Jack Milner
It is Women’s Day on Saturday and in honour of so many ladies among the trainers’ ranks, most of the races on the nine-race card at Turffontein will carry their names.
It would be great if one of those trainers could celebrate the day with a winner but only Candice Dawson and Robyn Klaasen have runners at the meeting and all their runners are in highly competitive races.
However, there will be a number of filles and mares in action and they could carry the day for the fairer sex. While some of them are racing in races reserved for fillies and mares there are, nevertheless, a couple who look quite capable of upstaging their male rivals.
In Race 2, the Robyn Klaasen Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1160m, Lucky Houdalakis-trained Quiet Winter will be all the rage on her reappearance.
This daughter of What A Winter showed promise in both outings as a juvenile last season, confirming the progress of her debut third over the same course and distance by finishing closer to the winner when fourth over 1000m in mid-April.
The now three-year-old filly would have strengthened during a subsequent 116-day absence, and she is open to improvement on her seasonal reappearance.
It is encouraging that jockey Craig Zackey, who rode Quiet Winter last time out, maintains the partnership.
Thriving Teo Torriatte has found her niche racing with cheekpieces fitted, winning three times in four starts with the headgear on, and Corrie Lensley's inmate looks to continue her momentum in Race 4, MR 82 Handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m.
This five-year-old The United States mare was at the peak of her powers at the back end of last season, and she confirmed as much by winning on the Standside track over 1800m a fortnight ago when beating re-opposing rivals Art Nouveau and Wagram.
She copped a hefty seven-point penalty for that win but the booking of 4kg apprentice Mxolisi Mbutho negates that rating hike and looks a shrewd move by Lensley.
Mbutho, incidentally, has started to attract a lot of attention in the ranks of the jockeys and he impresses more and more with every ride.
After riding a winner for Gareth van Zyl at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday, the trainer was full of praise for Mbutho’s skill while Lensley has been a fierce supporter of the youngster for quite a while.
Tony Peter has two strings to his bow in Race 9, the Heather Adamson MR 100 Handicap over 1160m but it should pay to follow the progress of Mbutho's mount, Blizzard Snow, who got the better of stable companion One Fell Swoop in a similar contest over track and trip last month.
Although she will be taking on the colts, she will carry just 50kg and that could make her hard to beat.
Peter could run first and second in this race as he also saddles One Fell Swoop, who is not one to ignore. She did not run up to expectations last time when tried in blinkers and as a result they will be removed this time.
Chad Little is another jockey who has been riding winners all over the pace and he gets the ride on the five-year-old Lancaster Bomber mare.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Clever Trevor, 7 Trip To Peace, 5 Midnight Flyer, 2 Actuary
Race 2: 6 Quiet Winter, 5 Perfect Miracle, 8 Total Eruption, 1 Lost For Words
Race 3: 1 Follow The Master, 10 Scarlett Heart, 3 Heroic Act, 9 Future Success
Race 4: 3 Teo Torriatte, 6 Art Nouveau, 5 Azaleas For All, 7 Wagram
Race 5: 8 Bob Lee Swagger, 2 Storm Ahead, 4 Gamer, 1 Instant Attraction
Race 6: 8 Viva De Janeiro, 4 Clarkson, 3 After Hours, 2 Laughing William
Race 7: 2 Pressonregardless, 1 Birthright, 4 Phil The Fluter, 3 Willow Express
Race 8: 4 Sunset Warrior, 5 Western Wishes, 3 Maverick Queen, 2 Unicorn Alert
Race 9: 9 Blizzard Snow, 3 One Fell Swoop, 1 Red Bomber, 6 Warm Winter Nite
BEST BET
Race 1 No 3 Clever Trevor
VALUE BET
Race 7: 2 Pressonregardless
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 1x10
BIPOT
R324
Leg 1: 5, 6, 8
Leg 2: 1, 10
Leg 3: 3, 5, 6
Leg 4: 2, 4, 8
Leg 5: 4, 8
Leg 6: 1, 2, 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 3, 5, 6
Leg 3: 2, 8
Leg 4: 4, 8
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4
Leg 6: 4, 5
Leg 7: 1, 3, 9
PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 8
Leg 3: 3, 4, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4
Leg 5: 3, 4, 5
Leg 6: 1, 3, 6, 9
JACKPOT 1
R108
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 8
Leg 2: 3, 4, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4
Leg 4: 3, 4, 5
JACKPOT 2
R108
Leg 1: 3, 4, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4
Leg 3: 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6, 9