The five-year-old mare Dancing Queen, trained by Roy Magner, lines up in Race 7, a MR 100 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, at the Vaal on Tuesday.
Many of her last 10 races have been features, including the Grade 1 South African Fillies Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville in May. Of late she has not embarrassed herself in these features because while not managing a top-four finish in most of them, she rarely finished too far off the placed horses.
That kept her merit rating up but after her last two starts, she has been given a relief of five points by the handicapper. That could very well be the defining factor in this event.
The other notable change is that for the first time in 27 starts, trainer Roy Magner has opted to run this mare in a set of blinkers. It is also worth taking into account that of her six wins, five have come over 1000m.
Jockey Denis Schwarz also has a decent record on this daughter of Mambo In Seattle. He has ridden her eight times for two wins and three places.
However, Dancing Queen will not be short of opposition. This is decent field of sprinting fillies and mares and runners like Rapid Fire, Anna Capri and Double ‘O’ Eight are no slouches.
Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Rapid Fire is a consistent filly who has a record of three wins, one second and two thirds in nine runs over 1000m. Her last run was against the colts and she did well to finish a 2.50-length third behind Kwite A Trip, giving him 0.5kg.
She should also have the edge over Anna Capri who beat her by 0.75 lengths last time they met but is now 4.5kg worse off.
Rapid Fire also has the services of Lyle Hewitson while Gavin Lerena rides Anna Capri for trainer David Nieuwenhuizen.
Muzi Yeni has been taking things easy following two unpleasant falls but he was certainly riding at the top of his game at Turffontein on Saturday when he came away with three winners.
He has some decent rides at the Vaal and there could be a few more winners coming his way. The best of these, however, looks to be Paul Matchett-trained Super Excited in Race 4.
His daughter if Vercingetorix looked useful following her 3.50-length second behind Big Eyed Girl over 1000m on the Vaal Classic track on 1 July.
She did not have the easiest of passages as she was cramped at the start, but then stayed on well to finish second to what appears to be a filly with massive potential.
Super Excited looks certain to appreciate the extra 200m and with the experience of a run under her belt should have too much ability for her opposition.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Right Choice, 9 Burmese Tiara, 4 Frosted Ice, 5 Pick A Lily
Race 2: 14 Zuzan, 12 Wave Warrior, 7 Sicilian Tiger, 15 Meteoric
Race 3: 15 Wings Of Nike, 5 Code Zero, 10 Mike’s Chick, 6 Coral Dawn
Race 4: 8 Super Excited, 7 Soweto Spina, 1 Lulu’s Boy, 4 Eagle Strike
Race 5: 13 Florence, 11 Princess Queen, 5 Touch Of Fate, 12 Madame Patrice
Race 6: 2 Emerald Crest, 4 Deep Thought, 1 Winter Watch, 3 Capitiana
Race 7: 1 Dancing Queen, 3 Rapid Fire, 2 Anna Capri, 5 Double ‘O’ Eight
Race 8: 16 Theroseofbecharre, 3 El Romiachi, 8 Trattoria, 5 Belle Of Belize
BEST BET
Race 4 No 8 Super Excited
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 1 Dancing Queen
BEST SWINGER
Race 4 7×8
BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 2, 4, 9
Leg 2: 7, 12, 14
Leg 3: 5, 15
Leg 4: 8
Leg 5: 5, 11, 12, 13
Leg 6: 2, 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R144
Leg 1: 7, 12, 14
Leg 2: 15
Leg 3: 8
Leg 4: 5, 11, 12, 13
Leg 5: 2
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3
Leg 7: 3, 5, 8, 16
PICK 6
R1944
Leg 1: 5, 6, 15
Leg 2: 8
Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13
Leg 4: 2, 4
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 6: 3, 5, 8, 14, 15, 16
JACKPOT 1
R108
Leg 1: 8
Leg 2: 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13
Leg 3: 2, 4
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
JACKPOT 2
R648
Leg 1: 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13
Leg 2: 2, 4
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 4: 3, 5, 8, 14, 15, 16