Jack Milner: There appear to be some good bets at the Vaal on Thursday and that could give punters the opportunity to cash in on the exotics.
There are quite a few prospective bankers but the runner who really stands out is Castle Durrow in Race 7. This Lucky Houdalakis-trained filly has been competing in feature races and just comes off a fourth place in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas over 1600m.
She was well beaten, but she did come up against two of not only the best three-year-old fillies, but the best of their sex in the country in War Of Athena and Anything Goes.
She meets nothing of that quality in this Graduation Plate for fillies and mares over 1600m on the straight course.
This is a mighty drop in class and she also comes into this race as the best handicapped runner by at least 3kg. She has run twice over the course and distance for two seconds and should go one better this time around.
Craig Zackey takes the ride.
Bettors can also get off to a winning start in Race 1 where Roy Magner sends out Retallick in a Maiden Juvenile Plate. He is another who looks hard to beat in his field and can be made a banker in the opening leg of the BiPot.
Trainers Paul Peter and Sean Tarry could have Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1200m, to themselves with Grappler and Eyes On Tiger respectively. The boxed Exacta is a must.
In Race 5, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m, Tarry could also strike with Hotchiwitchi.
She was ignored in the betting on debut but stayed on well to get close. She should have gained experience and there must be further improvement to come. She rates a big runner.
But for the Pick 6, it is worth including Greenhill, Pick A Lily and Princess Sabrina.
Candice Dawson-trained Cape Diamond ran a decent fifth on Tuesday so it is uncertain whether Dawson will run her again. If she does, then Cape Diamond is also worth including.
The one real stinker comes up in Race 8, a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m. This is wide open, and it could be worth even considering the field in your Pick 6 and Jackpot Two.
Peter saddles an interesting runner in Fromheretoeternity. He considered her good enough as a juvenile to race in features during the KwaZulu-Natal winter season.
She was given a rest, ran fourth in her comeback run and then failed in her second race after a layoff.
Peter is concerned, though, his charge might be in need of the run. “When we had all the rain in Joburg we battled to work all the horse and she might still need another race, and a little further,” he said on Wednesday.
He did, however, add that he had high hopes for both Riverstown in Race 2 and Sabrina Fairchild in Race 4.