Jack Milner
Platinum Sky has always looked to have potential, winning two of his first six starts, and also placing third in the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes behind eventual Grade 1 SA Derby winner Aragosta.
But in his last two runs, in the Grade 1 World Sports Betting SA Classic over 1800m and the SA Derby over 2450m, he did not perform well. The decision was then taken to geld this son of Silvano and Sean Tarry’s charge will have his first race since having the surgery when he lines up in Race 5 at the Vaal on Tuesday in a Graduation Plate over 1700m.
Racing off a merit rating of 101, it comes as no surprise that Platinum Sky is the best weighted runner in this field and is at least 3.5kg better handicapped than any of his opposition.
As a result, if the operation has produced the desired result, this three-year-old will take a power of beating in this line-up.
Gavin Lerena has won on him and also rode him into third place in the Sea Cottage Stakes and he has been engaged for this ride.
On paper, Another Level should have no chance against Platinum Sky as he is 6kg under sufferance based on merit ratings. However, this Candice Dawson-trained three-year-old has only raced five times for a win and four places. Interestingly, he was gelded prior to his last run and performed well when second behind Team Gold in his comeback race over 1500m.
The winner could be deemed a very unlucky loser of his next start as he suffered massive interference as he began what looked like a winning run, so the form appears quite telling.
The son of Twice Over has not raced against the likes of Platinum Sky but there is no doubt he has plenty of room for improvement.
Warren Kennedy takes the ride.
Flashy Apache probably found his last start a touch short and did well to finish fourth, just 2.50 lengths behind Castletown. That was the race in which Team Gold competed so that means there is little to choose between Tyrone Zackey’s runner and Another Level.
He will also appreciate the longer run-in at the Vaal where he has won both of his races. Denis Schwarz takes the ride yet again.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 In The Ether, 2 Raising A Storm, 9 Nellie Bly, 7 Silk Garden
Race 2: 5 Flowerbomb, 14 Orarari Gold, 4 Dame Twining, 6 Gimme The Flame
Race 3: 8 Uncle Ticky Bird, 9 Querulous, 7 Thermopylae, 4 Raffles
Race 4: 14 Thymetoshine, 2 Full Go, 11 Camlicourt, 15 Timeinthewoods
Race 5: 1 Platinum Sky, 5 Another Level, 3 Flashy Apache, 7 Calibre Crest
Race 6: 2 Naarah, 4 Seemyvision, 3 Casa Inverno, 1 Before The Dawn
Race 7: 8 Love Bite, 3 Imposing Angel, 4 Samoa, 7 Verinova
Race 8: 7 Miss Magician, 1 Jet Cat, 6 Blue Eyes, 3 Midnight Badger
Race 9: 9 Trust The Fire, 1 Who's That Star, 6 Taikonaut, 2 Global Ransom
BEST BET
Race 5 No 1 Platinum Sky
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 8 Love Bite
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 1x5
BIPOT
R324
Leg 1: 4, 5, 14
Leg 2: 7, 8, 9
Leg 3: 2, 11, 14
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4
Leg 6: 3, 4, 7, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 8, 9
Leg 2: 2, 11, 14
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 2, 4
Leg 5: 3, 4, 8
Leg 6: 1, 6, 7
Leg 7: 1, 6, 9
PICK 6
R1440
Leg 1: 2, 11, 14, 15
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11
Leg 5: 1, 3, 6, 7
Leg 6: 1, 6, 9
JACKPOT 1
R120
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6, 7
JACKPOT 2
R360
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11
Leg 3: 1, 3, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 6, 9