Jack Milner
When Muzi Yeni picked up the ride on Greek Miss last time, he was very bullish about her chances in his weekly column.
“She is having her third run after a rest and she is above average so I believe off draw No 1 I’ll get the run of the race and she will take all the beating,” he wrote.
He was spot on. She was out like a bullet and all the opposition saw of her after that were her hindquarters.
She romped away to beat Franklin by 5.75 lengths over 1800m on the Turffontein Standside track.
No doubt, Yeni would have been equally delighted to discover she has again drawn No 1 at Turffontein on Thursday, and this time it is on the Inside track.
Interestingly, champion trainer Paul Peter has opted to pit two decent runners from his stable against each other in Race 4, a MR 90 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m.
Officially the first day of spring, Peter will undoubtedly be hoping that they both find a spring in their step and complete a 1-2.
Greek Miss, a four-year-old filly by Great Britain, and Pin Up, a six-year-old Oratorio mare, have recorded eight wins between them from a combined 25 runs.
The former was a runaway victor on debut, but battled a bit in handicaps, until Yeni jumped into the saddle last time out.
With more than 2000 victories to his name, it is unsurprising the experienced Yeni decided to attack from the word go in a rather mediocre field and dropping in class.
The problem with that facile win was the handicappers loved it too and penalised her 4kg.
However, because she takes a serious jump in class this time, Greek Miss will carry 4.5kg less than last time.
Peter thinks very highly of this filly and is unlikely to be too perturbed by the merit rating increase. In fact, if he has a small feature in mind for her during the upcoming season, he probably would like it to be even higher.
Yeni is likely to again play catch-me-if-you-can over slightly shorter and getting away from the opposition on the Inside track will make him even harder to peg back.
Pin Up, purchased for just R50,000 by Peter’s brother and his Hyperpaint Syndicate, has already earned R420,000 in stakes.
A Grade 3 winner, she was very rusty last time out after a four-month break in a similar contest. It is more than obvious she needed that run.
Perhaps getting her to compete with – and against – her stable companion, is Peter’s way of getting the best out of her with a familiar face around.
Along with Yeni, Peter is also keen to give rides to Champion Apprentice Rachel Venniker, who will be aboard Pin Up, and will take 1.5kg off his back.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 10 The Chosen One, 5 Thermopylae, 8 Gimme A Diamond, 4 Steel Clad
Race 2: 4 Green Bubbles, 10 Quantum, 1 Silk Garden, 7 Ultima Ictu
Race 3: 7 Ashanti Sword, 4 Seconda Errore, 6 Liverpool Legend, 2 Flag Bearer
Race 4: 2 Greek Miss, 1 Pin Up, 6 Dancing Arabian, 3 Paton's Tears
Race 5: 2 Jinqin, 1 Tabby Kat, 6 Bella Rosa, 4 Stunning Kitten
Race 6: 4 Vivacious Spirit, 5 Blue Waters, 1 Golden Aspen, 3 Rosenwind
Race 7: 1 Laetitia's Angel, 9 Cocoa Hill, 3 Moonstrike, 5 Dancing Dora
Race 8: 1 Corvette Captain, 6 Power Ranger, 2 The Makwakkers, 4 Magic Flower
BEST BET
Race 4 No 2 Greek Miss
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 2 Jinqin
BEST SWINGER
Race 8 1x6
BIPOT
R243
Leg 1: 5, 8, 10
Leg 2: 1, 4, 10
Leg 3: 4, 6, 7
Leg 4: 2
Leg 5: 1, 2, 6
Leg 6: 1, 4, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 4, 10
Leg 2: 4, 7
Leg 3: 2
Leg 4: 1, 2, 6
Leg 5: 1, 4, 5
Leg 6: 1, 3, 9
Leg 7: 1, 6
PICK 6
R1000
Leg 1: 2, 4, 6, 7
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9
Leg 6: 1, 6
JACKPOT 1
R125
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9
JACKPOT 2
R250
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9
Leg 4: 1, 6