Follow the young improvers

Jack Milner

The rate of improvement in horses who turned three on 1 August can be immense from one race to the next and we could see two of those youngsters flexing their muscles at the Vaal on Thursday when they race on the Classic track.

I have to admit The Great Gatsby has always been one of my favourite novels so when I saw a filly named Daisy Buchanan I was immediately won over.

Daisy is the main female character in the book and was portrayed by Mia Farrow in the 1974 movie opposite Robert Redford and Carey Mulligan opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2013 remake.

In the novel, Daisy loves fast living and fast cars, and her equine namesake seems to have an equal attraction to speed. Trained by Ashley Fortune, Daisy Buchanan led from start to finish on her racecourse debut in June to beat Rose Velvet by 2.25 lengths over 1000m on the Turffontein Inside track.

That is not an easy course for horses to negotiate on debut and that speaks volume for her ability. There were two races over the distance that day and Daisy Buchanan completed the 1000m unchallenged in 1.43 seconds faster than the earlier maiden which ended in a close finish.  

The daughter of Canford Cliffs sticks to the same distance this time but will be racing up the straight in Race 6, a Classified Stakes for fillies and mares.

Jarryd Penny rode her on that occasion and it is good to see Fortune has kept him on the filly.

A race later Lucky Houdalakis sends out Jinqin, the other improving three-year-old filly. She runs in a Novice Handicap over 1200m and Houdalakis must really have a high opinion of her as he has put her in against a gaggle of geldings.

The daughter of Master Of My Fate made her debut last month over 1000m on the Classic track and after a slow start, ended up a five-length fourth behind Tayooba. There was no money for her on that occasion and she was allowed to go off at 14-1.

She made her second appearance two weeks later in a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1200m at the Vaal and she went off at 11-2. This time she got out of the stalls in a flash, was always up with the pace and raced away to beat Queen Of Smoke by 2.25 lengths.

Craig Zackey rode her but he will be out of action until 20 August and Houdalakis has engaged apprentice Joshwin Solomons for the ride.

This seven-horse field has an interesting mix of sexes as the opposition comprises four geldings, one filly and a five-year-old mare, none of whom really stand out. While on the surface it might looks strange to see a recently turned three-year-old taking on this sort of field, Jinqin does receive a 7kg weight-for-age allowance which does give her an advantage, so she comes into this race with just 53kg on her back.

Top weight Fast Love has the highest merit rating and has been running against far stronger, but those races have been over further.

He has had two runs over 1200m and finished unplaced in both. However, he takes a drop in class and must be respected with Gavin Lerena up.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 2 Misty Cliffs, 3 Outlaw, 1 Silk Garden, 4 Up The Irish

Race 2: 1 Peteca, 3 Big Five, 5 Ships At Sea, 2 Gimme Royalty

Race 3: 4 Texas Red, 5 Williamthefighter, 8 Hertzoggie, 3 Pendragon

Race 4: 5 Damova, 2 Liverpool Legend, 1 Smiley River, 7 Winning Queen

Race 5: 2 Wikkel Spikkel, 8 Fantasy Flower, 7 Angel's Wish, 1 Lollapalooza

Race 6: 4 Daisy Buchanan, 2 Stormy Seas, 6 Stormy Lass, 3 Phinda Mzala

Race 7: 3 Jinqin, 1 Fast Love, 4 Moonstrike, 5 Lulu's Boy

Race 8: 6 In Cahoots, 7 Coming In Hot, 10 Silly Fella, 9 Johnny Dogs

BEST BET

Race 7 No 3 Jinqin

VALUE BET

Race 8 No 6 In Cahoots

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1x3

BIPOT

R192

Leg 1: 2, 3

Leg 2: 1, 3

Leg 3: 4, 5, 8

Leg 4: 5

Leg 5: 1, 2, 7, 8

Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 6

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 3

Leg 2: 4, 5, 8

Leg 3: 5

Leg 4: 1, 2, 7, 8

Leg 5: 2, 4, 6

Leg 6: 3

Leg 7: 6, 7, 10

PICK 6

R1200

Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 8

Leg 2: 2, 5

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leg 5: 3

Leg 6: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

JACKPOT 1

R60

Leg 1: 2, 5

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leg 4: 3

JACKPOT 2

R150

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10