Jack Milner
Bettors are confronted with a tricky card at the Vaal on Thursday, but they could do well to go with jockey Muzi Yeni in Race 2 and get off to a good start.
Yeni has picked up four rides for trainer Paul Matchett who is currently having a decent run.
In fact, yesterday Matchett came away with a double and that good form should continue back on the Classic track.
Yeni is aboard Shes Everything in Race 2, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 2000m, and this three-year-old daughter of Erupt appears to be peaking at exactly the right time. She ran second over 1800m and although well beaten in a Work Riders’ Maiden, this is not the strongest of fields and she does appear to have the strongest form in the line-up.
Shes Everything has raced six times and after two poor runs on debut in sprints, she has
placed four times since in races over further.
Race 7 is a MR 96 Handicap over 1200m and Barend Botes sends out a very interesting runner in Night Bomber.
This four-year-old gelding has been racing in Cape Town and this tree-time winners has some very useful form. Includes in his runs is a second place behind Adam Marcus-trained Oliver who has been moving strongly through the sprinting divisions.
This four-year-old gelding is rarely far behind the winner and if he can repeat some of his Cape form he could prove hard to beat in this event.
It is worth noting that Botes has engaged Ryan Munger to ride his charge and this talented jockey is enjoying a most successful busman’ holiday away from the freezing Canadian winter.
There are a couple of important items to note in this race and first of all is the scratching of Rollwiththepunches. This gelding would have been a massive contender in this line-up but of more relevance is that his withdrawal has allowed reserve runner Fastnet Filly to book her place in the field. The Brett and James Crawford runner has had some decent races since coming up from the Cape, winning her first two and finished second in her third outing.
She carries just 52kg and that makes her a lively runner.
Another interesting runner is lightly raced Silvano-gelding Sutherland. The Stuart Pettigrew-trained four-year-old earned a three-point penalty for an eye-catching handicap debut nine weeks ago when staying on well to finish second behind progressive subsequent winner Confederate over 1400m.
Like most of Silvano's progeny, Sutherland is maturing and remains on an upward trajectory with scope for improvement in just his seventh appearance.
With that in mind, Sutherland's revised career-high mark is unlikely to halt his development nor should the shorter 1200m, having won his maiden over the same distance in his penultimate start under Philasande Mxoli.
Against Pettigrew's charge is a wide No 10 draw - as 1200m races on the Classic track are run along the right-hand turn - but with a hot pace likely to be set by striking grey After The Rain, Sutherland will have the race run to suit and he'll be running at them late in the race.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 8 Like A Prayer, 4 Highveld Storm, 10 Jinger Jam, 3 Oklahoma Twister
Race 2: 3 Shes Everything, 4 Instant Attraction, 5 Lunar Rainbow, 6 Q For Love
Race 3: 7 Page Boy, 2 Spy Story, 3 Chariot Of Fire, 9 The Ultimate King
Race 4: 1 Ghostbuster, 2 Mattiazo, 8 Flightlight, 7 Aurora Green
Race 5: 5 Dimako's Jet, 2 Rani Of Kittur, 3 Elembee, 7 Kadizora
Race 6: 5 Free In Seattle, 6 Gloria Mundi, 10 Cartagena, 4 Sensoria
Race 7: 9 Night Bomber, 8 Edward Rye, 13 Fastnet Filly, 12 Sutherland
Race 8: 1 Smith And Wesson, 5 Lonely As A Cloud, 2 Var Park, 9 In The Ether
BEST BET
Race 2 No 3 Shes Everything
VALUE BET
Race 8 No 1 Smith And Wesson
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 4x8
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 4, 8
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 2, 3, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 8
Leg 5: 2, 3, 5, 7
Leg 6: 5, 6, 10
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 2, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 8
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5
Leg 5: 5, 6
Leg 6: 8, 9, 13
Leg 7: 1, 2, 5
PICK 6
R2048
Leg 1: 2, 3, 7, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 7, 8
Leg 3: 2, 3, 5, 7
Leg 4: 5, 6
Leg 5: 8, 9, 12, 13
Leg 6: 1, 2, 5, 7
JACKPOT 1
R256
Leg 1: 1, 2, 7, 8
Leg 2: 2, 3, 5, 7
Leg 3: 5, 6
Leg 4: 8, 9, 12, 13
JACKPOT 2
R256
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 7
Leg 2: 5, 6
Leg 3: 8, 9, 12, 13
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 7