Red Maple ready to ‘spook’ her rivals

Jack Milner

The scratching of Reny from today's Listed Spook Express Handicap for fillies and mares over 2400m has opened the door for Red Maple.

Red Maple is one of the true stayers in this field. This Sean Tarry-trained daughter of Silvano is actually the defending champion, last year beating Kind Judy by 0.25 lengths.

She carried just 50kg last year whereas this time around she will have 56kg on her back, but she will have Gavin Lerena up.

Others to consider are United Council, winner of the Non-Black Type Sun Chariot Handicap for fillies and mares over this course and distance last month, as well as Mount Etna, who carries just 50kg and could run into the places and make the Quartet pay.

The other feature is the Listed Dr Richard Maponya Handicap over 1800m where Electric Gold looks the runner to beat.

This Tony Peter-trained runner has performed really well since having been gelded and two runs back finished second in the Grade 2 Victory Moon Stakes while last time he won a Pinnacle Stakes, both runs over this course and distance.

Calvin Habib takes the ride.

Stable companion Meridius has yet to win over 1800m but in his two starts over the distance he has placed second and third. The latter run was at this course early in his career when he was beaten 1.50 lengths by African Torrent.

Shoemaker has been highly disappointing of late. This Mike de Kock-trained runner seems to get lost in the early stages of the race and then takes forever to get going, when he does, however, the race is over.

Last time he didn’t even do that and just plodded over the final 400m. But that was over 1600m, and he will prefer the additional 200m.

Ryan Munger, who is on a busman’s holiday in South Africa at the moment, gets the ride.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 6 Silver Parasol, 2 Captains Clover, 8 Visionofpeace, 7 Too Late My Mate

Race 2: 2 Peace Treaty, 4 Tintamarre, 5 Blue Velvet, 6 Emblem Of The Sun

Race 3: 1 Tyrconnell, 9 Forest God, 2 Mvelelo, 11 Sutherland

Race 4: 7 Follow The Sun, 10 Volare E Mambo, 4 Empressofnormandy, 6 Dimako's Jet

Race 5: 1 I Am Giant, 8 Champion Warrior, 5 Back In Business, 2 Power Broker

Race 6: 3 Electric Gold, 1 Meridius, 4 Shoemaker, 5 Emirate Gina

Race 7: 4 Red Maple, 2 United Council, 5 Bellevarde, 3 Bonete

Race 8: 1 Twenty Drachma's, 7 Nuclear Force, 9 Indian War Dance, 2 Ideal Future

BEST BET

Race 5 No 1 I Am Giant

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 4 Red Maple

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 1x9

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 2, 6, 7, 8

Leg 2: 2, 4, 5

Leg 3: 1, 9

Leg 4: 4, 7, 10

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 1, 3, 4

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R162

Leg 1: 2, 4, 5

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 7, 10

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 1, 3, 4

Leg 6: 2, 4, 5

Leg 7: 1, 7, 9

PICK 6

R1500

Leg 1: 1, 2, 9

Leg 2: 4, 5, 6, 7, 10

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5

Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 7, 9

JACKPOT 1

R100

Leg 1: 4, 5, 6, 7, 10

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9

JACKPOT 2

R100

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5

Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 7, 9