Jack Milner
Over the years we have seen class horses defy the distance and win races deemed far too short for them.
As the old expression goes, there is no substitute for class and that could well apply to Seeking The Stars who lines up in Race 7 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m.
While the six-year-old son of Vercingetorix has won over 1200m, one has to go back to his maiden win on 30 August 2020 to find it. Nevertheless, Seeking The Stars was at his best over 1400m so this drop in in distance should not be a train smash.
Unfortunately, he was injured after running in the 2022 Drill Hall Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville and was out of action until the same race one year later. And while he has yet to regain his earlier form, a glance at his recent opposition will explain why those were not bad runs.
He has had three runs since coming back and they were in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes, the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint and the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint. In the last two, both over 1200m, he finished 3.25 lengths behind Gimme A Prince and then went down 3.60 lengths to Isivunguvungu.
In that last race he was drawn No 12 at Greyville, raced at the back of the field for the first part of the race and then stormed home to produce the third fastest finish.
Seeking The Stars has since changed stable and is currently with Alyson Wright and will have Muzi Yeni on his back. He is drawn No 12 but although not great at Scottsville, it is, at least, up the straight.
He is also the best weighted runner by at least 3.5kg,
His main threat could come from another runner who has the class but is better over 1400m and that is Royal Victory.
Nathan Kotzen’s charge has also been campaigning predominantly in feature races over further, but he is highly talented and like Seeking The Stars, should relish the drop in class.
Once one looks beyond these two it becomes very open and all of Mr Master Starter, Blackwhitedynamite and Captain Bombshell must come into the reckoning.
Trainer Mike Miller holds the key to Race 4, a Maiden Plate over 1750m.
As he said two weeks ago when in a similar situation, he could not separate his three horses – Ancient World, Billy Of Tea and Ninety Nine Heros. The former (from the better draw) got the job done and is a maiden no more but it was least fancied Ninety Nine Heros who came out second best.
The latter had shown up strongly on the Polytrack the time before when second to another Miller inmate, Turbo Boost, but it didn’t appear a strong field and he was not as fancied as Billy Of Tea at this venue last time.
Nevertheless, he ran on well to finish 1.55 lengths ahead of Billy Of Tea but that form might not hold out on this occasion.
Billy Of Tea was dropped to the back of the field, chased up early in the straight and then had little to come.
And while Mathew Thackeray, who rode Ninety Nine Heroes last time, will be back aboard this time but it is worth noting first choice stable jockey Tristan Godden rides Billy Of Tea. Last time he opted to ride Ancient World and that proved to be the right one.
That could be the case this time with Billy Of Tea.
Run To Rio may still be underrated and as such could jump at a decent price in Race 1, a Maiden Plate over 1200m. He showed little on debut when going off at 25-1 and then jumped at 125-1 in his next start.
However, he defied those odds when finishing well to take the third cheque beaten only 2.20 lengths by Licence To Thrill. Interestingly, he finished 1.30 lengths ahead of highly regarded stable companion Teatime Tipple who was favourite for the race.
The Shepherd, with championship-chasing Richard Fourie, could attract all the money as he was right up there in a hot maiden on debut. But that was over 1000m, and he has to prove he will be just as effective over 1200m in just his second start.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 4 Run To Rio, 9 The Shepherd, 14 Flight Path, 13 Give Us A Smile
Race 2: 4 Princekresh, 3 Stanley Park, 5 Philispiel, 6 Quest For The Best
Race 3: 8 Master Fuego, 2 Kumemori, 1 Power Star, 6 El Draque
Race 4: 10 Billy Of Tea, 7 Ninety Nine Heros, 1 Sugar Blast, 3 The Golden Goal
Race 5: 3 Diana The Huntress, 10 Reckless Love, 1 African Beat, 2 Blazing Kiss
Race 6: 4 Bomber Girl, 3 American Graffiti, 6 Sweet Symphony, 2 Harley's Fate
Race 7: 12 Seeking The Stars, 2 Royal Victory, 3 Mr Master Starter, 4 Captain Bombshell
Race 8: 12 Tobacconist, 10 Captain Who, 1 Kashkaval, 4 Papa C
BEST BET
Race 6 No 4 Bomber Girl
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 3 Diana The Huntress
BEST SWINGER
Race 4 7x10
BIPOT
R162
Leg 1: 4, 9, 14
Leg 2: 3, 4, 5
Leg 3: 1, 2, 8
Leg 4: 7, 10
Leg 5: 1, 3, 10
Leg 6: 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R288
Leg 1: 3, 4
Leg 2: 1, 2, 8
Leg 3: 10
Leg 4: 1, 3, 10
Leg 5: 4
Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 12
Leg 7: 1, 4, 10, 12
PICK 6
R1800
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8
Leg 2: 7, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 10
Leg 4: 4
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12
JACKPOT 1
R40
Leg 1: 7, 10
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 10
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
JACKPOT 2
R180
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 10
Leg 4: 4
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12