Jack Milner: Bettors are faced with a thorny card at the Vaal on Thursday as many of the races look highly competitive.
However, there are two very interesting runners on this card – Reunion in Race 6 and Mount Pleasant in Race 2.
Reunion could not have been more impressive in his debut win, scoring a runaway 10.25-length victory over Silver Tycoon in a 1600m Maiden Plate on the Turffontein Inside track. Three winners came out of that race and that made the form line look exceptionally strong.
Paul Peter’s charge went off at 7-20 to win his net race but after going clear in the straight, faded late to finish fourth, 3.50 lengths behind Have A Go Jo.
He was subsequently gelded and trainer Paul Peter said yesterday he was very happy with the work his charge has been putting up.
“He’s a difficult horse. He has got a little better since he was gelded but he can still get a naughty. But his work has been good, and I feel he is the horse they all have to beat.”
Reunion runs in a Middle Stakes over 1800m but, even though he’s a three-year-old and has only run twice, he carries top weight of 60kg.
“It’s not the ideal race for him but there are no Novice or Graduation Plates for him, so we have to take our chances, even though he will have to give 6.5kg to Kay Tee Perry,” said Peter.
Peter does have a few concerns. “He’s got all the ability, but he has his issues. This will be the first time he has to travel to the course, but sometimes the trip in the float settles them and I’m hoping that will be the case.
“My other concern I that he’s drawn slightly wide and he likes to lead, so if Warren (Kennedy) has to push him early on there is a fear he will pull.
“But Warren knows him, and we’ll just have to let him judge how to ride him.”
Mount Pleasant runs in a Progress Pate over 1000m and comes off a six-length defeat to Vars Vicky in the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes last time. Mike de Kock tried him in blinkers and he showed a lot of pace but according to the stipes report he did roll in and get a bump 100m from home and that resulted in him dropping away late in the race.
This time the blinkers are off so hopefully he will settle better and get back on a winning track.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 10 Country Mile, 2 Sonny Quinn, 8 Night King, 1 Just As Rich
Race 2: 1 Mount Pleasant, 7 Slalom Queen, 6 Vaseem, 3 Visiway
Race 3: 12 I Dream Of Genie, 2 Zodiac Princess, 1 Verinova, 14 Olympic Silk
Race 4: 12 Just Judy, 1 Lucy Belle, 15 Spanish Song, 14 Shikuru
Race 5: 8 Purple Dominance, 9 Dark Vision, 12 Queen Noor, 3 Prince Alf
Race 6: 1 Reunion, 6 Kay Tee Perry, 7 Romeo’s Magic, 2 Lord Silverio
Race 7: 1 Godswood, 2 Ice Eater, 4 Gemcutter, 3 Valetorio
Race 8: 7 Midnight Gem, 8 Fantasy Flower, 1 Ramchandani Road, 11 Hear The Trumpet
Race 9: 11 Speechmaker, 9 Lucy In The Sky, 8 Dalgety Bay, 6 Ramsay
BEST BET
Race 6 No 1 Reunion
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 8 Purple Dominance
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 1×7
BIPOT
R162
Leg 1: 1, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 12
Leg 3: 1, 12, 15
Leg 4: 8, 9, 12
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 1, 2, 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 2, 12
Leg 2: 1, 12, 15
Leg 3: 8, 9, 12
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 1, 2
Leg 6: 1, 7, 8
Leg 7: 8, 9, 11
PICK 6
R1536
Leg 1: 1, 12, 14, 15
Leg 2: 3, 8, 9, 12
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
Leg 5: 1, 7, 8, 11
Leg 6: 6, 8, 9, 11
JACKPOT 1
R96
Leg 1: 3, 8, 9, 12
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 7, 8, 11
JACKPOT 2
R96
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 7, 8, 11
Leg 4: 6, 8, 9, 11