Puller’s pair prepare to pounce

Garth Puller, one of the best horsemen around, both as a jockey in the past and a trainer now, has had a quiet spell for almost six months. But recently his yard has sprung to life with perfect timing, the middle of the KwaZulu-Natal champions season.

Puller had a double around a fortnight ago and the form is set to continue at Hollywoodbets Scottsville this Monday with Holy Star and Lucienne in early races.

Holy Star will be having his third start in a month, so Puller is eager to get the win out of the way with the hardy two-year-old lining up in Race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m. The bay Pomodoro found no betting support on his 18 May debut but showed good pace throughout, finishing fourth 1.75 lengths by Little Boy Blue. The winner and third-placed African Pride then went straight into the Grade 1 Gold Medallion.

Holy Star was then switched to the Polytrack on 4 June, and he showed good speed throughout but here again he met and ran second to what looks a high-class youngster in Aristocratic, from the powerful yard of Western Cape conditioner Dean Kannemeyer.

The raced runners have a lot of improving to do if any will be able to match strides with Holy Star but keep an eye on the first-timers. Wild Justice, by Vercingetorix out of a stamina-laden female line may be looking for ground, but he is reportedly working well. Rattle The Peace is by promising new stallion Declarationofpeace and is out of a speedy female line so may be the one to attract betting support.

Lucienne lines up in Race 3, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m, and will be returning from 64-day break. That came after she produced three solid performances. She ran third on debut, beaten by much more experienced rivals, before taking the second-place cheque behind hard-knocking Greenlight Queen, both times over this course and distance.

Dropped to 1000m next time, she was a little unlucky to lose as she was gaining hand over fist at the wire when beaten a head by Ruby Rising.

The one runner that looks a danger this time has to be well drawn Priory Terrace who showed good speed in her first outing. She can improve, but the form line has not worked out well with no winners from 15 runners coming out of that race.

And on a line through a horse called Fine Wine (also trained by Puller) who finished 0.70 lengths behind Priory Terrace, Lucienne should easily have her measure as she beat that filly by 4.60 lengths when they met.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 8 Holy Star, 5 Wild Justice, 7 Rattle The Peace, 2 Larius Lacus

Race 2: 3 Engelandpark, 4 Vanakkam, 6 Serengetti Sun, 1 Belligerent

Race 3: 5 Lucienne, 2 Priory Terrace, 4 Are You Sure, 7 Capricious Miss

Race 4: 8 Ultra Quick, 3 Arverni Princess, 1 Happy Wanderer, 7 Purple Powahouse

Race 5: 7 Artic Silver, 1 King Bavarian, 2 Escapologist, 6 Bad Medicine

Race 6: 5 Imposing, 4 Tirpitz, 7 Lock And Key, 8 Plaza Accord

Race 7: 6 Lion Rampart, 10 Cymric, 4 Luhamba Phambili, 7 Un Bel Di

Race 8: 12 Black Cheetah, 1 Trippi T, 8 Rafa's Boy, 6 Major Tommie

BEST BET

Race 8: 12 Black Cheetah

VALUE BET

Race 6: 5 Imposing

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 2x5

BIPOT                          

R288

Leg 1: 5, 8

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 6

Leg 3: 5

Leg 4: 1, 3, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2, 7

Leg 6: 4, 5, 7, 8

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R243

Leg 1: 3, 4, 6

Leg 2: 5

Leg 3: 1, 3, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 7

Leg 5: 4, 5, 7

Leg 6: 4, 6, 10

Leg 7: 12

PICK 6

R1000

Leg 1: 2, 5

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7

Leg 4: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 5: 4, 6, 7, 10

Leg 6: 12

JACKPOT 1

R500

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7

Leg 3: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 4, 6, 7, 10

JACKPOT 2

R100

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7

Leg 2: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 4, 6, 7, 10

Leg 4: 12