Jack Milner
One has to go back to November 2022 to find the last time Munchkin paid a visit to the winner’s enclosure but this four-year-old looks ready to win again.
The son of Rafeef won on his second visit to the racecourse and looked to have a bright future, however, despite running behind a number of highly rated horses, Munchkin has failed to capture another race.
Last year he had two lengthy periods when he did not run but he has been fully active this year and his last start, in which he was touched off 0.20 lengths by Grape Shot over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside track, gave the impression he was back to his best.
His merit rating has come down from a high of 83 to 72 and that has put him in a good space right now.
The other interesting fact that when he lines up in Race 8 on Tuesday in a MR 68 Handicap on the Vaal Classic track, it will be over 1000m. Although he is a sprinter, one has to go back to his fourth career race to find out the last time he raced over the minimum trip.
He did not run badly on that occasion, finishing a two-length third behind Covert Operator. That winner has gone on to four further triumphs, all over 1000m.
The other thing to note is that Craig Zackey was the jockey aboard when he ran that third, and trainer Lucky Houdalakis has engaged him again for this event.
Zackey is in hot form and comes off having ridden a double at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday, including a win in the Listed Ladies Mile aboard Time For Love.
The decision to drop Munchkin back to 1000m might just do the trick as he has shown good pace in his last few races. Although they were over further and the runners tend to go a little slower, he might appreciate the faster pace.
He does look a lot better than the remainder of the field and could be a Pick 6 banker on what looks to be a very tough card.
The other runner to consider as a banker for BiPots and Place Accumulators is Roy Magner-trained Theres A Light.
The three-year-old Querari gelding lines up in in Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1200m and will be ridden by in-form Gavin Lerena. Lerena rode him over 1400m two starts back and was only touched off on the post by Mike de Kock-trained Al Bayreg on the Turffontein Standside track.
Theres A Light failed to build on that performance when only fourth over 1450m on the Inside track under Richard Fourie last time.
But Magner's charge is likely to enjoy the return to 1200m and is unlikely to make any mistake with Lerena back in the irons, jumping from stall No 6.
Three runs back he finished second to Mid Winter Wind and although well beaten it was not a bad effort, as the Sean Tarry-trained gelding has gone on to win his next three as well, including the Grade 3 Byerley Turk at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
This is not the strongest of fields and it affords Theres A Light the perfect opportunity to crack his maiden.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Sacambaya, 3 Ambitious Lady, 4 Oklahoma Twister, 2 Pomo Clapper
Race 2: 1 Theres A Light, 3 Sovereigns Call, 8 Together Again, 5 The Navy Lark
Race 3: 5 Incredible Indrani, 3 In A Blue Moon, 4 Master Tik Tok, 9 Perform
Race 4: 9 Guy Alexander, 3 Kakiebos, 4 Viva De Janeiro, 5 Ideal Future
Race 5: 2 Secret Recipe, 7 Kittyboys Girl, 8 Count Your Chances, 3 Sparkling Jubilee
Race 6: 2 Putins Promise, 6 Gimme The Flame, 8 Southern Style, 13 Written In Stone
Race 7: 8 Empress Game, 6 Golden Aspen, 10 Twice As Wild, 4 Lady Elliot
Race 8: 1 Munchkin, 4 Life Goes On, 7 Samoa, 12 Della's Sword
BEST BET
Race 8 No 1 Munchkin
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 9 Guy Alexander
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 1x3
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 1, 3
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 9
Leg 5: 2, 7, 8
Leg 6: 2, 6, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R243
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 3, 4, 5
Leg 3: 3, 4, 9
Leg 4: 2, 7, 8
Leg 5: 2, 6, 8
Leg 6: 6, 8, 10
Leg 7: 1
PICK 6
R1440
Leg 1: 3, 4, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9
Leg 3: 2, 3, 7, 8
Leg 4: 2, 5, 6, 8, 13
Leg 5: 4, 6, 8, 10
Leg 6: 1
JACKPOT 1
R480
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9
Leg 2: 2, 3, 7, 8
Leg 3: 2, 5, 6, 8, 13
Leg 4: 4, 6, 8, 10
JACKPOT 2
R80
Leg 1: 2, 3, 7, 8
Leg 2: 2, 5, 6, 8, 13
Leg 3: 4, 6, 8, 10
Leg 4: 1