Duke back on his favourite course

Jack Milner

Duke Of Sussex pulled off something of a surprise when he flew up late to win the World Sports Betting Grand Heritage over 1475m on the Vaal straight course in December last year.

It was not that he did not have the form to win that Non-Black Type feature race but rather because his stable companion, Dyce, looked hard to beat in that line-up. But in the end Dyce, well proven over 1200m, just failed to see out the extra distance on a wet course, and that allowed Duke Of Sussex the chance to create the upset.

The race proved a triumph for Lucky Houdalakis and Dave Shawe as they are the respective trainer and owner of both Duke Of Sussex and Dyce.

His previous five-length win followed by the Grand Heritage success resulted in a 7kg penalty for Duke Of Sussex and he has not managed to notch up another victory in his next three starts. One was a Pinnacle Stakes and the other two were well-contested features and although finishing unplaced in all of them, the five-year-old Duke Of Marmalade gelding did not finish more than five lengths behind the winner in any of them, all at Turffontein.

There is no question though that Duke Of Sussex, who is trained at the Vaal, is a different proposition when racing on his home course.

So, his return to the Vaal in Race 7 on Tuesday to contest a MR 98 Handicap over 1450m on the Classic track, could see Duke Of Sussex make a ninth visit to the No 1. He has an excellent record at the course with five wins and a second place from six starts, with two of those wins and the runner-up run coming over 1450m.

Although JP van der Merwe rode him to victory in the Grand Heritage, Craig Zackey will take the ride on this occasion.

That is not a concern as he has ridden the gelding eight times for four wins and two second places. He does carry top weight of 60.5kg and will jump from barrier No 7.

Tsar Bomba is a talented three-year-old who has only raced six times and he seems to either win or run third, he has a record of two wins, one of them over this course and distance, and has finished third in all the others.

Johan Janse van Vuuren’s charge gets 4.5kg from Duke Of Sussex and is slightly better drawn at No 5. Keagan de Melo takes the ride.

His stablemate, Fast Love, looks the other danger. He does like this distance and has run second in one of his races at this course, but he does appear to be better on the Turffontein Inside track.

However, he is nicely drawn at No 2 and has Gavin Lerena up.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 8 Pontiac, 9 Viva De Janeiro, 1 Archimides, 4 Big Five

Race 2: 10 Khateera, 1 Spirit Princess, 3 Mia Fiore, 5 Paradise Flower

Race 3: 3 Broadlands, 4 Queen Britanna, 6 Spring Of Elixir, 2 Keep The Fort

Race 4: 1 Quantifier, 2 Puerto Plata, 5 Desert Fox, 3 Sword Of Mercy

Race 5: 8 Royal Mazarin, 7 Luthuli, 2 Jet Dynasty, 6 Mambo Come Tesio

Race 6: 9 Barmaid, 1 Go Flichity, 2 Angel's Wish, 3 Allthewayfromusa

Race 7: 1 Duke Of Sussex, 7 Tsar Bomba, 4 Fast Love, 9 Home Of The Brave

Race 8: 2 Millahue, 3 Quandary, 12 After Hours, 1 Tizona

BEST BET

Race 3 No 3 Broadlands

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 1 Duke Of Sussex

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 8x9

BIPOT

R256

Leg 1: 8, 9

Leg 2: 1, 10

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 5: 2, 6, 7, 8

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 9

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 10

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 4: 2, 7, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2, 9

Leg 6: 1, 4, 7

Leg 7: 2, 3

PICK 6

R1500

Leg 1: 3

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 3: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 7, 9

Leg 5: 1, 4, 6, 7, 9

Leg 6: 2, 3, 12

JACKPOT 1

R500

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 2: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 7, 9

Leg 4: 1, 4, 6, 7, 9

JACKPOT 2

R375

Leg 1: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7, 9

Leg 3: 1, 4, 6, 7, 9

Leg 4: 2, 3, 12