Jack Milner
Bettors are faced with an interesting but competitive card at the Vaal on Wednesday when they race on the Classic track.
There are not any obvious Pick 6 bankers, but it could be worth taking a chance with Fanie Bronkhorst-trained Dondoyaki in Race 8, a MR 66 Handicap over 1600m.
It is not going to be an easy task for this three-year-old filly as she is taking on males and has been allotted top weight of 61kg.
But she does have a few things going for her. Firstly, the Bronkhorst stable seems to be coming back to form after a period in the doldrums. Many trainers had problems with all the rain when they battled to train their runners. Restoring the equilibrium has taken some time but now the weather has settled down, a number of stables are starting to fire once again.
Secondly, Bronkhorst has engaged apprentice Blaine Marx-Jacobson to ride the daughter of Danon Platina and he will take 4kg off her back. That means she will come in with 57kg on her back and that will put her right in the mix.
She will also be taking a mighty drop in class. Her last race was in a MR 77 Handicap for fillies and mares where the average merit rating was 82. In that race, over 1450m on this track, she finished a 1.25-length second behind Fire In Her Soul, carrying 54.5kg.
The average merit rating in this race is just 64 and she will carry just 2.5kg more so that has to add to her winning chances.
Finally, the combination of blinkers plus a tongue tie seems to have turned her around completely. Bronkhorst tried one or the other, but in her last two starts he has combined the two and that has resulted in a win and an excellent second.
She will be trying 1600m for the first time but the way she has managed 1400m and 1450m in her last two respective races, the additional distance should not prove an obstacle.
This is not the strongest race around and perhaps the main threat could well come from Brett Webber-trained Commander Of All. The stable has been in outstanding form of late with five winners already this month alone for an average of 19.23%.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 4 Master Spy, 3 Pompeii Shield, 12 Emerald Forge, 1 Ubermensch
Race 2: 3 Babette's Feast, 5 Maria La Gorda, 4 Hot Cocoa, 1 Sweetsummerlove
Race 3: 6 Chickasaw, 5 War Talk, 9 Come Together, 10 Hat And Heels
Race 4: 7 Flashy Apache, 8 One More Star, 6 Texas Missile, 4 Dance King
Race 5: 2 Poblano, 3 Roaming Spirit, 6 Caroline Island, 4 Bosum Buddy
Race 6: 6 Plumbago Park, 1 Deal Maker, 7 Tempranillo, 5 Gaslight Dancer
Race 7: 2 Blindfire, 9 Oriental Bouquet, 6 Time For Charity, 1 Misty Metal
Race 8: 1 Dondoyaki, 9 Commander Of All, 2 Falconfly, 3 Sheets And Goggles
Race 9: 7 Laughing William, 10 Quickfreeze, 8 Continental King, 2 Father Christmas
BEST BET
Race 2: 3 Babette's Feast
VALUE BET
Race 9: 7 Laughing William
BEST SWINGER
Race 8 1x9
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 5, 6
Leg 3: 6, 7, 8
Leg 4: 2, 3, 6
Leg 5: 1, 6, 7
Leg 6: 1, 2, 6, 9
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 5, 6
Leg 2: 6, 7, 8
Leg 3: 2, 3
Leg 4: 1, 6, 7
Leg 5: 2, 6, 9
Leg 6: 1
Leg 7: 7, 8, 10
PICK 6
R1800
Leg 1: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 2, 3, 6
Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 2, 4, 7, 8, 10
JACKPOT 1
R72
Leg 1: 2, 3, 6
Leg 2: 1, 5, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9
Leg 4: 1
JACKPOT 2
R120
Leg 1: 1, 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 2, 4, 7, 8, 10