High hopes for Rain In Holland

Jack Milner

Rain In Holland was one of the star performers of last season with wins in all three legs of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara followed with a victory in the Grade 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2000m at Turffontein.

She suffered a setback just before the start of the KwaZulu-Natal season and had to pull out of two Grade 1 races for which she had been earmarked.

The daughter of Duke Of Marmalade made her return to racing at the end of October and with a nomination for the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup, a decent run was expected.

However, that did not happen and Rain In Holland ended up at the back of a six-horse field. One did feel 1400m that day was a touch short but even then, it was not the performance her supporters were hoping for.

On the positive side, she was beaten just six lengths and can only improve on that effort.

Sean Tarry is a multiple champion trainer, and he will no doubt get her back to her best.

She gets the chance to show that improvement when she lines up in Race 3 on the Vaal Classic course on Tuesday in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m. While she will be taking on five males in this six-horse field, Rain In Holland is nevertheless the best weighted runner.

She will be aided even further with engagement of apprentice Siyanda Sosibo who will take a further 4kg off her back. Sosibo has been a busy man in the past few weeks as he is riding particularly well and is certainly worth every kilogram of his allowance.

He once again demonstrated his ability at the Vaal on Saturday when winning Race 5 aboard Big Burn, keeping her going just long enough to hold off Alesian Chief by a quickly diminishing head.

This 1600m is probably a touch too short once again but Rain In Holland did win the Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas over this distance and should be the runner they will all have to beat.

The softer course could also work in her favour.

Interestingly, she has been declared to run in the Grade 3 Victress Stakes over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. 

The main threat is likely to come from Vanderbilt who is a half-brother to star mare Summer Pudding. He reeled off five wins in a row and third and a second place with his new trainer. He will also benefit from a 1.5kg apprentice allowance.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Heirloom, 6 Mrs Geriatrix, 4 Exchange Student, 3 Drumskitt

Race 2: 1 Pied Kingfisher, 2 Xplicit Content, 5 Midnight Fusion, 4 Godspeed

Race 3: 1 Rain In Holland, 6 Vanderbilt, 2 Sovereign Spirit, 4 Zeus

Race 4: 8 Sea Anemone, 1 Solo Diva, 6 Chateau Futura, 2 Rosslyne

Race 5: 8 American Star, 3 Broadway, 1 Positive Attitude, 9 Midnight Crystal

Race 6: 2 Sparkling Jubilee, 3 Allthewayfromusa, 6 Go Flichity, 4 Ponerosa Pine

Race 7: 1 Jimmy Don, 4 Libeccio, 6 Futurewolff, 8 Bye Bye Birdie

Race 8: 4 Samuel Salt, 6 Goliath Heron, 10 Boisterous, 9 Ridgerunner

BEST BET

Race 3 No 1 Rain In Holland

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 8 American Star

BEST SWINGER

Race 6 1x2

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 4, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 6, 8

Leg 5: 1, 3, 8, 9

Leg 6: 2, 3

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 6, 8

Leg 4: 3, 8, 9

Leg 5: 2

Leg 6: 1, 4

Leg 7: 4, 6, 9, 10

PICK 6

R1680

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 2, 6, 8

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

Leg 4: 2, 3, 6

Leg 5: 1, 4, 6, 8

Leg 6: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10

JACKPOT 1

R240

Leg 1: 1, 2, 6, 8

Leg 2: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9

Leg 3: 2, 3, 6

Leg 4: 1, 4, 6, 8

JACKPOT 2

R420

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

Leg 2: 2, 3, 6

Leg 3: 1, 4, 6, 8

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10