Jack Milner
An English literature lecturer discussing stage plays once explained to us that the definition of a tragedy is something that starts well but ends badly while the definition of a comedy is something starts badly but ends well.
“What would you call something that starts well and ends well,” asked one of the students.
“A bore,” came the lecturer’s retort.
But not when you can win money!
And that should be the case on the Vaal Classic track on Thursday when two good bets come up in Races 2 and 9.
Virginia Beach is a filly Tony Peter will always remember as she was his first runner as a trainer, while the filly was also making her debut. She won impressively.
That race was just over a month back and since then Peter has saddled 14 runners for four wins, three seconds and three thirds.
This daughter of Silvano has her second run in this Juvenile Plate over 1000m and although she will be taking on the boys, she will have come on since her debut victory and should win again.
She does have advantage of a 2.5kg sex allowance and should give jockey Denis Schwarz, who rode cracker to win the Grade 3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap with Rollwiththepunches on Saturday, another victory.
The danger has to be Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained and Keagan de Melo-ridden Xplicit Content, who has finished second in both his runs. It could be worth taking Exactas with the pair.
But whatever the fate of the Xplicit Content, De Melo and Janse van Vuuren should be in the No 1 box after the running of Race 9, a Classified Stakes over 1000m, where they have Civil Princess.
This Argentinian-bred filly could not have been more impressive when romping to a three-length victory on debut last month.
She was well supported to go off at 77-100 and the result was never in doubt. She will also be taking on the boys this time but under the race conditions comes out as the best weighted runner and is confidently expected to remain unbeaten.
Jack Milner’s selection
Race 1: 4 Spring Will Come, 8 On The Guest List, 2 Wolfram, 3 Ngokushesha
Race 2: 2 Virginia Beach, 4 Xplicit Content, 1 Fire 'N Flames, 8 White Hills
Race 3: 6 Brosnan, 1 Iron Sky, 9 Absolute Pleasure, 8 Camerata
Race 4: 8 African Azure, 2 Keep The Fort, 3 Memorial Day, 7 Batik
Race 5: 4 Irontail, 3 Admiralty Arch, 9 Never To Clever, 1 In Cahoots
Race 6: 4 Pacific Express, 6 Nuclear Force, 7 Son Of Raj, 2 Monsieur Chevelle
Race 7: 1 Celestial City, 4 King Of Rome, 3 Silvano's Song, 2 Little Prince
Race 8: 4 Insatiable, 1 South Boy, 2 Stormy Seas, 11 Pendragon
Race 9: 2 Civil Princess, 9 Laetitia's Angel, 5 Covert Operator, 10 Beaded Gown
BEST BET
Race 9 No 2 Civil Princess
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 4 Pacific Express
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 1x4
BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 2, 4
Leg 2: 1, 6, 9
Leg 3: 2, 3, 8
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 9
Leg 5: 2, 4, 6, 7
Leg 6: 1
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R162
Leg 1: 1, 6, 9
Leg 2: 2, 3, 8
Leg 3: 3, 4, 9
Leg 4: 4, 6, 7
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 1, 4
Leg 7: 2
PICK 6
R1344
Leg 1: 2, 3, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11
Leg 4: 1, 4
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4
Leg 6: 2
JACKPOT 1
R336
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11
Leg 3: 1, 4
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4
JACKPOT 2
R48
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11
Leg 2: 1, 4
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4
Leg 4: 2