Take ‘Pride’ in Gavin at Vaal

The card sees some very interesting racing interspersed with some nightmare low-level handicaps.

But, if racing doesn’t challenge the punter, what would be the fun of it.

There does look to be at least one stand-out bet on the card and that comes up in Race 7, where Sean Tarry saddles promising filly Desert Pride in a MR 84 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m.

She eased in the betting on debut in a work riders’ race but ran on strongly to finish a 0.80-length second to Flower Of Scotland.

Two winners have come from that form line, one of them being Desert Pride who went on to beat Dancing Arabian by 0.50 lengths over 1200m. In her third start she raced over this track and trip and easily accounted for Louvain by 2.50 lengths.

She does not meet the strongest of fields this time and looks a firm favourite to complete the hat-trick. Gavin Lerena rode her last time and he is back board this daughter of Pomodora.

The most interesting race on the card comes up in Race 3, an Allowance Plate over 1400m. It comprises a small but classy field which includes WSB Grand Heritage winner Expressfromtheus, Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Lady Of Steel and Pack Leader, who started favourite for the Grade 1 WSB Gauteng Summer Cup over 2000m last time.

Alec Laird’s charge may not have been suited to the conditions on the day and might have had a problem with the 2000m distance on a yielding course, but he did brush the rail 1400m from home and never got into race.

Back over a preferred distance he could be hard to beat.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 7 Deanagelo, 1 Great Esteem, 4 Grazinginthegrass, 6 Black Thorn

Race 2: 7 Keepingthepeace, 13 Pin It, 6 Legal Star, 3 Bright Eyed Girl

Race 3: 3 Pack Leader, 1 Expressfromtheus, 2 Lady Of Steel, 5 Vaseem

Race 4: 1 She’s A Cracker, 6 Rizzoli, 5 Chenopod, 7 Immaculate

Race 5: 2 Pin Up, 10 Plum Field, 4 Curvation, 13 Piccadilly Square

Race 6: 1 Convexity, 10 Tartan Dancer, 3 Samurai Jack, 8 In The Game

Race 7: 7 Desert Pride, 5 Flaming Duchess, 4 Afternoon Tea, 10 Perfect Angel

Race 8: 1 Master Uletide, 7 May Queen, 14 Feather The Nest, 4 Crown Guardian

BIPOT

R240

Leg 1: 1, 7

Leg 2: 7, 13

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 1, 5, 6

Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 10, 13

Leg 6: 1, 3, 7, 10

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R384

Leg 1: 7, 13

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 1, 5, 6

Leg 4: 2, 4, 10, 13

Leg 5: 1, 3, 7, 10

Leg 6: 7

Leg 7: 1, 4, 7, 14

PICK 6

R2304

Leg 1: 1, 3

Leg 2: 1, 5, 6, 7

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10

Leg 5: 7

Leg 6: 1, 4, 7, 9, 14, 15

JACKPOT 1

R280

Leg 1: 1, 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10

Leg 4: 7

JACKPOT 2

R420

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10

Leg 3: 7

Leg 4: 1, 4, 7, 9, 14, 15