Let’s play a double and blaze away at Vaal

Jack Milner

There looks to be a good double for bettors at the Vaal on Tuesday and both runners stand out as bankers in all the exotics.

Watchman looked hard to beat in his second start of an excellent debut but the word was out Fabian Habib-trained Blaze A Way was producing some excellent work at home and his trainer thought he could take on the Tony Peter-trained odds-on favourite.

Watchman got the job done, although Blaze A Way did push for most of the race, but in the end the winning distance was 3.10 lengths. However, Blaze A Way shifted around under pressure and should have come on markedly for that run. He will appreciate going further in Race 2 a Maiden Plate over 1100m, and this gelded son of Gimmethegreenlight rates the one to beat.

Gavin Lerena rode him on debut and is in the irons once again.

In Race 4, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, lightly raced three-year-old Lets Play Poker tries a little further after having raced over 1000m and 1160m. Following two runner-up spots in her first two races she ran a shocker when well beaten behind So Seductive over 1160m at Turffontein.

However, she pulled up distressed and that run is best forgotten.

She was tried in blinkers for that start which were removed after that.

The Mike and Adam Azzie-trained daughter of Gimmethegreenlight shrugged that run off following a short rest in her next start, producing the fastest finish over 1000m to end up a 1.30-length third behind Tyson The Brave.

The manner of that finish gives one the impression she will love the extra 400m this time, especially up the straight.

Kabelo Matsunyane takes the ride for the first time.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 7 Take Your Place, 8 Vulcanite, 6 Summer Winter, 4 Mother City

Race 2: 4 Blaze A Way, 7 Ombudsman, 1 Antonio Gaudi, 9 Varjury

Race 3: 1 Sutherland, 2 Pressonregardless, 3 Storm Ahead, 10 Confederate

Race 4: 1 Lets Play Poker, 5 Manz Knight, 1 Douglas Dragon, 8 Oranjemund, 2 Master Tik Tok

Race 6: 1 City Lights, 8 Party Punch, 2 Butternutenrooiwyn, 3 Incredible Indrani

Race 7: 1 Rulership, 4 Captain Hindsight, 2 Mover And Shaker, 3 Sheldon

Race 8: 4 Captain Of Grit, 8 Open Highway, 6 Max The Magician

BEST BET

Race 2: 4 Blaze A Way

VALUE BET

Race 5: 5 Manz Knight

BEST SWINGER

Race 7 1x4

BIPOT

R240

Leg 1: 6, 7, 8

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 10

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 8

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R288

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 5, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 8

Leg 6: 1, 4

Leg 7: 4, 5, 6, 8

PICK 6

R2100

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

Leg 5: 1, 4

Leg 6: 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13

JACKPOT 1

R50

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

Leg 4: 1, 4

JACKPOT 2

R350

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

Leg 3: 1, 4

Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13