Munch on a Macaroon at the Vaal

Jack Milner

Trainer Chris Jonker has made a decent start to the season, recording three wins and eight places from 23 runners for a win-place strike rate of about 48%.

The small-yard trainer sends out a pair in the card opener at the Vaal on Thursday, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1450m on the Classic track and judged on form Mocha Macaroon looks perfectly placed to give Jonker his fourth winner.

This daughter of Rafeef jumped at odds of 100-1 in her first two outings and performed accordingly.

Third time out, at 80-1, she almost caused a major upset when finishing third, beaten less than a length by Ivy League, who has gone on to record two more wins. That run was over this course and distance.

Mocha Macaroon has been improving ever since, and it comes as no surprise she has been priced up at 18-10. Raymond Danielson has been riding well and he takes the ride on this three-year-old filly.

It comes as no surprise to see Mike de Kock-trained Arabian Red at the top of the bookmakers’ boards at 7-10 in Race 2, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1800m. However, she does look the banker bet on the card.

The three-year-old daughter of Heavenly Blue is obviously looking for further and it is hard to imagine her not getting the job done.

Apprentice Malesela Katjedi has ridden her in her first two starts and De Kock has stuck with him for this run.

Another interesting runner on the day looks to be Primrose Path, who lines up in Race 4, a MR 74 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m.

Trained by Fanie Bronkhorst, the four-year-old Flower Alley filly will have none other than the maestro Piere Strydom in the saddle.

Primrose Path has scored two wins and three runner-up finishes from her last five starts, proving that she can maintain her best form.

Interestingly, she will be jumping from gate No 8 for the third consecutive time.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Mocha Macaroon, 10 Wonder I Do, 2 Secret Recipe, 1 Lorna Lilly

Race 2: 11 Arabian Red, 7 City Lights, 1 Perform, 3 All Rise

Race 3: 4 Destiny Of Souls, 8 Bey Suyay, 2 Raffles, 9 Scarlett Pimpernel

Race 4: 1 Primrose Path, 6 Leonessa, 5 Duenna, 2 Perilla

Race 5: 2 Avoontoast, 4 Lady Calavera, 8 Key Element, 3 Ballroom Bliss

Race 6: 5 Dreamland, 2 Moola Man, 3 Mescal, 6 Back To Basics

Race 7: 4 What A Honey, 6 Brave Viking, 3 Scallywag, 7 Funky Music

Race 8: 2 Inner Sense, 6 Meet The Captain, 5 Cerulean Dancer, 8 Written In Stone

BEST BET

Race 2 No 11 Arabian Red

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 4 What A Honey

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 5x10

BIPOT

R108                                                                                                                   Ace R108  

Leg 1: 5, 10

Leg 2: 11

Leg 3: 4, 8

Leg 4: 1, 5, 6

Leg 5: 2, 4, 8

Leg 6: 2, 3, 5

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R192

Leg 1: 11

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 1, 6

Leg 4: 2, 4

Leg 5: 2, 3, 5

Leg 6: 3, 4, 6, 7

Leg 7: 2, 5, 6, 8

PICK 6

R2160

Leg 1: 4, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 3: 2, 4, 8

Leg 4: 2, 3, 5

Leg 5: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9

Leg 6: 2, 4, 5, 6, 8

JACKPOT 1

R216

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 2: 2, 4, 8

Leg 3: 2, 3, 5

Leg 4: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9

JACKPOT 2

R270

Leg 1: 2, 4, 8

Leg 2: 2, 3, 5

Leg 3: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 6, 8