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