Jack Milner: Trainer Alec Laird will be looking for a feature double at Scottsville on Saturday.
On show are the Grade 2 Track And Ball Oaks, and the Grade 3 Track And Ball Derby, both over 2400m.
Laird saddles Chitengo in the Oaks and Pamushana’s Pride in the Derby and it is the former who looks the better of the pair.
The five-year-old mare has outstanding form over the distance, having won four of her five starts over the 2400m with a fourth in her only other outing.
She has also been taking in the colts and got the better of the with a victory in the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over this trip at Turffontein.
She comes into the Oaks as the best handicapped runner by at least 4.5kg and as long as she takes to the Scottsville track Chitengo will prove very hard to beat.
The second-best handicapped runner is three-year-old Jasmine, who has not raced beyond 1500m.
Gavin Lerena rode Chitengo to victory in the Aquanaut Handicap and he is back on board this time.
Pamushana’s Pride is very much in the same boat as Chitengo in that he is also the best handicapped runner, in his case by at least 4kg. Much of his merit rating, however, was made by a 12.5kg penalty he received for finishing a 5.25-length second behind Malmoos in the Grade 1 SA Derby.
A repeat of that effort should see the three-year-old son of Louis The King easily dispose of this field but if that is not the case, there are many with winning chances. Best of the rest should be Silver Host from the Justin Snaith yard.
S’manga Khumalo takes the ride once again on Pamushana’s Pride.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 6 Illicit Kiss, 15 Rock On Captain, 11 Faustino, 4 Ndaka
Race 2: 2 Hasta Manana, 1 Global Secret, 6 Bella Siccome, 9 Arumugam