Jack Milner: Two horses who made names for themselves last season will return to the racecourse at Turffontein on Saturday.
Under Your Spell and MK’s Pride will make their seasonal debuts in respective Pinnacles Stakes race over 1450m in the Inside track.
MK’s Pride will be having his first race since finishing a 0.35-length third behind Pearl Of Asia in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint at Greyville in July.
Paul Peter’s charge makes his appearance in Race 6, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1450m on the Inside track.
He is one of the stable’s leading lights and while he has yet to win a Grade 1 race, he is rarely far behind.
“He’s been beaten under a length in two Group 1 races and travelled to Durban four times during the season,” said Peter. “I’ve given him a break, but he is back in work and has done quite a bit of sand work.”
While his last few races have been over 1200m, there is no doubt that this is his best distance.
He has won his only race over this course and distance and in his other three races over 1400m on the Standside track, he has notched up two wins – over War Of Athena and Got The Greenlight – and finished a 0.50-length second behind stable companion Catch Twentytwo in the Tony Ruffel Stakes.
He raced in blinkers in his last two starts over 1200m but they have been removed for this event.
He is marginally the best handicapped runner but his form is so much better than his rivals, this son of Willow Magic looks the best bet on the card.
Warren Kennedy has ridden him nine times for four wins and four places, and he will be back on board for this race.
MK’s Pride will in all likelihood, be aimed at the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge over this course and distance on Saturday 2 October.
Sean Tarry-trained Under Your Spell has not been seen since winning the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Scottsville on 6 June. The three-year-old filly is carded to run in Race 7, a Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares.
The daughter of Capetown Noir, winner of four of her five starts, will be trying the distance for the first time and will be having her first race around the turn.
While Tarry is not a trainer who brings unfit horses to the racetrack, she still could be in need of a pipe opener.
While at her best, she should be too good for this field but she has just turned three and will be taking on some highly experienced older runners.
With that in mind, it could be wise to add some other runners in the Pick 6 and Jackpot. Ululate has a record of two wins from three starts over the course and distance, and as she will receive 3.5kg from Under Your Spell, St John Gray’s runner is worth including, as is Now You See Me from the Lucky Houdalakis yard.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 8 Verolina, 6 Back To Formentera, 4 Stolen Kiss, 7 Meadow Beauty
Race 2: 1 Successful Ruler, 5 Eights Enough, 2 Wildeye, 4 Orgetorix
Race 3: 3 Wave Warrior, 2 Motown Magic, 5 Equillo, 8 Rosso Corsa
Race 4: 8 Mike’s Chick, 6 Kizzmekia, 7 Lady Fair, 9 The Entertainer
Race 5: 2 Theory Of Flight, 1 Sea Ways, 3 Ballon D’Or, 4 Suited Connector
Race 6: 2 MK’s Pride, 4 Bingwa, 1 Expressfromtheus, 5 Approach Control
Race 7: 4 Under Your Spell, 5 Ululate, 8 Now You See Me, 7 Anne Boleyn
Race 8: 2 Sweet And Spicy, 1 Querari Ferrari, 7 Hotchiwitchi, 4 Kay Tee Perry
Race 9: 2 Strada Statale, 3 Marigold Hotel, 1 Little Rain, 5 Fire Flower
BEST BET
Race 6 No 2 MK’s Pride
VALUE BET
Race 9 No 2 Strada And Spicy
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 3×5
BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 1, 5
Leg 2: 2, 3
Leg 3: 6, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 5: 2
Leg 6: 4, 5, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R162
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 6, 7, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3
Leg 4: 2
Leg 5: 4, 5
Leg 6: 1, 2, 7
Leg 7: 1, 2, 3
PICK 6
R1800
Leg 1: 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 3: 2
Leg 4: 4, 5, 8
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10
JACKPOT 1
R75
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 4, 5, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8
JACKPOT 2
R90
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 4, 5, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10