Jack Milner: A pair of half-brothers will go head-to-head in Race 5 at Turffontein on Saturday a MR 104 Handicap over 1600m on the Standside track.
Three-year-old Indlamu and the year older Astrix are both out Victory Moon mare Victory Dance, and both have made their respective connections proud.
Indlamu is trained by Sean Tarry and this son of Pomodoro could have the advantage this time as he is performing at the top of his game and has the added edge of just 54kg on his back.
He has only run seven times and has a record of three wins and four places. His last victory was over 1600m on the Inside track, but he has won on the Standside track with the longer home straight. That was over 1400m and was by an extremely impressive distance of 4.25 lengths.
That was in much weaker company so, as he is taking a leap in class, Indlamu will have to be at his very best. He does have Lyle Hewitson, who is just six weeks away from officially claiming his third Champion Jockey title, in the irons.
As only six horses are carded to go to post, it will be interesting to see what kind of pace will be set. There is no obvious pacemaker in the line-up and it could turn out to be quite pedestrian.
That could work in favour of Astrix, who is carded to carry 62kg but will get 2.5kg off his back as he has apprentice Philasande Mxoli in the irons.
The Paul Peter-trained runner was out of action from December until April and will be having his fourth run since returning to racing. His last race was over 1800m in which he was far from disgraced when finishing a two-length fourth behind up-and-coming Puerto Manzano.
He did look threatening with 300m to run but one is still not sure he stays 1800m and Astrix will benefit from the 200m drop in distance.
One jockey who is extremely astute when it comes to judging pace is Muzi Yeni and he is aboard Dark Tide, who will carry just 52kg. He found The Contractor too good in his last two starts but will carry 5kg less than last time and could prove dangerous if allowed to dictate at his own pace.
Tarry also saddles Rock The Globe, who has run second in his last two starts, and Putontheredlight, who is held by both Rock The Globe and Astrix on his last run but should be better than that.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Mufasa, 4 Green Taffety, 7 Magic Dancer, 8 Twice As Splendid
Race 2: 5 Freed From Desire, 2 Bold Act, 3 Bon Vivant, 6 Kwazzi’s Lady
Race 3: 5 Mitch Got His Wish, 8 Top Wesselton, 7 Platinum Sky, 2 Bold Decision
Race 4: 6 Bureau Des Legende, 5 Abalus, 1 Fort Snow, 2 Zulu War Cry
Race 5: 4 Indlamu, 6 Dark Tide, 5 Rock The Globe, 1 Astrix
Race 6: 4 Sound Of Summer, 6 Nartjie, 2 Kingsley’s Heart, 5 Gee For Go