Jack Milner: Trainer Corne Spies could be in for a successful meeting at Turffontein on Wednesday.
The stable is currently in good form and Spies has a number of runners in action at this meeting on the Inside track.
Best of his runner looks to be Sweet Sensation in Race 5, a Graduation Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m. He originally also had Cockney Pride carded to race but her victory at Turffontein on Saturday made her a three-time winner and therefore ineligible for this event.
But Sweet Sensation has the pace needed to win a race of this nature. Her debut run was at this track, but she landed a wide draw and fell behind early on. She did run on well to finish third.
Her only win was over 1000m at the Vaal, and last Thursday she showed a lot of pace but could not match it with Sean Tarry-trained Slalom Queen and was beaten 2.25 lengths into second.
With both Cockney’s Pride and Winter Smoke out of this race, jockey Muzi Yeni will be able to place her perfectly from No 2 draw and that should give her every chance.
Her main dangers have to be speedy Greens from the Paul Peter yard, and Mike de Kock-trained Southern Charm.
Spies sends out All Of Me in Race 6, a MR 96 Handicap, also over 1000m. This five-year-old mare is used taking on and beating the colts. She is a nine-time winner and has developed a good rapport with jockey Piere Strydom. He has ridden her four times for two wins and a second place and Strydom can improve that statistic this time.
This is quite a competitive race and there are some other runners to consider. Top of the list is Naafer from the De Kock yard. He finished four lengths behind Slalom Queen last week in his first run back from gelding and can only improve on that performance.
Isphan might be nine year’s old but he loves racing and is rarely far off them over 1000m. Apprentice Cole Dicken knows this gelding well, having ridden him seven times. He also takes 1.5kg off his back.
Spies could provide bettors with a profitable each-way bet in Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1450m, where he sends out Tai Gold. There was a nibble at the betting in his last run where he finished fifth behind Al Qaqaa over 1200m at this course last time.
That was his first run after a layoff and he should show further improvement in this event. Yeni rode him last time and he appears quite happy to get aboard the Wylie Hall gelding once again.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 11 Manterio, 7 Eagle Alley, 2 Duke Of Abercorn, 1 Ash Race 2: 15 Emaline, 5 Emerald Floe, 7 Lady Nica Race 3: 2 Tai Gold, 15 The Sands, 10 Melchizedek, 1 Contrail Race 4: 5 Starflash, 3 Var Aglow, 7 Mind Reader, 8 Gang Leader Race 5: 8 Sweet Sensation, 3 Greens, 4 Southern Charm, 9 Varina Race 6: 2 All Of Me, 4 Naafer, 6 Isphan, 3 Che Bella Race 7: 2 Bingwa, 5 Louis Gem, 8 Have A Go Jo, 4 Dr Doolittle Race 8: 1 Shezaglo, 4 Illuminate, 11 Fly North, 3 Curvation