Jack Milner: Racing returns to the Vaal Classic track on Tuesday and bettors are faced with a tricky card.
Of course, other than races over 1000m which are run up the straight, all the others take place around the turn so draws do matter, especially in events from 1200m to 1600m.
One runner to keep an eye on is lightly raced Pamushana’s Pride who runs in Race 4, a Classified Stakes over 1800m. This Louis The King gelding will be having only his fifth start, winning on his third run and following that up with a 1.75-length third to above-average Gimmethegoahead over this distance on the Turffonten Standside track.
Gimmethegoahead proved his ability when a 4.85-length third behind Second Base in the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m on the Turffontein inside track last Saturday so that backs up the ability of Pamushana’s Pride.
Alec Laird’s charge has plenty of improvement to come while the opposition is made up of runners with well-exposed form.
S’manga Khumalo has ridden him is all of his races and he is back on board on Tuesday.
Perhaps the biggest threat is David Nieuwenhuizen-trained five-year-old mare Plum Field, who is honest, and comes off two runner-up spots. Jason Gates rides and she carries just 53.5kg.
Finding a best bet on this card is not easy but perhaps we can open the meeting with a win on Rollwiththepunches, trained by Roy Magner in this Juvenile Plate Race over 1000m. He won impressively on debut where he beat heavily supported filly Bella Chica from the Ashley Fortune yard by 0.75 lengths. The latter came out subsequently and had to be hard ridden to claim her spoils.
They now meet on identical terms.
In his second start, Rollwiththepunches had his work cut out when taking on Cold Fact, a filly highly rated by trainer Paul Peter. He had to give her 2.5kg and went down three-lengths.
Dorrie Sham’s Vercingetorix filly Naarah was backed when duly obliging on debut, despite being hampered by a slipped saddle, and can only improve over the extra 200m.
The joker in the pack could be well-bred debutante Social Image who receives 5.5kg from the Magner-trained colt. If she is well supported, follow the money.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 11 Rollwiththepunches, 2 Bella Chica, 3 Naarah, 9 Social Image
Race 2: 3 Raeesah, 9 Alex The Great, 4 Mr Hugo, 7 Allez Les Bleu
Race 3: 9 So Long Spring, 7 Ration My Passion, 1 Palace Green, 8 The Sash
Race 4: 2 Pamushana’s Pride, 11 Plum Field, 6 Drummer Dude, 1 Afraad
Race 5: 11 Finchatton, 5 Nebraas, 2 Sell High, 10 Just Kidding
Race 6: 1 Romeo’s Magic, 2 Kool Baikal, 8 Fly North, 7 Un Deux Trois
Race 7: 3 Stone Cold, 7 El Romiachi, 3 River Jordan, 9 Waqaas
Race 8: 1 After Hours, 3 Successful Secret, 7 Heart Of A Legend, 13 Hottentots Holland
BEST BET
Race 1 No 1 Rollwiththepunches
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 1 Finchatton
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 1×2
BIPOT
R162
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 3, 4, 9
Leg 3: 1, 7, 9
Leg 4: 2, 11
Leg 5: 1, 2, 5
Leg 6: 1, 2, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R243
Leg 1: 3, 4, 9
Leg 2: 1, 7, 9
Leg 3: 2
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5
Leg 5: 1, 2, 8
Leg 6: 6
Leg 7: 1, 3, 7
PICK 6
R1920
Leg 1: 1, 7, 8, 9
Leg 2: 2, 6, 11
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 10
Leg 4: 1, 2, 7, 8
Leg 5: 6, 7
Leg 6: 1, 3, 7, 8, 13
JACKPOT 1
R96
Leg 1: 2, 6, 11
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2, 7, 8
Leg 4: 6, 7
JACKPOT 2
R224
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 10
Leg 2: 1, 2, 7, 8
Leg 3: 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 13