Jack Milner
Lawrence Wernars has been a massive supporter of South African horseracing over the years and he having expanded the number of horses in his stable so to speak, he has become one of the most prolific owners around.
He does have a number of partners and right now is having probably his best season so far. His familiar red, white and black colours are visible at stables all around the country and yesterday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he had his 100th winner of the season, when Better Man won Race 1.
Ideally, the horse was ridden by Gavin Lerena who has no doubt ridden a large proportion of Wernars’ winners.
Many of the successes have come out of the Johan Janse van Vuuren stable, which is in superb form currently, and the combination of Wernars, Lerena and Van Vuuren can get punters of to a perfect start when they race on the Inside track at Turffontein on Thursday.
In Race 1, a Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1200m, Van Vuuren has three runners carded – Alpine Jet, Pretty Persuasive and Spiritrix – and while all of them have very decent form, it is Pretty Persuasive who catches the eye.
This daughter of Vercingetorix began her career in the Western Cape in February where she finished third behind Peter Muscutt-trained Military Command. Since then, the winner went on to win a Non-Black Type feature over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, fourth in the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb over 1100m at HWB Scottsville, a 1.10-length fourth in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion over 1200m at the same course and then finished a 3.10-length sixth in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper over 1400m at HWB Greyville on Durban July day.
Pretty Persuasive has only had one run since her Cape run and that was over 1400m on the Standside track where she scored a facile 2.50-length win over Tuscan Romance. Two
winners have come out of that form line, including the runner-up who went on to win her next start by 4.25 lengths.
It comes as no surprise to see Lerena aboard this filly once again and she looks very hard to oppose.
In Race 2, a Juvenile Plate over 1200m, Van Vuuren saddles three of the eight runners – Top Division, Alpha World and Gavius Maximus – but none looks better than Top Division who really looks likely to live up to his name based on his maiden win.
The Gimmethegreenlight gelding was rumoured to be unbeatable on debut and did not let the side down. Racing over 1000m at this course he took the lead shortly after turning for home and the result was never in doubt.
He beat home Bumps Last Grind by 2.80 lengths and while the runner-up again found another smart horse in his next start, he scored a very easy win last time out, franking the Top Division form line.
Lerena rode him to victory on debut and will be back in the irons once again.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Pretty Persuasive, 6 Anchorage, 7 Hot Cocoa, 1 Alpine Jet
Race 2: 3 Top Division, 1 Got The Feeling, 7 Second To Nunn, 6 Gavius Maximus
Race 3: 8 Safe Travel, 2 Johnny Drama, 5 Lord Kelvin, 1 Seventh Fleet
Race 4: 1 Winds Of Grace, 12 Wise Counsel, 11 Winter Wedding, 2 Rendevous In Rio
Race 5: 10 Hopscotch, 1 Flightlight, 3 Bella Boop Boop, 9 Umami
Race 6: 3 Heroic Act, 2 Santiago's Pride, 10 Sergeant Soqrat, 1 Mizzen Sword
Race 7: 2 Captain Efficient, 4 Lonely As A Cloud, 1 Misty Metal, 6 Daring Act
Race 8: 5 Fatal Gem, 3 Queen Of Love, 6 It's Her Way, 7 Kisshoten
Race 9: 2 Streisand, 1 Azaleas For All, 3 Play With Fire, 4 Annewithan E
Race 10: 1 Phil The Fluter, 2 Apache Chief, 8 Commander Of All, 11 Can' Catch Me
BEST BET
Race 2: 3 Top Division
VALUE BET
Race 9: 2 Streisand
BEST SWINGER
Race 8 2x5
BIPOT
R108
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 2, 5, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 11, 12
Leg 4: 10
Leg 5: 2, 3, 10
Leg 6: 1, 2, 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 2, 8
Leg 2: 1, 11, 12
Leg 3: 10
Leg 4: 2, 3, 10
Leg 5: 2, 4
Leg 6: 3, 5, 6
Leg 7: 1, 2, 3
PICK 6
R1800
Leg 1: 1, 11, 12
Leg 2: 10
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 6
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
JACKPOT 1
R120
Leg 1: 10
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
JACKPOT 2
R480
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 8, 11