Khumalo to wear the crown

Jack Milner

Trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren went through an “iffy” time with his yard for a while but the stars appear to have realigned for him and he is starting to fire once again.

He has been using S'manga Khumalo as his frontline jockey recently and the pair could provide punters with two winners on Thursday’s Turffontein card where they will race on the Inside track – Curtiss Condor in Race 4 and Heavyliesthecrown in Race 8.

Both runners have only raced once, with Curtiss Condor finishing third over 1200m at the Vaal and Heavyliesthecrown a runaway winner.

Curtiss Condor lines up in a Maiden Plate over 1450m and the manner in which he finished off his last race indicates the increase in distance will be ideal for this son of Lancaster Bomber.

Last time he was well supported to make a winning debut and went off at 2-1 but everything that could go wrong did, from jumping awkwardly inwards leaving the stalls, making contact with the right-side front gate, and losing one length, to hanging in over the last 200m.

He still produced the fastest final 400m and with more experience, the longer trip and the addition of a tongue tie, he should be hard to beat.

Khumalo steered Heavyliesthecrown to debut success over 1200m on the Inside track and this Rafeef filly will be back over the same track and trip in this Novice Handicap. She was soon in front and went on to beat Tana Maree, a three-length winner of her next start, also by three lengths.

Despite slowish start this filly was soon in front and the results was never in doubt.

Heavyliesthecrown, a loose interpretation from Shakespeare’s Henry IV (heavy is the head that wears the crown), takes on the boys but should still be too good.  

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Matcha Mint, 8 Waiting On Charlie, 2 Back From War, 3 Bright And Brazen

Race 2: 4 Geostorm, 1 Alpha World, 9 Vipingo, 2 Balule

Race 3: 2 Winds Of Grace, 1 On A Jet Plane, 7 Concordia, 3 Milo's Millionaire

Race 4: 2 Curtiss Condor, 4 Miss Takes, 6 Amanatto, 8 Mighty Eagle

Race 5: 2 Soldier's Eye, 3 Too Late My Mate, 1 Miss Hannigan, 6 Elembee

Race 6: 5 Tana Maree, 3 Wagram, 2 The Mightiest, 4 Secret Recipe

Race 7: 2 Carnelo, 6 Gamer, 4 Whispers Of War, 3 Storm Ahead

Race 8: 4 Heavyliesthecrown, 6 Espinoza, 2 Pennsylvania, 5 Theres A Light

Race 9: 6 Nazare, 7 There She Goes, 4 Vitellius, 11 Phala Millions

BEST BET

Race 4: 2 Curtiss Condor

VALUE BET

Race 7: 2 Carnelo

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 5x8

BIPOT                                

R216

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 9

Leg 2: 1, 2, 7

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3

Leg 5: 3, 5

Leg 6: 2, 4, 6

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 2, 7

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3

Leg 4: 3, 5

Leg 5: 2, 4, 6

Leg 6: 4

Leg 7: 4, 6, 7, 11

PICK 6

R450

Leg 1: 2

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

Leg 3: 2, 3, 5

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7

Leg 5: 4

Leg 6: 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

JACKPOT 1

R75

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

Leg 2: 2, 3, 5

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7

Leg 4: 4

JACKPOT 2

R90

Leg 1: 2, 3, 5

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7

Leg 3: 4

Leg 4: 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12