Jack Milner
The Vaal Racecourse takes centre stage over the next few days with a nine-race meeting on the Classic track on Thursday followed by Saturday’s meeting, which is highlighted by the Non-Black Type World Sports Betting Grand Heritage over 1475m on the straight track.
This R500,000 is a unique event in that it is the only race in the country that comprises more than 20 runners. On this occasion 23 horses are carded to contest the race and it looks to provide punters with its usual thrilling finish.
But first we will have to negotiate tomorrow’s nine-races card which looks certain to test bettors.
The races are all competitive and sizeable payouts look a strong possibility.
However, one runner should provide punters with a banker in all their exotic bets and that comes up in Race 4 where trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren sends out Inspector James in this Maiden Plate over 1000m.
In truth, only two horses have any decent exposed forms and the better of pair is Inspector James, who has finished runner-up in his last two starts.
This four-year-old gelding has raced eight times for three seconds, a third and two fourth places. He is unlikely to get a better opportunity to shed his maiden and will team up once again with Muzi Yeni.
Yeni rode the son of What A Winter last time and that saw him finish a 0.80-length second behind Time Will Tell, and that came after receiving a bump at the start.
That race was in August and he will be coming back from a 133-day break, but Van Vuuren does not tend to bring grossly unfit horses to the race track and this gelding is by far the best weighted runner in the field.
In fact, he is at least 9.5kg better handicapped than any of his previously raced opposition.
Clinton Binda trains five of the nine runners carded, all of them owned by Hollywood Racing, and he could have the main danger with Monkey Wedding. This three-year-old Hawwaam gelding has only raced twice finish g downfield on debut and then, despite going off at 90-1, finished a 5.75-length second behind Tempranillo over 1000m on the Turffontein Inside track.
Kabelo Matsunyane rode him in that race and will be back in the irons once again.
Binda also has two unraced runners in the lineup so watch for any betting support for the pair, Sabrage and Edelsteen. Neither has to be going to Hollywood to win this race.
Callan Murray is in top form and he could pick up another win for the Mike and Mathew de Kock yard when he climbs on board Drumnadrochit in Race 8, a Novice Handicap over 1700m.
Outclassed in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile, she now drops in grade that will give her every chance to rebound. The stable has been in top form lately and this filly has the profile of a decent value bet on this tricky card.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Flying World, 9 Say A Wish, 5 Comic Artist, 3 Nothing Compares
Race 2: 5 Artic Silver, 6 Nkwenkwezi, 2 Woman's World, 4 Boom Boom
Race 3: 1 Master's Lady, 9 Varachino's Champ, 5 Duchess Zahra, 2 Gaslight Dancer
Race 4: 1 Inspector James, 7 Monkey's Wedding, 8 Sabrage, 4 Underdog
Race 5: 1 Euphrates, 4 Emerald City, 8 Asiah's Tiara, 7 Future Success
Race 6: 4 Ethical, 2 Duchess Of Paloma, 3 Sigrid Swing, 5 Scarlett Heart
Race 7: 7 Xenophon, 2 Mister Wilson, 4 Fully Loaded, 8 Super Awesome
Race 8: 6 Drumnadrochit, 5 Luwak, 7 Jabari Thimba, 1 Palace Attack
Race 9: 2 Red Sunrise, 1 Stokesy, 3 Actuary, 8 Hurricane Power
BEST BET
Race 4: 1 Inspector James
VALUE BET
Race 8: 6 Drumnadrochit
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 1x9
BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 2, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1, 9
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 4, 8
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 6: 2, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 9
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 4, 8
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4
Leg 5: 2, 7
Leg 6: 5, 6
Leg 7: 1, 2, 3
PICK 6
R1500
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 4, 7, 8, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 2, 7
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 8, 11
JACKPOT 1
R300
Leg 1: 1, 4, 7, 8, 10
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 3: 2, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
JACKPOT 2
R300
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 2: 2, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 8, 11