Jack Milner
With both Aldo Domeyer and Keagan de Melo not riding at the Vaal on Thursday there are obviously a number of relevant jockey changes.
Domeyer was carded to ride two horses for trainer Ashley Fortune but he is medically indisposed and both rides have been taken by Julius Mariba.
However, there is no reason why Mariba can’t achieve success on both of those picked up mounts.
The first ride comes up in Race 3, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m on the Classic track, where he is aboard first-timer Cala Muretta. While Fortune’s comment about her runner in ComputaForm reads “nice horse but will be green”, bookmakers appear to have taken a different view.
In spite of the fact this is a filly taking on the colts, and the entire field is made up of unraced runners, they have priced up Fortune’s charge as the 16-10 favourite with stable companion Jerusalema Rain, who by the way received the same ComputaForm comment from Fortune, next best at 6-1.
Cala Muretta is a full sister to Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimme’s Lassie who has performed pretty well in three-year-old features in the Western Cape.
After two successive second places, Gimme’s Lassie went on to win two successive races, both at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. She then followed up with a 1.15-length third behind Ciao Bella in the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and followed that up with a 4.05-length sixth to Make It Snappy in the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas.
Her last race as in the Grade 3 Prix Du Cap over 1400m in which she finished third, beaten by surprise winner Live My Life and hot-pot favourite Captain’s Ransom.
Should Cala Muretta have a modicum of the talent shown by her sister, she should prove good enough to win.
The other ride is War Empress in Race 4, a Maiden Pate over 1000m, and this filly has the form to endorse her ability. She has run twice, going down 0.25 lengths to A Time To Flower in October and then travelling to Cape Town where she ran a 1.10-length third behind Why Not Jackie.
Mariba actually rode her on debut when she went down 0.25 lengths to A Time To Flower.
She looks one of two bankers on the card.
A lot of the racing is highly competitive and punters could also take a chance with Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Silver Mensa in Race 8, a MR 87 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m.
She won her maiden well last time when fitted with blinkers and although they have been removed this time, with just 53.5kg to carry she will be tough to beat.
Nathan Klink will now take the ride in place of carded Keagan de Melo.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 6 Mia Fiore, 5 Chilli Marmalade, 1 Smelting, 9 Western Wishes
Race 2: 11 White Hills, 3 Komesans Passion, 2 Elegant Ice, 5 Regal Daughter
Race 3: 8 Cala Muretta, 11 Winter Path, 7 Ziyasha, 4 Jerusalema Rain
Race 4: 11 War Empress, 1 Iron Sky, 4 Fulliautomatix, 6 Cosmic Star
Race 5: 4 Miss Christmas, 2 Broadlands, 1 Turnthebeataround, 13 Spring Of Elixir
Race 6: 11 Allthewayfromusa, 3 Flag Bearer, 7 Absolute Value, 8 Rosy Lemon
Race 7: 5 Kwazzi's Lady, 2 Tinder Dry, 3 Burmese Tiara, 1 Bushveld
Race 8: 8 Silver Mensa, 2 Highest Honour, 4 Lil Miss Moneybags, 1 Big Eyed Girl
Race 9: 11 Mercer Girl, 3 Mia Regina, 6 Love Bite, 7 Rock On Captain
BEST BET
Race 4 No 11 War Empress
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 4 Miss Christmas
BEST SWINGER
Race 4 1x11
BIPOT
R324
Leg 1: 2, 3, 11
Leg 2: 4, 7, 8, 11
Leg 3: 11
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4
Leg 5: 3, 7, 11
Leg 6: 2, 3, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R243
Leg 1: 7, 8, 11
Leg 2: 11
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4
Leg 4: 3, 7, 11
Leg 5: 2, 3, 5
Leg 6: 8
Leg 7: 3, 6, 11
PICK 6
R1400
Leg 1: 11
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 13
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 5: 8
Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13
JACKPOT 1
R175
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 13
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 8
JACKPOT 2
R280
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 3: 8
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13