Jack Milner
Classic Day at Turffontein is strongly excepted to live up to its name as it includes the two Grade 1 Classics for three-year-olds and incorporates Super Saturday at Meydan, the prelude to World Cup night, which is a World Pool meeting.
For betters locally we also have a R1-million Pick 6 carryover with the pool likely to reach R6 million.
But most eyes will be on the Grade 1 World Sports Betting SA Classic over 1800m and in particular on Paul Matchett-trained Eye Of The Prophet who is the last horse standing in search of World Sports Betting Triple Crown glory.
Ridden by apprentice Rachel Venniker, Eye Of The Prophet showed loads of courage to hold off Royal Victory that day. The latter looked all over a winner when he cruised up to lead with 200m to run but then he started to hang in badly, bumping Eye Of The Prophet in the process.
While Eye Of The Prophet will have no problem with the additional 200m this time, there has to be some doubt as to whether Royal Victory will go 1800m in this company. If he does, he should contest the finish.
However, the best value could lie with Electric Gold. Now trained by Sean Tarry, this son of Flying The Flag will have no issues with the distance. He has run twice over the course and distance for a win and a second place and that runner-up spot was a 0.40-length second behind WSB Summer Cup winner Puerto Manzano in the Grade 3 London News Stakes.
He did not have the best of luck in the Gauteng Guineas as he had to be steadied 400m into the race and did not have the easiest path coming up the straight. However, he still managed to finish third.
He will be better over this distance and will be ridden by in-form Kabelo Matsunyane.
Trainer Mike de Kock has two runners in East Coast and Shoemaker and both must have winning chances if they run to their best form.
East Coast probably needed the run when finishing 6.50 lengths behind Eye Of The Prophet in the Gauteng Guineas. However, he has a lot going for him this time, in particular No 1 draw, Keagan de Melo in the irons, and the fact he will be better over 1800m. He ran a cracker over this course and distance when second in the Victory Moon Stakes and needs to be included in all bets.
Shoemaker has not had the best of fortune recently, finishing unplaced in the Cape Guineas and then not striding out in the Gauteng Guineas. He also has not had much luck with draws and that is also the case in this race. However, he is highly regarded and is far better than his recent form suggests.
This is a very open race and it would be wise to add a number of runners into the exotics. Billy Bowlegs has a wide draw to overcome but Alec Laird’s charge won the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes over this course and distance.
Le Morne did not do well in the Guineas but trainer James Crawford explained the Futura colt had not be with him long enough to acclimatise fully. “He’s putting in some good work now and although I’m unsure about the trip, if he puts his best foot forward he has to be a runner.”
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 4 Lucy English, 2 Sheldon, 6 Mini Coop, 7 Rozara
Race 2: 6 Zoombomber, 2 Lucky Lad, 5 Sandringham Summit, 3 Max The Magician
Race 3: 14 Women Of Fame, 10 Red Hot Rose, 6 Miss Shaivi, 2 Crimson Cloud
Race 4: 1 Poursomesugaronme, 8 Avoontoast, 4 Rockingthetimeaway, 2 Look To The Stars
Race 5: 4 William Robertson, 9 Under Your Spell, 5 Bingwa, 1 Puerto Manzano
Race 6: 1 Lady Of Power, 6 None Other, 2 Feather Boa, 4 Emirate Gina
Race 7: 8 Electric Gold, 2 Eye Of The Prophet, 4 Royal Victory, 7 Billy Bowlegs
Race 8: 2 Litigation, 12 Flashy Apache, 3 Johnny Hero, 6 Castletown
Race 9: 7 Angel Of War, 6 Smith And Wesson, 4 Back In Business, 3 Cool Winter
Race 10: 1 Jet Dynasty, 2 Mo The Man, 3 Godfather, 11 On The Guest List
BEST BET
Race 10 No 1 Jet Dynasty
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 8 Electric Gold
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 4x9
BIPOT
R120
Leg 1: 2, 5, 6
Leg 2: 14
Leg 3: 1, 8
Leg 4: 4
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 6
Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R256
Leg 1: 14
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 6
Leg 5: 2, 4, 7, 8
Leg 6: 2, 3, 6, 12
Leg 7: 3, 4, 6, 7
PICK 6
R1680
Leg 1: 1, 8
Leg 2: 4
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11
Leg 5: 2, 3, 6, 12
Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
JACKPOT 1
R168
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11
Leg 4: 2, 3, 6, 12
JACKPOT 2
R140
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11
Leg 2: 2, 3, 6, 12
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1