Jack Milner
Trainer Paul Matchett has been making a number of raids to KwaZulu-Natal of late and has been most successful.
On Sunday he is making a visit to Hollywoodbets Scottsville in Pietermaritzburg with just one runner – Mist In Scotland – and she pops up in Race 9, a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m.
This is not the first time the two-year-old daughter of Vercingetorix will be heading in that direction as her last run took place last month at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the Polytrack where she ran out an emphatic 1.50-length winner over Trafalgar Square. Rachel Venniker rode her to victory on that occasion and Matchett has engaged her again for this ride.
Mist In Scotland has some decent form and after finishing third on debut, won her maiden with ease in her next start. She raced in two consecutive features over further than 1000m but faded out late in both. However, she impressed when returning to the minimum distance at Greyville.
Incidentally, her full sister, Ancient Epic, is running a race earlier and she too must have an excellent chance.
But if the two-year-old finds the opposition too strong it could be worth weighing in with Tienie Prinsloo-trained Sting Ray, who ran a decent race at the course last time.
In fact, she has won her only race over course and distance and in five runs at the course she has chalked up two wins and two places. She also has benefit of having Richard Fourie in the irons.
One horse who may be counted on as a banker is Plaza Accord in Race 5, a Maiden Plate over 1200m.
He was heavily backed from 9-2 into 1-1 favourite on debut but was beaten 0.50 lengths by Highveld raider Rainbow Reward. The form was franked when the Rafeef gelding went on to run second to useful filly Flowerbomb, beaten 0.40 lengths at Turffontein last week.
Plaza Accord is a son of promising Japanese stallion Danon Platina and he should come on nicely, but the progeny have displayed a need for more ground.
That is a good thing as they could turn into Classic horses and for now Plaza Accord should be speedy enough to win.
Trainer Paul Gadsby looks to dominate Race 4, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m where he saddles Full Of Magic and Sea Of Tears.
There is no question juvenile Full Of Magic is limited, but she raised her game a few starts back and almost won her penultimate start, suggesting she has wins to come.
It could be her turn on Sunday.
Her last run might appear off-putting because she faded into fifth place, but it was actually a fair effort as she took on winners and didn’t stay 1200m. She is back over 1000m, the distance over which she was pipped.
S’manga Khumalo takes the ride.
Sea Of Tears is far more exposed as she has raced 17 times for six seconds, five thirds and a fourth but she looks to better over 1200m. However, Keagan de Melo takes the ride and she also needs to be respected and included in exotic permutations.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Purple Powahouse, 6 Knight Warrior, 2 Trade War, 5 Servilius
Race 2: 4 Porto Zante, 12 Arverni Princess, 5 Lady Canton, 7 Miss Paget
Race 3: 3 Trusova, 12 Rapidash, 7 Down By The River, 4 Josephine's Pride
Race 4: 4 Full Of Magic, 5 Sea Of Tears, 15 A Time To Dance, 10 Jane's Vision
Race 5: 11 Benni In The Area, 2 Dynalley, 7 Future Of Energy
Race 6: 13 Gorgeous Guy, 12 Kumemori, 1 Run To Rio, 10 Master Josh
Race 7: 3 Tiz Magic, 5 Palm Breeze, 4 Kileigh's Fate, 14 Flying The Star
Race 8: 7 Get In The Q, 5 Ancient Epic, 8 Calulo, 2 Sweet Symphony
Race 9: 4 Sting Ray, 5 Mist In Scotland, 7 Captain's Christy, 6 Maquette
Race 10: 2 Aberdeen, 6 Power Star, 1 House Of Romanov, 13 Johnny The Thief
BEST BET
Race 5 No 11 Benni In The Area
VALUE BET
Race 8 No 7 Get In The Q
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 1x7
BIPOT
R432
Leg 1: 4, 5, 12
Leg 2: 3, 7, 12
Leg 3: 4, 5, 15
Leg 4: 11
Leg 5: 1, 10, 12, 13
Leg 6: 3, 4, 5, 14
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 3, 7, 12
Leg 2: 4, 5
Leg 3: 11
Leg 4: 1, 12, 13
Leg 5: 3, 4, 5
Leg 6: 5, 7, 8
Leg 7: 4, 5
PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 4, 5, 10, 15
Leg 2: 11
Leg 3: 1, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16
Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 14
Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8
Leg 6: 4, 5, 7
JACKPOT 1
R180
Leg 1: 11
Leg 2: 1, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16
Leg 3: 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 14
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8
JACKPOT 2
R360
Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 14
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8
Leg 3: 4, 5, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 6, 13