Jack Milner
Midweek meetings usually produce run-of-the-mill racing but occasionally a meeting throws up a race which could easily pass itself off as a feature.
That is the case with the Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein on Thursday which has attracted some top-flight runners.
Racing is on the Inside track and Race 7, over 1450m, contains two Grade 1 winners in Mrs Geriatrix and Anfields Rocket, and a number of others who have either won or performed well in other Graded events.
There are also some up-and-coming runners and top of that list is On The Horizon. Trainer Lucky Houdalakis has been quite patient with this daughter of Judpot, who only started racing as a four-year-old. She is a half-sister to Spicethemainbrace, an Alan Greeff-trained two-year-old who is unbeaten in five starts.
On The Horizon clearly has had her issues but she is very talented and has four wins and two second places from her six starts. This is probably the first time Houdalakis has chucked his charge into the deep end and she looks quite able to hold her own against this field.
She runs off a merit rating of 96 but could be a lot better than that. She carries just 52.5kg, is perfectly drawn in gate No 2, has Philasande Mxoli in the irons and has won her only race at this course which was over 1500m.
She has a lot going for her and should prove her class in a field of this nature.
With fillies and mares claiming a sex allowance, it comes as no surprise that Sean Tarry-trained Mrs Geriatrix comes out as the best weighted runner. This daughter of Vercingetorix reeled off six wins in her first six races which left her unbeaten as a two-year-old.
Her three-year-old career has not been that successful as she has not been able to pay another visit to the No 1 box. However, looking at them more closely shows that some of them were decent performances.
Sadly, this filly was not blessed with the best of draws when travelling to the Western Cape, landing No 12 of 13 in the Cape Fillies Guineas at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and No 11 of 13 in the Grade 3 Prix Du Cap at the same course.
She flew up late in the Guineas to finish a 3.40-length fourth behind Beach Bomb and then produced the fastest time for the final 400m in the Prix Du Cap to end up a 3.80-length fourth behind Double Grand Slam.
One also cannot fault her third place in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein as she was beaten by two top fillies in Gimme A Nother and Silver Sanctuary.
Mrs Geriatrix has won her only start at this course, which happened to be over this distance, and this drop in class could makes her a lively contender.
Jockey Richard Fourie has stuck with her and that also augurs well for her chances.
Forever Mine has an excellent record on the Turffontein Inside track with three wins, two seconds and a third from eight starts.
Mike de Kock’s charge lost his form for a while but found it again in his last two runs as his 2.75-length third behind Bingwa last time indicates.
The six-year-old gelding is another with a lively chance in this field.
The likes of Good Queen Bess and Unzen are others with chances as is Anfields Rocket if he is anywhere close to his best.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 7 Shinto Shrine, 4 Peace Treaty, 6 Serrano, 8 Tokyo Medaglia
Race 2: 11 Silver Parasol, 6 Ginger Delight, 4 Executrix, 3 Exceedingly Glam
Race 3: 9 Olivia's Way, 1 The Crown, 7 Key Worker, 8 Messalina
Race 4: 8 Hat's Queen, 1 Festival Of Magic, 2 Master Tik Tok, 3 Roll Of The Dice
Race 5: 2 Volare E Mambo, 6 Zenobia's Gold, 9 Secret Recipe, 5 Mighty Goddess
Race 6: 7 Andi's Girl, 8 Miss Hannigan, 1 Key Element, 5 Cape Lights
Race 7: 10 On The Horizon, 5 Mrs Geriatrix, 4 Forever Mine, 3 Unzen
Race 8: 1 Midnight Gem, 2 Chasing Happiness, 9 Bold Act, 6 Women Of Fame
Race 9: 1 Ride On, 3 Where's The Party, 6 Grape Shot, 5 Just Be Nice
BEST BET
Race 1: 7 Shinto Shrine
VALUE BET
Race 6: 7 Andi's Girl
BEST SWINGER
Race 4 1x8
BIPOT
R324
Leg 1: 4, 6, 11
Leg 2: 1, 7, 9
Leg 3: 1, 8
Leg 4: 2, 6, 9
Leg 5: 7, 8
Leg 6: 4, 5, 10
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R144
Leg 1: 1, 9
Leg 2: 8
Leg 3: 2, 6
Leg 4: 7, 8
Leg 5: 4, 5, 10
Leg 6: 1, 2
Leg 7: 1, 3, 6
PICK 6
R1800
Leg 1: 1, 8
Leg 2: 2, 6, 9
Leg 3: 1, 5, 7, 8
Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 9, 10
Leg 5: 1, 2, 9
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 6, 11
JACKPOT 1
R180
Leg 1: 2, 6, 9
Leg 2: 1, 5, 7, 8
Leg 3: 3, 4, 5, 9, 10
Leg 4: 1, 2, 9
JACKPOT 2
R300
Leg 1: 1, 5, 7, 8
Leg 2: 3, 4, 5, 9, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 6, 11