Jack Milner
Stakes races are often appealing events in that either there is one horse that stands out because he is so well weighted, while on other occasions they can be highly competitive.
Competitive races are extremely common in handicaps and that is the reason so many punters look to stakes races for that one good bet.
There is a very interesting Pinnacle Stakes over 1800m in Race 5 at the Vaal today (Thursday) when they race on the Classic track.
Only seven runners are carded to go to post and Lucky Houdalakis-trained None Other comes out as the best weighted runner, more due to her sex allowance than her current form.
Not that she can’t win. After all, she did finish fourth in the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet at HWB Greyville on 28 July. However, she was beaten 5.30 lengths, and she could need the run.
Houdalakis' other runner in the field, Master Christmas, is preferred. The four-year-old gelding is currently in good form and he does have just 50kg on his back.
If he is capable of winning a race like this Houdalakis could be looking at a run in the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile on the Standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 2 November.
The son of Master Of My Fate has won four of his 15 starts, including his last two, and has an excellent record at this course with two wins and a second from three starts.
The one uncertainty is how he will go over 1800m. He has had three runs over the distance which has only produced one second place and that was a 2.25-length second behind Holocene when he was still a maiden. He will be ridden by Kaidan Brewer who has ridden him twice.
Tony Peter has his yard in top form at the right time with the summer season really about to take off and he sends out Meridius.
This distance will not be a problem for this five-year-old son of Canford Cliffs as he won the Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes over that trip at Turffontein three runs back and last time out won a Pinnacle Stakes over the same course and distance.
Stuck in between those two runs was the Hollywoodbets Durban July in which he finished unplaced.
Meridius is ideally placed to win a race of this nature and will be ridden by Gavin Lerena.
However, at the weights the runner they may all have to beat is Good Council. This Stuart Pettigrew- trained runner finished a 1.25-length second behind Meridius last time and will now be 6kg better off. Part of that is due to Pettigrew engaging apprentice Nirvan Nastili for the ride.
This five-year-old Oratorio gelding has won over the distance so that is of no concern, but it is also worth noting he is unbeaten in two races at the course.
Others with chances include East Coast and Bingwa.
Trainer St John Gray has had a terrific start to the season and he could have another decent day at this meeting.
His rejuvenated mare Risky Business goes for a fifth consecutive win in Race 8, a MR 74 Handicap over 1450m.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 4 Tiger Storm, 1 Remains Of The Day, 7 Santiago's Pride, 5 Pursuit Of Fame
Race 2: 3 Endizayo, 4 Executrix, 7 On A Jet Plane, 5 Fan The Flame
Race 3: 8 Greenhouse, 7 Faithful Mistress, 2 Saudi Sweep, 3 African Beauty
Race 4: 3 Hat Trick Or Treat, 10 Exceedingly Glam, 7 Arctic Owl, 6 Grand Oasis
Race 5: 2 Meridius, 6 Master Christmas, 5 Good Council, 4 East Coast
Race 6: 4 Vulcanite, 1 Betula, 2 Littlemarysunshine, 3 Hillary Step
Race 7: 7 It's Her Way, 2 Twostep Queen, 8 Willowild, 3 Easy On Me
Race 8: 3 Confederate, 5 Guerilla Warfare, 2 Risky Business, 1 Kotinos
BEST BET
Race 4: 3 Hat Trick Or Treat
VALUE BET
Race 7: 7 It's Her Way
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 3x4
BIPOT
R120
Leg 1: 1, 4
Leg 2: 3, 4
Leg 3: 7, 8
Leg 4: 3
Leg 5: 2, 5, 6
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R288
Leg 1: 3, 4
Leg 2: 7, 8
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 2, 6
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4
Leg 6: 2, 3, 7, 8
Leg 7: 2, 3, 5
PICK 6
R1296
Leg 1: 2, 7, 8
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 2, 5, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8
Leg 5: 2, 3, 7, 8
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
JACKPOT 1
R72
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 2, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8
Leg 4: 2, 3, 7, 8
JACKPOT 2
R432
Leg 1: 2, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8
Leg 3: 2, 3, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8