Jack Milner
Two very interesting Graduation Plates for three-year-olds over 1450m head up Thursday’s card at the Vaal where they race on the Classic track.
It is just a few days since they officially were designated three-year-olds but there look to be some runners with great potential among them.
Race 4 is for fillies and the field contains a runner who looks to have great potential in Lady Of Power.
Trainer Joe Soma recently had to say goodbye to Got The Greenlight who was sent off to stud, but hopefully he has a filly who could fill the gap.
Of course, it is way too early to claim this daughter of Master Of My Fate as the next War Of Athena or Rain In Holland but she does have exciting potential.
She has only run twice but both those races were against top company. She found no support on debut, going off at 25-1 and finishing third, but winner of that race, Time Fo Orchids, came out to finish a one-length third behind Ameena in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper at Greyville and then started one of the favourites for the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at the same venue last Saturday.
Unfortunately, after a slow start nothing went her way and jockey Keagan de Melo reported that he felt something amiss in the closing stages.
In that maiden run, second-placed Flowerbomb was all the rage to win her next start and duly obliged, cruising home to beat Silver Winter by three lengths.
Add to that the fact fourth-placed Orarari Gold romped to a four-length victory over Tulip Tree in her next outing adds even more impetus to Lady Of Power’s cause.
Lady Of Power went off as the odds-on favourite for her next race over 1200m at the Vaal and went on to beat Paul Peter-trained Silver Mensa by 2.25 lengths. Peter thinks quite highly of charge which adds to the quality of Lady Of Power’ victory.
She is going to love the extra 250m and will take power of beating.
Gavin Lerena rode her to victory last time, and he is back on board for this race.
A filly could also come out on top of Race 3 which is open to all three-year-olds, but based on feature-race form, Stuart Pettigrew could be on the mark with Feather Boa.
Pettigrew took the daughter of Flower Alley off to KwaZulu-Natal to contest the Non-Black Type BSA Sales Cup for two-year-old fillies over 1300m at Hollywoodbets Greyville last month.
She was still a maiden at that stage but the field all ran at level weights and she was drawn No 12 of 13 runners. Ridden by Richard Fourie, she was well back in the field and turned for home in last place. But she took off late and flew up to win just short of the line, beating Canadian Summer by 0.40 lengths going away.
The runner-up was already a two-time winner and then last Saturday went on to claim the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at Greyville.
Feather Boa is the best-weighted runner in the field and should give in-from Kabelo Matsunyane another victory.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 I'm In Love, 5 Skyfull, 6 Rosslyne, 8 Queen Britanna
Race 2: Atticus Finch, 1 Clap Of Thunder, 8 Central City, 5 Global Breeze
Race 3: 5 Feather Boa, 2 Raffles, 3 Meridius, 1 Total Protection
Race 4: 6 Lady Of Power, 4 Captain Peg, 1 Time For Glory, 2 I Am Regal
Race 5: 5 Winter Stories, 9 Bard Of Avon, 8 Naarah, 1 Bold Ransom
Race 6: 1 Spielberg, 2 Who's That Star, 5 Scottadito, 4 Phinda Mzala
Race 7: 4 Brenden James, 6 Romeo's Magic, 1 Jaimala, 2 Elusive Swann
Race 8: 4 Mcebisi, 5 Humble Tune, 6 Just A Memory, 2 Golden Tune
BEST BET
Race 4 No 6 Lady Of Power
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 5 Winter Story
BEST SWINGER
Race 6 1x2
BIPOT
R108
Leg 1: 1, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1, 7
Leg 3: 2, 3, 5
Leg 4: 6
Leg 5: 5, 8, 9
Leg 6: 1, 2
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 7
Leg 2: 2, 3, 5
Leg 3: 6
Leg 4: 5, 8, 9
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 1, 4, 6
Leg 7: 2, 4, 5, 6
PICK 6
R1500
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 2: 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 8, 9
Leg 4: 1, 2
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
JACKPOT 1
R50
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 8, 9
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
JACKPOT 2
R300
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 8, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6