Jack Milner
The weather, sadly, did not play well for bettors at the Vaal on Saturday and the persistent rain and lightning which arrived after the running of Race 6, forced the decision to postpone the running of the two feature races.
As a result the R500,000 World Sports Betting Grand Heritage and the WSB Grand Heritage Consolation, both Non-Black Type events over 1475m, have been inserted into Tuesday’s Vaal card.
As a result, the WSB Grand Heritage will be run as Race 4 and the Consolation as Race 5, turning the meeting into a 10-race event.
However, the change has created an interesting issue as this will be first time both the main track and the Classic track will be used at the same meeting.
That means Races 1 to 3 and 6 to 10 will be run on the Classic track, while Race 4, the WSB Grand Heritage, and Race 5, the WSB Heritage Consolation, will be run on the Vaal main track up the straight.
The two features will now form the first two legs of the Pick 6.
Please note that the meeting will kick off at 11.15.
The field of 24 runners was reduced to 19 prior to its original Saturday start as all of Silent War, After The Rain, Zuzan, Tamil Tigress and Jordan were withdrawn although the latter will be taking his place in the Heritage Consolation as was originally carded.
One is not quite sure how wet the track will be but there is no reason for me to change my original selection and will stay with the original selection of The Africa House.
An interesting pointer to this race may have come from middle stakes over this course and distance on 5 December which was won by Radicchio who was having his first run for trainer Barend Botes.
He beat The Africa House by a neck with Pomodoro’s Jet another 0.80 lengths back in third.
The Africa House comes into this race 3kg better off with the winner but 0.5kg worse off with Pomodoro’s Jet. However, the four-year-old What A Winter gelding comes into this race in top form and Sean Tarry appears to have him spot on for this event.
Calvin Habib, recently captured the Betway Summer Cup with Atticus Finch and he can add another feature race to his CV with The Africa House.
Despite the penalty for his last win, it would be silly to write off the chances of Radicchio as this was his first run on the Highveld and he should improve even further so he needs to be included in all bets.
Gelding and blinkers have done the trick for Captainofthegreen who is trained by Fabian Habib and is carded to have the services of champion jockey Richard Fourie.
He has won his last three races although in some quarters there is a belief he could prefer further.
The father and son team of Brett and James Crawford have had remarkable success of late and they will be hoping Pomodoro’s Jet can notch up his first victory on the Highveld. His four runs have produced two fifth places followed by a second and a third.
The six-year-old Pomodoro gelding has not finished further back than 3.20 lengths in those races and is definitely one for Quartets. Craig Zackey takes the ride.
Another runner with a massive chance is Guy Gibson who has been racing in far stronger company. His last start was very decent as he finished a 1.50-length second behind highly rated Heather’s Boy over 1600m.
Trainer Roy Magner put the blinkers back on and that seemed to have helped him. They will stay on for this race. Diego de Gouveia is back on board.
Piere Strydom could be the rider to follow on the balance of the card as he has picked up some decent rides.
His first could come up in Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1600m for fillies and mares, where he rides Great Notion for Mike de Kock.
From stall No 1, Strydom could have her up with pace from the off and as is a renowned judge of pace, Great Notion will benefit from his power of judgement, and she needn't improve much to open her account.
Strydom rides Strewn Sky for Johan Janse van Vuuren and they could score in Race 3, a Novice Handicap over 1600m.
The four-year-old gelding bounced back to form with a good second at a higher level over 1600m on Turffontein's Standside track earlier this month when refitted with blinkers, and a repeat of that performance off an unchanged mark with the headgear retained should be good enough for this son of Potala Palace to go one better.
Grant Maroun's Bezrin mare Rattle Bag scored in her only association with Strydom so it could pay to side with horse and rider when reunited in Race 10 over 1450m.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 9 Parabellum, 4 Chabal, 7 Fizzly Bubbly, 5 Gift Of Royal
Race 2: 5 Great Notion, 6 Instant Attraction, 1 City Lights, 8 Hearts On Fire
Race 3: 3 Salute The Flag, 1 Strewn Sky, 2 Kudzu, 7 Greenhouse
Race 4: 19 The Africa House, 12 Captainofthegreen, 3 Guy Gibson, 13 Pomodoro's Jet
Race 5: 5 Confederate, 7 Count Invicto, 4 Warhawk Bomber, 9 MK's Dreams
Race 6: 1 Ideal Future, 7 Damova, 6 Another Universe, 4 Only A Poet
Race 7: 7 Pacific, 3 Commander Of All, 1 Sakhala Is'Cathulo, 5 Samoa
Race 8: 1 Faithful Neo, 4 My One And Only, 8 Neerah, 5 Take Your Place
Race 9: 8 Virgin River, 3 Foreverinmydreams, 7 Kia Kaha, 5 Just The Two Of Us
Race 10: 1 Rattle Bag, 5 New Mexico, 2 Super Awesome, 6 Calida
BEST BET
Race 2: 5 Great Notion
VALUE BET
Race 7: 7 Pacific
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 5x7
BIPOT
R360
Leg 1: 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3
Leg 3: 3, 12, 13, 14, 19
Leg 4: 5, 7
Leg 5: 1, 6, 7
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R288
Leg 1: 1, 3
Leg 2: 3, 12, 13, 19
Leg 3: 5
Leg 4: 1, 7
Leg 5: 1, 3, 7
Leg 6: 1, 4
Leg 7: 3, 7, 8
PICK 6
R2688
Leg 1: 2, 3, 8, 12, 13, 14, 19
Leg 2: 5, 7
Leg 3: 1, 4, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 7
Leg 5: 1, 4, 8
Leg 6: 3, 5, 6, 8
JACKPOT 1
R96
Leg 1: 5, 7
Leg 2: 1, 4, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 7
Leg 4: 1, 4, 8
JACKPOT 2
R192
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5, 7
Leg 2: 1, 4, 8
Leg 3: 3, 5, 6, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5