Mercury Rising at Turffontein

Jack Milner

Mercury Rising comes off some excellent form in KwaZulu-Natal and makes her Highveld debut for trainer Paul Peter in Race 7 at Turffontein on Thursday, a Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 1160m on the Standside track.

She started her racing career in Cape Town where she won her second and third start, beating some decent sprinters. She also showed some class by running fourth behind Chansonette in the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas.

She moved to KwaZulu-Natal where she was trained by Wendy Whitehead and contested three consecutive feature races, culminating in a 4.30-length ninth behind Captain’s Ransom in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last month.

However, it seems a bit harsh that she received a 4kg penalty for that ninth place, but it has made her the best weighted runner in Thursday’s race by 1.5kg from Winter Smoke.

Now she is at Paul Peter’s Turffontein yard, and he is hoping for a big run from the filly. “I’ve had her just over three weeks, so my one concern is whether she has adapted to the altitude.

“Because of her high merit rating there are very few races available for her right now other than this Conditions Plate,” said Peter on Tuesday.

“As a result we had to rush her to get her ready in time but she arrived in immaculate condition and is a nice, strong filly. Her work has been very good and if she reproduces that in the race she should be hard to beat.”

Warren Kennedy is carded to ride her and she will carry just 52kg.

Peter says he is also expecting a good run from Greek Miss in Race 6, a MR 80 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 8 Ponderosa Pine, 10 Vivacious Spirit, 9 Scabiosa, 6 Miss Soho

Race 2: 4 Drop Of Time, 6 Iron Fist, 3 The Gliding Fish, 1 Great Times

Race 3: 4 Positive Attitude, 9 Eyjafjallajokull, 1 Fire Lord, 8 Dungeons

Race 4: 8 Nyali Beach, 6 Bird In Space, 2 Chopsticks, 7 Cape Lights

Race 5: 3 Ontheverge, 6 Zazu, 9 Crusade To Royalty, 8 Damova

Race 6: 4 Bellevarde, 7 Kind Judy, 9 Greek Miss, 10 Dark Travel

Race 7: 6 Mercury Rising, 1 Kayla's Champ, 7 Lucy English, 3 Anna Capri

Race 8: 8 Southern Blaze, 11 Vanderbilt, 7 Indus Knight, 1 Bey Suyay

BEST BET

Race 4 No 8 Nyali Beach

VALUE BET

Race 8 No 8 Southern Blaze

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 4x6

BIPOT

R270

Leg 1: 1, 6, 8, 9, 10

Leg 2: 3, 4, 6

Leg 3: 4, 9

Leg 4: 8

Leg 5: 3, 6, 9

Leg 6: 4, 7, 9

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 4, 6

Leg 2: 4, 9

Leg 3: 8

Leg 4: 3, 6, 9

Leg 5: 4, 7, 9

Leg 6: 1, 6, 7

Leg 7: 7, 8, 11

PICK 6

R1440

Leg 1: 1, 4, 9

Leg 2: 8

Leg 3: 3, 5, 6, 8, 9

Leg 4: 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10

Leg 5: 1, 3, 6, 7

Leg 6: 1, 7, 8, 11

JACKPOT 1

R120

Leg 1: 8

Leg 2: 3, 5, 6, 8, 9

Leg 3: 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10

Leg 4: 1, 3, 6, 7

JACKPOT 2

R480

Leg 1: 3, 5, 6, 8, 9

Leg 2: 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10

Leg 3: 1, 3, 6, 7

Leg 4: 1, 7, 8, 11