Jack Milner
Trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren is currently having the season of his life as demonstrated by wins in the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup and Grade 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile.
Glittering Girl makes her first appearance for the stable at the Vaal on Thursday in Race 7, a Graduation Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m, and she could well have the ability to pick up a couple more features for the yard as we go into the Autumn season on the Highveld next year.
Glittering Girl has only raced three times, roaring home by four lengths on debut, after which she went straight into the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship for two-year-old fillies at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
The daughter of Rafeef did not embarrass herself against some of the best juvenile fillies in the country as she ended up in second spot, beaten just a neck by Sweet Pepper.
She did not run again until August when she was well supported, but could only finish fourth, beaten 5.90 lengths by Orarari Gold over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside track. She did have excuses as she lost ground at the start and suffered a scalped wound.
She has since moved to the Janse van Vuuren yard and if anywhere close to her best, will take a power of beating in this line-up.
Glittering Girl comes into this race as the best weighted runner by quite a substantial margin and is at least 7.5kg better off with second best Blindedbythelights.
Gavin Lerena takes the ride.
Gavin van Zyl-trained Aga Heat could be the runner to follow her home. The four-year-old daughter of What A Winter has been commuting between KwaZulu-Natal and the Highveld – with equal success at both sea level and at altitude.
Last time she took a massive jump in class when she contested the Grade 3 Gardenia Stakes over 1000m at Turffontein. Although finishing ninth in a field of 14, she was only 4.50-lengths behind winner Bella Chica.
It’s also possible that she is a better performer over 1200m.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 10 Damned If I Do, 1 Regina Bellissima, 2 Above The World, 9 Count Your Chances
Race 2: 4 Cape Bouquet, 1 Royal Mazarin, 5 Twice In Camden
Race 3: 1 Tre Amici, 11 Siberian Steel, 8 Iron Sky, 2 Var Park
Race 4: 1 Stroke Of Mercy, 2 Stepping Out, 19 Winter Greeting, 13 Lord Nelson
Race 5: 6 Lidl Miss Sunshine, 1 Namaqua Blossom, 3 Liverpool Legend, 5 Gilda Gray
Race 6: 1 Southern Song, 2 Franklin, 8 High Roller, 9 Raratonga Rose
Race 7: 3 Glittering Girl, 1 Aga Heat, 6 Blindedbythelights, 5 In The Beginning
Race 8: 1 Cian The Conqueror, 10 Power Ranger, 4 Mescal, 6 Integrate
Race 9: 2 Esquevelle, 13 After Hours, 4 Morethanafeeling, 7 Drop Of Time
BEST BET
Race 7 No 3 Glittering Girl
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 1 Southern Song
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 1x11
BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5
Leg 2: 1, 11
Leg 3: 1, 2, 13, 10
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6
Leg 5: 1, 2, 8, 9
Leg 6: 3
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R243
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 2, 19
Leg 3: 1, 3, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 8
Leg 5: 3
Leg 6: 1, 4, 10
Leg 7: 2, 4, 13
PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 13, 15, 19
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 4: 3
Leg 5: 1, 4, 10
Leg 6: 2, 4, 7, 13
JACKPOT 1
R90
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 1, 4, 10
JACKPOT 2
R72
Leg 1: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 1, 4, 10
Leg 4: 2, 4, 7, 13