Jack Milner
Muzi Yeni returns to racing at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today and is in a buoyant mood after recovering from his fall at the Cape Town course last Saturday.
“I was lucky to come away from it with just a minor concussion and a few bruises,” admitted the popular jockey on Tuesday.
Last year, a pile up in the Charity Mile left him with a fractured collarbone which forced him out of racing for three months.
However, he is raring to go and is looking forward to this year’s summer season. He also confirmed he would be riding Victory Moon Stakes winner The Ultimate King in the R6-million Betway Summer Cup.
He also has a couple of decent rides at the Vaal on Thursday and the pick of them could well be Paul Matchett-trained Matcha Mint in Race 7, a MR 67 Handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m.
Yeni has ridden this Gimmethegreenlight filly in her last two starts, winning aboard her when she cracked her maiden two runs back and then last time when she finished a 2.10-length fourth behind Dylan’s Champ.
In his weekly column Yeni felt confident that Matcha Mint would complete a double but perhaps racing against the colts for the first time came a little too early for this lightly raced three-year-old.
However, she is back in fillies’ company this time and will be trying 2000m for the first time which could also bring on some improvement.
Another decent ride for Yeni comes up in Race 9 where he is aboard useful three-year-old Shadowfax for trainer Sean Tarry. This son of One World is the only runner to have beaten Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Jan Van Goyen and has also been nominate to race in both the Grade 2 Betway Dingaans and the Grade 1 HWB Cape Guineas in the next few weeks.
However, Tarry also has Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Cosmic Speed in this Conditions Plate over 1400m with Craig Zackey in the irons and he looks very hard to oppose, despite coming back from a 166-day break.
He is at least 7.5kg better weighted with his opposition and even if in need of the run, should be fit enough to put this race to bed.
His last run was in the Grade 1 HWB Gold Challenge fin which he finished fourth behind Dave The King, beaten just 0.85 lengths and looks the standout bet on the card.
Last year he made his comeback after a similar lengthy break and still managed to run out a comfortable winner.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Amandla Ngawethu, 11 Knowmore, 5 Javelin Warrior, 10 King Ethelred
Race 2: 12 Tommy Atkins, 10 Lance Alot, 6 Agoge, 2 Force Publique
Race 3: 1 Winds Of Grace, 11 Al Greenga, 3 Onceinabluemoon, 13 Liefling
Race 4: 10 Babette's Feast, 2 Delaware River, 1 Lady Limoncello, 5 Savara's Princess
Race 5: 6 Kudzu, 1 Hotarubi, 9 Douglas Dragon, 10 Arumugam
Race 6: 1 Royal Invitation, 5 Hazy Dazy, 9 Cartagena, 2 Kissing Machine
Race 7: 1 Matcha Mint, 4 Surprise Party, 3 Ethical, 5 Hopscotch
Race 8: 11 Circle Of Grace, 1 Michael Faraday, 6 Flag Bearer, 2 Scarlett Heart
Race 9: 4 Cosmic Speed, 11 Shadowfax, 2 Master Christmas, 9 Plus Four
Race 10: 8 She's All Mine, 5 Captain Selvie, 7 Quiet Winter, 9 Peregrine Falcon
BEST BET
Race 9: 4 Cosmic Speed
VALUE BET
Race 6: 1 Royal Invitation
BEST SWINGER
Race 4 2x10
BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 2, 6, 10, 12
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 2, 10
Leg 4: 1, 6, 9
Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 9
Leg 6: 1, 3, 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 2, 10
Leg 3: 1, 6, 9
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 9
Leg 5: 1, 3, 4
Leg 6: 1, 6, 11
Leg 7: 4
PICK 6
R1200
Leg 1: 2, 10
Leg 2: 1, 4, 6, 9, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 6, 11
Leg 6: 4
JACKPOT 1
R600
Leg 1: 1, 4, 6, 9, 10
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 6, 11
JACKPOT 2
R120
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 6, 11
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13