Lucky to strike at the Vaal

Jack Milner

Lucky Houdalakis can close off what has been a really decent year for him in style at the Vaal on Tuesday.

Stable star Dyce has picked up some good wins and generally most of his runners have performed well this year, including filly Francilien.

The What A Winter filly was runner-up on debut and then went on to win two good races. The three-year-old filly has finished fourth twice since then but in Race 6, a MR 80 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m, she drops back to the course and distance where she had those two wins.

First choice jockey for the stable, Craig Zackey, is aboard. Zackey has been at the top of his game of late and currently heads the jockeys’ table with 104 wins and that puts him eight winners clear of Gavin Lerena going into this meeting.

It is a very tough card for punters but Tiger Storm will go close to winning Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1000m.

Tiger Storm showed signs of inexperience in his first few starts but has got the knack of things lately and was runner-up last time out.

The Fabian Habib-trained gelding can go one better this time with Kabelo Matsunyane in the irons.

Avoontoast has failed to win again after notching up two successive wins, but Joe Soma’s runner has not been beaten by far in all of those subsequent races.

She only went down 1.05 lengths to Mount Etna last time and she is overdue her next win. That could change when she lines up in Race 4, a MR 89 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m, especially as she teams up again with jockey Calvin Habib, who was the last jockey to win on her  

Tony Peter-trained Hat's Queen is consistent and has improved of late. She only found improving Mount Etna a bit too good for her last time out and in a competitive race she might score.

She has the benefit of jumping from pole position and she looks the main threat to Avoontoast.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 11 Head To The Stars, 10 Gimme Passion, 14 Warning Sound, 1 Cherry Oh Baby

Race 2: 2 Tiger Storm, 5 Endizayo, 1 Alesian Beau, 7 Panthera Uncia

Race 3: 8 Ampersand, 7 Zanthar, 1 Biofarmer, 5 Bob's Your Uncle

Race 4: 7 Avoontoast, 9 Hat's Queen, 8 Flamboyant Flyer, 3 Miss Scaletta

Race 5: 6 Lady Sabrina, 3 Mary Read, 4 Sneak Preview, 8 Free In Seattle

Race 6: 1 Francilien, 4 Blizzard Snow, 7 One Party, 8 Take Your Place

Race 7: 9 Pacific, 2 Captain Efficient, 8 Mariachi Madness, 7 Written In Stone

BEST BET

Race 7: 9 Pacific

VALUE BET

Race 1: 11 Head To The Stars

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 7x9

BIPOT

R324

Leg 1: 10, 11, 14

Leg 2: 1. 2, 5

Leg 3: 1, 7, 8

Leg 4: 7, 9

Leg 5: 3, 4, 6

Leg 6: 1, 4

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R144

Leg 1: 10, 11, 14

Leg 2: 2, 5

Leg 3: 7, 8

Leg 4: 7, 9

Leg 5: 3, 4, 6

Leg 6: 1, 4

Leg 7: 9

PICK 6

R720

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5

Leg 2: 1, 5, 7, 8

Leg 3: 7, 8, 9

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8

Leg 5: 1, 4, 7, 8

Leg 6: 9

JACKPOT 1

R240

Leg 1: 1, 5, 7, 8

Leg 2: 7, 8, 9

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8

Leg 4: 1, 4, 7, 8

JACKPOT 2

R60

Leg 1: 7, 8, 9

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8

Leg 3: 1, 4, 7, 8

Leg 4: 9