
She has staying power in her blood as she is by Flower Alley out of a Silvano mare. Those runners related to Silvano often improve with age and that could well be the case with this mare who will line up in Race 6 at the Vaal on Thursday to contest a Classified Stakes over 2400m on the Classic track.
After beating Afraad over 3000m on the Inside track at Turffontein, Soma gave her a well-deserved break and she returned to racing last month in a MR 78 Handicap over 1800m on the main Vaal course. She was clearly in need of the run which can be ascertained by the fact she drifted out to 25-1.
In addition, 1800m might be considered a touch short. However, back over her more favoured trip she could be the one to beat.
She takes on the boys which is a hurdle she has overcome on other occasions and she does have a lot going for her. She is the one of the best weighted runners in the field and has a record of one win and one second in two races over the course and distance.
Chase Maujean takes the ride for the first time.
Soma also has Pomozelous in the race and this mare also seems to have improved since tried over this distance and fitted with blinkers.
While she is held on form by a couple of others, she will be having her third run after a rest and it would not be wise to leave her out of the Pick 6.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Trail Runner, 3 Empress Wu, 2 Fire Starter, 4 Shimmering
Race 2: 1 Johnny Drama, 5 Trip To States, 3 Gift Of Royal, 4 Codeword
Race 3: 7 Copper Eagle, 2 War Reporter, 1 Unsolved Riddle, 3 Laughing William
Race 4: 1 Cosmic Queen, 2 Bosum Buddy, 5 Kia Kaha, 4 Stars And Bra's
Race 5: 8 Phala Millions, 4 Falcon Strike, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Sail The Sky
Race 6: 5 Damova, 7 Cartagena, 4 Lava Lamp, 10 Rainy Season
Race 7: 1 Sneak Preview, 6 Circle Of Grace, 3 Red Sparrow, 2 Hat Furious
Race 8: 4 Red Amber, 9 Lady Loxton, 5 Ghostbuster, 10 Northern Kitten
BEST BET
Race 8: 4 Red Amber
VALUE BET
Race 6: 5 Damova
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 1x3
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5
Leg 3: 1, 2, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2
Leg 5: 3, 4, 8
Leg 6: 2, 4, 5, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 3, 4, 8
Leg 5: 4, 5, 7
Leg 6: 1, 6
Leg 7: 4
PICK 6
R900
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8
Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 7, 10
Leg 5: 1, 3, 6
Leg 6: 4
JACKPOT 1
R225
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8
Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 7, 10
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6
JACKPOT 2
R75
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8
Leg 2: 2, 4, 5, 7, 10
Leg 3: 1, 3, 6
Leg 4: 4