Jack Milner
Spring has officially begun in the country and it will be celebrated at Turffontein on Saturday with the running of the Listed Topbet Spring Spree Stakes and The Lady’s Stakes (Non-Black Type), both over 1200m on the Inside track.
The change of season will be celebrated with a Pick 6 carryover of R1 million with the pool likely to reach R5 million.
Champion trainer Paul Peter could have a massive say in both races.
Peter saddles Grade 2 Post Merchants winner Val D’Orcia in the Spring Spree Stakes and is expecting a massive run from his charge.
“He’s a smart horse with a good draw,” said Peter, who added bettors should ignore Val D’Orcia’s last run in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint. “Keagan de Melo felt he had taken an awkward step and stopped riding him. But he is absolutely fine and there is no reason why he shouldn’t run extremely well.”
Gavin Lerena takes the ride.
Top weight Prince Of Fire has been running against some of the best around and in fact, his last start was in the Grade 1 Gold Challenge over 1600m at Greyville in June.
This Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained runner would probably prefer this race to be a bit further but he won his only start over this course and distance and can be a huge danger racing fresh.
However, he also has a wide draw at No 10.
Supreme Quest ran against the best in the country last season and did not disgrace herself. Her last outing was in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Greyville but when Val D’Orcia was pulled up, she had to avoid colliding with him and dropped to the rear of the field. Remarkably, she produced a flying final 400m to end up 4.60 lengths behind Captain’s Ransom.
Peter has two runners in The Lady’s Stakes – Mercury Rising and Maryah – and both are capable runners. “Mercury Rising is a very decent filly, but she has a high merit rating following a good three-year-old run in Cape Town last season.
“She’s small and she has to carry a lot of weight, but she is drawn No 1 and I think her class can pull her through.”
The key to Maryah, who will be having her first start for the yard, is whether she will jump or not. “She has excellent form but she is highly strung and has got into a bad habit of losing many lengths at the start.
“She’s been okay at the practice pens and there are few horses who can work with her on the sand, but people need to be cautious.”
However, the value could lie with Lerena and Midnight Gem. It is interesting that Phillip Labuschagne’s charge has not raced on the Inside track but it should be ideal for her running style.
No 10 draw is a concern, but she will have Lerena up to guide her around the track.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 8 Wind Water, 10 Mythical Dream, 1 Walker Bay, 4 Black Egret
Race 2: 1 Lunar Ballade, 9 Hertzoggie, 10 On The Guest List, 6 Camerata
Race 3: 2 The Inkosana, 6 Prime Example, 1 Clap Of Thunder, 4 Lord Of Light
Race 4: 4 Raratonga Rose, 5 Sassy, 6 Ballycotton, 7 Street's Ahead
Race 5: 5 Raiseahallelujah, 4 Jaimala, 6 Motown Magic, 1 Green Haze
Race 6: 6 Midnight Gem, 1 Mercury Rising, 2 Bon Vivant, 4 Maryah
Race 7: 3 Val D'Orcia, 1 Prince Of Fire, 4 Supreme Quest, 6 Vaseem
Race 8: 2 I Am Giant, 9 Texas Red, 4 South Boy, 8 Winter Pearl
Race 9: 7 Legislate's Dance, 4 Foreign Field, 10 Blonde Act, 6 Bey Suyay
BEST BET
Race 4 No 4 Raratonga Rose
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 6 Midnight Gem
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 4x5
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 1, 9, 10
Leg 2: 1, 2, 6
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 4, 5
Leg 5: 1, 2, 6
Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 1, 2, 6
Leg 2: 4
Leg 3: 4, 5
Leg 4: 1, 6
Leg 5: 1, 3, 7
Leg 6: 2, 4, 9
Leg 7: 4, 7, 10
PICK 6
R900
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 5: 2, 4, 9
Leg 6: 1, 4, 6, 7, 10
JACKPOT 1
R180
Leg 1: 4, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 6
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 4: 2, 4, 9
JACKPOT 2
R300
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 2, 4, 9
Leg 4: 1, 4, 6, 7, 10