Jack Milner
The newly formed training team of Mike and Mathew de Kock could not have got off to a better start after they captured the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas at Turffontein on Saturday with Spumante Dolce.
The father-and-son combination officially launched their partnership on 1 February so it was an absolute cracker of a foundation for them. The only way it could have got any better would have been if Greaterix had held on to win the Gauteng Guineas, but that’s racing for you.
Mathew was not on track to enjoy the moment as he was in Australia, but there will certainly be many more to come.
The good fortune can continue at Turffontein on Thursday on the Inside track when Destiny Of Fire lines up in Race 3, a MR 90 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m.
The promising filly is headed for upcoming features and the way she won her last over 1600m suggests she should relish the extra distance.
She started off her career showing talent in sprints even though bred for ground and then confirmed that she is Classic material in her last start with a wait-and-pounce effort in an impressive display when giving older horse Carnelo 8kg.
The third-placed horse, Mocha Macaroon, who rates with a big chance in Race 8, was beaten easily by 5.10-lengths.
The three-year-old daughter of Master Of My Fate did contest the Grade 3 Fillies Mile over 1600m at Turffontein in November but she landed a wide draw which she was unable to overcomes and never really got into the race.
Last time Gavin Lerena was engaged for the ride and he will be back on board for this event.
A horse to keep an eye on is Sean Tarry-trained Gerbera whom he has taken his time with. She looked a different horse when tried over 1600m, winning as she liked after being rushed to get there in sprints previously.
There is no doubt Destiny Of Fire will be a popular banker in all the exotics but another interesting runner looks to be King Of Numbers in Race 5, a MR 80 Handicap over 1600m.
This Brett Webber-trained gelding is currently in top form and after winning his penultimate start with ease, beating Just Var with ease, he went on to contest a MR 80 Handicap over 1600m on the Standside track at Turffontein.
The race was run in yielding going and he went to front from the start. However, he was run out of it in the final 200m and ended up in third place. The relevance of that event is that the winner was Spumante Dolce, the very same filly who just two weeks later downed VJ’s Angel and Quid Pro Quo to win the Fillies Guineas.
To make it even more noteworthy, King Of Numbers was giving Spumante Dolce 2.5kg. It is also worth taking into account that Webber’s runner confirmed the form with Just Var who finished another 3.20 lengths back. In addition, Just Var franked that form last Saturday when he came out to win the final race on the card.
King Of Numbers contests a very similar race on this occasion and this time he will have Lerena on board. He did place third in his only start on the Inside track but that was over 1200m and he is sure to be better over this trip.
This son of Royal Mo is perfectly positioned in No 1 draw and that will give Lerena the run of the race so he is worth looking at as another banker for the exotics.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 7 Pacific, 9 Dancing Dora, 4 Thunderbird, 2 Radiant Heat
Race 2: 5 Blaze A Way, 4 Longsword, 7 Covert Operator, 2 Virginia Beach
Race 3: 1 Destiny Of Fire, 3 Gerbera, 2 Visionofpeace, 4 Streisand
Race 4: 6 Damova, 5 Only A Poet, 1 To The Rescue, 4 Royal Mazarin
Race 5: 6 King Of Numbers, 7 Lava Fire, 1 MK's Dreams, 3 Dance King
Race 6: 11 After Hours, 8 Fast Duty, 6 Great Notion, 1 Laughing William
Race 7: 4 Andi's Girl, 8 Theatre Of Life, 6 Ceuta, 5 Cape Lights
Race 8: 5 Accept Cookies, 4 Mighty Goddess, 1 Boom Boom, 7 Quasikat
BEST BET
Race 3: 1 Destiny Of Fire
VALUE BET
Race 4: 6 Damova
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 4x8
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 4, 7, 9
Leg 2: 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 6
Leg 5: 6, 7
Leg 6: 6, 8, 11
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R162
Leg 1: 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 5, 6
Leg 4: 6
Leg 5: 6, 8, 11
Leg 6: 4, 8
Leg 7: 4, 5, 8
PICK 6
R1800
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 3, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 5, 6, 8, 11
Leg 5: 4, 6, 8
Leg 6: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8
JACKPOT 1
R300
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1, 3, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 8, 11
Leg 4: 4, 6, 8
JACKPOT 2
R300
Leg 1: 1, 3, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 5, 6, 8, 11
Leg 3: 4, 6, 8
Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8