Jack Milner
Aspirations of a berth in the R6-million Betway Summer Cup sees a number of horses on the cusp hoping to book their places in the Grade 1 race over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 29 November.
A few of them will be in action at Turffontein on Thursday when the eight-race card will be run on the Inside track.
One of the most interesting contests comes up in Race 4, a MR 95 Handicap over 2000m, where three of those hopefuls – The Ultimate King, Pumpkin Pie and Infinite Wonder – will attempt to get their merit ratings up to an acceptable level and also indicate to the team making the final selection that they are in form and worthy of consideration.
Infinite Wonder is probably the least likely to book a place in the big race as he has been out of form and his merit rating has been moving in the wrong direction.
The other two, however, hold outside chances of claiming a place but even if they did win this race, they will still need to prove themselves in races like the Grade 3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes on 9 November.
The Ultimate King, trained by Tony Peter and to be partnered by Gavin Lerena, is a proven specialist over the distance. The four-year-old son of Vercingetorix has thrived since being gelded, stringing together three consecutive wins - the last of those over this very course and distance - before narrowly failing to extend that streak when conceding 2.5kg to the winner in a similar MR 95 Handicap.
His subsequent fifth over 1800m at the Vaal can be forgiven, given the penalty and change of rider. With Lerena back in the saddle and a return to his preferred 2000m, he looks to be a massive contender.
The stable is in top form as they have indicated with victories by the likes of The Equator, Buffalo Storm Cody and Rachel Wall over the past few days.
Candice Dawson also has her yard in top form and she will send out lightly raced Pumpkin Pie to be ridden by Serino Moodley. The Buffalo Bill Cody gelding has shown enough promise in shorter events to suggest the step up to 2000m could bring about further improvement. He is bred for middle distances and if he sees it out strongly could make a compelling case for inclusion in the Cup line-up.
However, there are others, not entered into the Summer Cup, who need to be taken into consideration for this event, headed up by Hawkbill. This Lucky Houdalakis-trained Elusive Fort gelding finished 1.40 lengths ahead of The Ultimate King last time and they meet at the same weights.
That run puts him right into the fray, but he does have to jump from No 11 draw. Craig Zackey takes the ride.
The other contender looks to be Kudzu, a reliable handicapper, worth including in Exacta and Trifecta combinations for those chasing bigger dividends.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Real Stunner, 8 Luwak, 9 Red Sunrise, 3 Naretoi
Race 2: 1 Duchess Of Paloma, 2 Winds Of Grace, 8 Lucky Chance, 6 Witching Hour
Race 3: 1 Dual Prophecy, 2 Page Boy, 8 Six Of All, 6 Olympian Gold
Race 4: 6 Pumpkin Pie, 1 The Ultimate King, 2 Hawkbill, 8 Kudzu
Race 5: 1 Miss Hannigan, 5 Princess Ilaria, 8 Juniper Green, 4 Across The Pond
Race 6: 1 Big Unit, 2 Fully Loaded, 9 Take No Prisoners, 10 Winston's Wonder
Race 7: 4 Max The Magician, 9 Paul Revere, 1 That's My Baby, 5 Silver Tudor
Race 8: 5 Merryweather, 1 Lady Sabrina, 8 Universal Girl, 6 Paris Fun
BEST BET
Race 8: 5 Merryweather
VALUE BET
Race 5: 1 Miss Hannigan
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 1x2
BIPOT
R324
Leg 1: 1, 8, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3
Leg 5: 1, 5, 8
Leg 6: 1, 2
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R144
Leg 1: 1, 2, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2
Leg 3: 1, 6
Leg 4: 1, 5, 8
Leg 5: 1, 2
Leg 6: 4, 9
Leg 7: 5
PICK 6
R1008
Leg 1: 1, 2, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 9, 10
Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 9
Leg 6: 5
JACKPOT 1
R336
Leg 2: 1, 2, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 9, 10
Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 9
JACKPOT 2
R112
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 9, 10
Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 9
Leg 6: 5