Jack Milner: Starling Stakes form could point to the winner of Saturday’s Grade 3 Fillies Mile at Turffontein.
This meeting will be run on two tracks. The first eight races will be staged on the tighter turning Inside track while the final event of the day, the Grade 3 Fillies Mile, will be run on the Standside track.
The feature race attracted a small, but quality field, which has been reduced with the withdrawal of Sentbydestiny. Trainer Candice Dawson has opted to run the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes winner in which she beat the colts, in the next Saturday’s Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein.
The form line that encompasses the main contenders is that of the Grade 3 Starling Stake over 1400m which was run on the Standside course on 31 October.
That race was won by Due Diligence from the Mike de Kock stable who beat Paul Matchett-trained Gee For Go by 0.75 lengths with Caralluma a further 0.50 lengths back in third.
All three are carded to go at it again but this race could be a lot closer as the winner has been penalised 1kg.
The runner who produced the fastest finish was Gee For Go and with the 1kg advantage and the extra 200m, she could turn this result around.
In his column prior to that race Muzi Yeni told readers that Gee For Go was very decent and they should include her in their bets, so the run was not coming out of turn. Yeni will be riding in Cape Town but Matchett has engaged a top replacement in S’manga Khumalo.
Due Diligence and Caralluma produced the same time of 23 seconds for the final 400m and Sean Tarry’s charge will be a lot fitter. However, based on her run in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m, won by Anything Goes, there has to be some doubt as to whether Caralluma sees out 1600m at this stage of her career.
As a result, Due Diligence could still keep her at bay.
There are two other interesting runners – Castle Durrow and Paton’s Tears – both trained by Lucky Houdalakis. On paper, neither has a chance but both could be better than their respective merit ratings.
Castle Durrow has won both of her starts, flying up late last time to beat Way Of The World by a head over 1450m on the Inside track.
Based on the way in which she has run on in her two wins, this 1600m should be ideal for the daughter of Global View. Marco van Rensburg rode her last time and he is back aboard.
Paton’s Tears ran second on debut over 1200m and then followed up with a very impressive 4.25-length victory over 1400m at the Vaal. Gavin Lerena rides the daughter of Coup De Grace, who will be fitted with a tongue tie this time.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 12 Sparkling Water, 5 Trattoria, 7 Rembez, 11 Belle Of Belize
Race 2: 10 Courtroom Magic, 14 Silver Tycoon, 7 Curfew, 12 Pamushana’s Pride
Race 3: 4 Dr Doolittle, 2 Royal Escapade, 3 Samurai Jack, 7 Waqaas
Race 4: 5 Sultanah, 1 Strada Statale, 9 Lady Amherst, 6 Trapiche
Race 5: 5 Have A Go Jo, 2 Captain Chorus, 1 Zeal And Zest, 7 Magic Vision
Race 6: 2 Curvation, 11 Plum Field, 1 Kayla’s Dream, 7 Tartan Dancer
Race 7: 2 Ocean Forest, 5 Louis Gem, 7 Illuminate, 6 Shezaglo
Race 8: 1 Southern Charm, 3 Varina, 2 Comaneci, 4 Madame Patrice
Race 9: 3 Gee For Go, 2 Due Diligence, 4 Caralluma, 7 Castle Durrow
BEST BET
Race 8 No 1 Southern Charm
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 2 Ocean Forest
BEST SWINGER
Race 9 2×3
BIPOT
R324
Leg 1: 7, 10, 14
Leg 2: 2, 3, 4
Leg 3: 1, 5, 9
Leg 4: 2, 5
Leg 5: 1, 2, 11
Leg 6: 2, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R192
Leg 1: 2, 4
Leg 2: 1, 5, 8
Leg 3: 2, 5
Leg 4: 1, 2, 7, 11
Leg 5: 2, 5
Leg 6: 1
Leg 7: 2, 3
PICK 6
R1600
Leg 1: 1, 5, 6, 7, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 7, 11
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 7
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 7
JACKPOT 1
R80
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7, 11
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 7
Leg 4: 1
JACKPOT 2
R80
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7, 11
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 7
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 7