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
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