Jack Milner
It is quite rare that when you have two like races, one for colts and one for fillies, that the latter gets higher status than that of the colts.
But that is actually the case on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Greyville where the TABgold Oaks is a Grade 2 event while the TABgold Derby is a Grade 3 affair.
Both races are run as weight-for-age plus penalty events but unlike most Derby and Oaks around the world which are only open to three-year-olds, these two races will accept any runner from cradle to grave into the final field.
However, as far as the Oaks is concerned it is a three-year-old who is the runner to beat and that is Candice Dawson-trained My Soul Mate.
There aren’t any stars in the race and with Richard Fourie aboard, this daughter of Master Of My Fate may be hard to catch. She has been racing against some of the best fillies in the land and sadly for her connections, she came up against high-flying Gimme A Nother four times.
Gimme A Nother was unbeaten in seven starts and will be continuing the next part of her racing career in the USA.
But against the rest of her own age group My Soul Mate has performed well, finishing second in two Grade 2 races at Turffontein. The first came in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks when she was runner-up Frances Ethel, beaten 1.75 lengths.
She followed that up with a 0.40-length second place behind Beating Wings in the TAB Igugu Stakes over 2000m.
She then came to KwaZulu-Natal and contested the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 over 2000m at Greyville where she finished fifth, but just 1.80 lengths behind Silver Sanctuary.
In the SA Oaks at Turffontein My Soul Mate finished ahead of Mike de Kock’s charge, but significantly, that was over 2450m.
The Oaks on Saturday is over 2400m and in lesser company, My Soul Mate will take a ton of beating.
The main threat looks to be Saartjie, who finished 2.10 lengths behind My Soul Mate in the Woolavington. However, she is 0.5kg worse off and looks unlikely to reverse the form under the race conditions, and over the longer distance, even though she suffered interference during the running of the Woolavington.
In fact, Future Girl split the pair, finishing 1.60 lengths behind My Soul Mate, but she too is 0.5kg worse off and looks unlikely to reverse the form line.
The Derby appears to be a more open event and there are a number of runners with chances. Andre Nel-trained Cape Eagle won his first attempt at 2400m, flying up late to catch One Way Traffic by 0.10 lengths at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
However, Justin Snaith’s charge is now 1.5kg better off and should easily reverse the form. One Way Traffic did not fare well in his next start but it was his second race after a layoff and is best forgotten.
Craig Zackey takes the ride for the first time.
Cape Eagle may not have the pedigree for it to beat the best but the ultra-consistent runner and should be in the firing line at the end.
At his best Future Pearl would have this field for breakfast but Sean Tarry’s charge lost went off the boil last year after winning the Gold Cup over 3200m at this track.
However, he showed signs of his old self last time when showing good pace over 2000m before fading late. But Fourie has decided to stick with him and that alone tells a story.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Avernian Goddess, 4 Sweet Dreamer, 2 Oh Yoko, 9 Ubukhwebezana
Race 2: 1 Vhagar, 4 French Flame, 7 The Mikado, 6 James Fitzjames
Race 3: 9 Taxhaven, 11 Iron Monger, 6 Fire Force, 2 Chief Of Staff
Race 4: 5 Double Superlative, 3 Triple Time, 1 Lady Heist, 2 Get Impressed
Race 5: 4 Pritti Victory, 2 On Cue, 5 Maquette, 6 Kindred Heart
Race 6: 2 One Way Traffic, 1 Cape Eagle, 3 Future Pearl, 4 Home Of The Brave
Race 7: 1 My Soul Mate, 8 Saartjie, 4 Future Girl, 6 Special Charm
Race 8: 4 Apache Son, 7 Rosh Kedesh, 2 Teatime Tipple, 13 Strathclyde
Race 9: 8 Skytrix, 7 Poursomesugaronme, 9 Blue Horizon, 4 Pilot Flame
BEST BET
Race 1: 3 Avernian Goddess
VALUE BET
Race 9: 8 Skytrix
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 1x8
BIPOT
R135
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
Leg 2: 9
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5
Leg 4: 2, 4, 5
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3
Leg 6: 1
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 9
Leg 2: 3, 5
Leg 3: 2, 4, 5
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 2, 4, 7
Leg 7: 4, 7, 8, 9
PICK 6
R1800
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5
Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 7, 13
Leg 6: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
JACKPOT 1
R100
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 7, 13
JACKPOT 2
R120
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 7, 13
Leg 6: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Last week saw the running of the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge in KwaZulu-Natal while on Sunday the Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes took place at Turffontein – and what a weekend it turned out to be for me.
Dave The King produced the performance of his career to romp to victory in the Gold Challenge, putting to bed some of the best horses in the land, and I was absolutely taken by the performance.
I had to push forward, and the pace of the race was well and truly on. The fact he was able to kick off that pace was mind blowing, and I honestly believe, over 1600m he will be a force to be reckoned with going forward.
I know he is nominated for the Hollywoodbets Durban July but after this win, I think 2200m would be a big stretch. I’ve chatted to Mike de Kock and the owners and we are most than likely going to target the Champions Cup over 1800m.
See It Again ran a lovely race in defeat and that will surely bring him on for the big one.
Both three-year-olds, Main Defender and Sandringham Summit, failed to fire and their fairly long seasons and issues throughout the season may have flattened them.
Thank you and well done to Mr de Kock for the ride and great training feat, and thanks to all the partners in the horse.
Then on Sunday I was able to boot home Meridius for my good friend Mr Vahab and the Tony Peter stable, capping off a really memorable weekend.
He was very gutsy in his win and produced the talent he has shown at home early in his career. It was nice to see him put his previous performance behind him and overall, he gave me a really nice feel.
It was a week that I needed badly and I’m just really pleased it has turned for me. Thanks to my agent who does a phenomenal job and to all those who support me day-in and day-out.
I would like to wish Richard Fourie all the best on one of the most incredible achievements a jockey based in South Africa could achieve when breaking Anthony Delpech’s almost 25-year-old record.
I can’t even think of a time it was ever threatened, but for Richard to have broken it in early June is more sensational than one could have ever imagined.
Congrats on this achievement Richard, and it will be very interesting to see his final tally come 31 July.
Racing today takes place at Hollywoodbets Greyville and the meeting is headlined by the Grade 3 TABgold Derby and Grade 2 TABgold Oaks, while racing tomorrow is at Turffontein.
We will focus our attention on the Turffontein card while briefly touching on the features at Greyville.
I ride Aragosta in the Derby and while his last run was extremely disappointing, he must have an each-way chance on his best form.
I believe, however, we all have last season’s Champion Stayer Future Pearl to beat. Since his brilliant wins over the staying trips last season, he has been contesting high-class races over shorter and he will absolutely love the step back up in trip.
He has all the credentials to be very competitive and sets the standard, in my opinion.
Without Question is a very interesting runner because he was one of my potential lurkers for the Durban July. He is, however, taking a unique approach into the race by running in this, and I think he’ll be very competitive. If he runs well, it should put him spot on for the big one.
I ride Lady Of Power in the Oaks and I am expecting a decent run from her. Her last start was too short for her, and I’m fairly confident she’ll enjoy the step up in trip.
We do all have My Soul Mate to beat on her best form, and while she ran below form in her latest start, she gave me a nice feel and this seems an easier race.
Future Girl and Saartjie are others to consider for wider bets.
Now on to tomorrow’s card and Race 1 is a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m. I ride Guerilla Warfare who returns from a fairly lengthy break, and while he’ll have to be at peak fitness to win, the fact he is going straight into a 1600m suggests he must be close, and I’ll be hoping for a good run.
We all have Jilted to beat after a lovely run last time out when she was unlucky. She sets the standard and I believe whatever beats her will win.
Ingqwele ran a much better race last time out when running behind a potential star and a repeat of that will see him finish in the money.
Party Punch returns to this Maiden Juvenile race after running superbly well in a handicap against older horses. On that performance she’s a massive runner.
Race 2 is a Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1160m and I ride Force Eight who returns to two-year-old company after running in a handicap last time, and the fact she returns racing up the straight is a bonus, so I’ll be hoping for a massive run.
Gimmefabulous falls into the same category of returning to a juvenile event and wasn’t disgraced against some hard-knocking older colts and geldings, so she must be respected.
Pointer won a really good race last time out and on that performance (form franked by Oxalis Gold), she is the runner to beat.
These three fillies should fight out the finish.
Race 3 is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1800m and I ride Tipperary who I make my best ride on the day and my best bet too.
She gives me the impression she’ll love the step up in trip and although a two-year-old going over 1800m, I think this is the perfect opportunity for her to shed her maiden tag. I’ll be disappointed if she doesn’t win.
Whistledown improved nicely last time and rates the biggest danger on form.
Spirit In The Wind should be cherry ripe as this is her third run after a rest so rates a definite runner for larger bets.
Race 4 is a Maiden Plate over 1800m and I ride Master Tik Tok who is consistent and has another decent chance to shed his maiden tag.
American Rebel steps up in trip and after running well in a maiden handicap when giving weight all around, I think he is a definite runner and the horse to beat.
Douglas Dragon was extremely disappointing in his latest but a return to his previous form will see him be right there.
Ermitage steps up in trip but that seems a definite positive to me and he must go into all bets.
Race 5 is a Classified Stakes over 1100m and this is wide open, so go as wide as the budget allows.
I ride Micke’s Bomb who is close to one of the best weighted horses and rates a definite chance (form of the last race has worked out really well).
Simply Magic returns to Joburg after a decent effort at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. A repeat of her previous start will see her go close.
Golden Chandelier ran second to her on that occasion and while she has two lengths to find, she is a two-year-old and can continue to improve, so she rates the main danger.
In The Ether is always thereabouts and needs to be included in all bets, as this might be the perfect distance for her.
What A Lucy, Raining Rubies and Della’s Sword all have winning claims on best form and must be included in all bets.
Race 6 is a MR 82 Handicap over 1800m and I ride Claw who was extremely disappointing in his last start after giving me a really good feel previously.
I am hoping he can come back to that form, and if he does could be very competitive in a race like this.
However, I think we all have Pocket Watch to beat, and I make him the value bet on the card.
He steps up to 1800m and he has always given me the impression he would love this type of a trip. After his really dominant win last time out, I think he has a lovely opportunity to follow up.
Trois Trois Quatre has been consistent although it’s very disappointing he hasn’t won another race, but if he produces his best form he can win a race of this nature.
Weather Wizard was disappointing last time out but this is his third run after a rest and he should be cherry ripe for a good run.
Celtic Rush and Mocha Frappe are others to consider for wider bets.
Race 7 is a Pinnacle Stakes over 1160m and I ride Power Broker who returns from a small break, but his form prior to that was really good and I think he has a definite winning chance.
Mover And Shaker is in really good form and after his last start, he rates as the main danger even though he is going over 1160m.
Captain Hindsight was disappointing last time but his previous form was outstanding and he rates a definite danger.
Silent War and The Africa House are both interesting as they drop in distance and return to sprints up the straight. They both have ability and must be respected.
Taikonaut has always been a really good horse and he seems to be coming back to form after a very good latest effort. On that, he must be included in all bets.
Race 8 is a Middle Stakes over 2400m and I ride Breeze Over who is a massive runner after his latest start where he ran an unbelievable race to finish second in another feature. If he comes with that sort of run he is the horse to beat.
Raiseahallelujah ran a far better race last time, backing up another good run, and on those performances is the main danger.
Twenty Drachma’s ran a really good race last time out, and he can still improve further, considering he is still three years old, so he must go into all bets.
Mambo Come Tesio is currently in brilliant form and after his superb last run, he is one of the main contenders and must go into all bets.
Race 9 is a Classified Stakes over 1400m and I ride Call Me Master who is having his third run after a rest. While he is closing in on eight, he must have an outside chance on best form.
Rossore Finale won a really good race last time out and he finally produced the ability he was showing at home. Off his rating, I think he is the horse we all have to beat because he could still be underrated.
Houston drops in class and has been in fair form, so this is a chance for him to be competitive again.
Viva De Janeiro was disappointing last time but he returns to racing around the turn and on that he must have a chance.
Sharapova steps back up in trip and on best form could win a race of this nature.
Majestic Touch and Zip Code are others to consider for wider bets.
BEST BET
Race 3 No 9 Tipperary
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 2 Pocket Watch
PICK 6
R4368
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Leg 3: 2
Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 7
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 8
Leg 6: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10