Get in step with Hillary at the Vaal

Jack Milner

It is almost 71 years since New Zealand explorer Edmund Hillary and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest.

At the Vaal on Thursday, punters too will have a mountain to climb as they are confronted by a very difficult nine-race card.

Possibly it could be worth following in the footsteps of the great explorer and go with aptly named Hillary Step to provide some value for bettors.

Trained by Dianne Stenger, this three-year-old filly relished the move up to 1400m last time as she easily beat Heart Peaks over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside track.

The Canford Cliffs filly picked up a four-point penalty that day and looks ready to rise to the challenge in Race 8 at the Vaal, a MR 80 Handicap for fillies and mares up the straight.

This is actually quite a strong field and will provide a test for the three-year-old, but she has only raced five times for two wins and she looks to have plenty room for improvement.

It is also worth noting that other than her last race, winners have come out of all her other form lines.

Jockey Chase Maujean was replaced by 4kg claiming apprentice Trent Mayhew (although he was only able to claim 3.5kg last time) when scoring, but Maujean will be back in the irons this time around.

There is no shortage of challengers but perhaps Stuart Pettigrew-trained Sweet Basil could provide the biggest threat. This is also a lightly raced three-year-old who has a win and three places in her four runs.

She made a winning debut, beating Count Your Chances by a head, and has followed that up with a second, a third and a fourth – in that order.

Calvin Habib takes the ride.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Phala Millions, 10 Delphi Dancer, 9 Beach Day, 11 Eve's Apple

Race 2: 9 Wild At War, 4 Gorgeous Klein, 1 Believe In Fate, 6 One More

Race 3: 4 Take Your Place, 5 Tipperary, 7 VJ's Angel, 6 Ultimissimo

Race 4: 10 Ceuta, 1 Silky Jet, 2 City Lights, 6 Hallowed Secret

Race 5: 1 Dual Prophecy, 2 In A Blue Moon, 5 Master Ariano, 3 Livebythesword

Race 6: 6 Viva De Janeiro, 5 Can't Catch Me, 4 Carnelo, 9 Green Sceptre

Race 7: 6 Tyrconnell, 5 King's Express, 7 Whorly Whorly, 4 Greenbackcurrency

Race 8: 9 Hillary Step, 4 Sweet Basil, 1 Mia Fiore, 8 Sharapova

Race 9: 1 Siberian Steel, 4 In The Ether, 2 Stormy Seas, 6 Sakhala Is'Cathulo

BEST BET

Race 7: 6 Tyrconnell

VALUE BET

Race 8:  9 Hillary Step

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 1x10

BIPOT

R256

Leg 1: 1, 4, 6, 9

Leg 2: 4, 5

Leg 3: 1, 10

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 5: 4, 5, 6, 9

Leg 6: 6

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 4, 5

Leg 2: 1, 10

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5

Leg 4: 5, 6

Leg 5: 6

Leg 6: 1, 4, 9

Leg 7: 1, 2, 4

PICK 6

R1750

Leg 1: 1, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 3: 4, 5, 6, 7, 9

Leg 4: 6

Leg 5: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9

JACKPOT 1

R175

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 2: 4, 5, 6, 7, 9

Leg 3: 6

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9

JACKPOT 2

R175

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 2: 4, 5, 6, 7, 9

Leg 3: 6

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9