Jack Milner: Muzi and Muleta could supply bettors with a banker at the Vaal on Tuesday.
Muleta, trained by Robbie Sage, lines up in Race 5, a MR 86 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, and Muzi Yeni takes the ride for the fourth time.
His record on the daughter of Crusade has been impressive. He was narrowly beaten by Mamaquera on debut but has since won three times on her.
Her only unplaced run came in August when she finished a three-length fifth behind Phillydelphia, but Yeni did not ride her on that occasion.
Two runs back she led from start to finish to beat Greens over 1000m on the Turffontein Inside track and her last run was particularly impressive as was never under pressure to defeat May Queen by 2.50 lengths over this course and distance.
That win was in yielding going so if there is any rain about, it would probably enhance her chances.
Impressive Duchess and Varina look the two runners to include in Exactas and Swingers.
Mike de Kock saddles beautifully bred filly Sparkling Water in Race 6, a MR 80 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m.
She is a half-sister to Gin Fizz, but as she is by Silvano, she is unlikely to have any difficulty travelling 1800m. She won over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track on debut and there was no shortage of betting support for this three-year-old.
Going off at 14-10, Sparkling Water was always up with the pace and won easily, beating Belle Of Belize by 1.50 lengths.
The only hitch could be her temperament. She proved stubborn to load and then, according to the Stipes report, she “over-raced in the early stages and thereafter hung in from the 300m”.
There are two ways to look at that. The first is a worry that she could have similar temperament issues to Gin Fizz, and the second is that it was her first run, it was all new to her, and she will get over it all with further experience.
What is indisputable is that despite having so many things go wrong, she still won easily and that’s a sign this filly is an exciting talent.
This is race is no “gimme” and Sparkling Water is drawn No 11, so she will face a test against some less talented but highly experienced fillies and mares. However, De Kock has never been shy about throwing his horses in at deep end to see whether they will sink or swim.
Craig Zackey gets the ride on this occasion.
The main threat is likely to come from four-old Franklin from the Erico Verdonese yard. She has been the bridesmaid on the last two occasions and the connections will be hoping the daughter of Ashaawes can go one better this time.
The other danger has to be Bebop from the Sean Tarry yard, but she is hard to assess. The daughter of What A Winter started a weak favourite on debut over 1200m but after a slow start was well beaten. She showed some improvement in her second start over 1400m but still finished out of the money.
Put over 1600m in her next start but going off at 10-1, she beat Sugar Coated Smile by 1.75 lengths. She looks as if she will also enjoy the extra 200m