Jack Milner
The Grade 3 Fillies Mile top the card on the Standside track at Turffontein on Saturday in what this looks to be quite an intriguing affair.
While there are some exposed runners in this event for three-year-old filles who did well in two-year-old features last season, there are others who only started racing this season and also some late developers.
Trainer Sean Tarry looks to hold a strong hand with three runners, all of whom appear to have winning chances if at their best.
Looking back at their two-year-old careers all three ran in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville and it was Rock The Fox who produced a flying finish from a wide draw to just fail by a short head to beat Canadian Summer.
Just a long head behind her in their place came Bless My Stars while River Queraress, who did not have the best of luck and had to ease 200m from home, ended up 6.70 lengths behind the winners.
The last two mentioned fillies were with trainer Paul Peter at the time but when he stopped training, both moved to Tarry.
Based on jockey arrangements, Rock The Fox looks to be the stable’s first choice as Calvin Habib, who is the first-choice jockey for the yard, takes the ride. However, he has been aboard the daughter of Canford Cliffs for six of her eight races and clearly has built up a rapport with the filly.
But Habib also rode Bless My Stars when she ran fifth in her first run for Tarry which was against the colts, and then ran out a facile winner in her second outing when beating Mike’s Chick by 2.80 lengths.
Diego de Gouveia takes the ride on Bless My Stars and based on the way she has come on, she gets a slight nod ahead of Rock the Fox.
Rock the Fox has also raced twice this season, firstly putting up a promising effort when a 2.60-length fifth to Captain Peg over1450m but then did not show her best form in the Grade 3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes over 1400m on this course at Turffontein.
She took a walk in the betting to start at 16-1 and ran accordingly, ending up a 5.75-length eighth to Miss Daisy. However, she suffered a minor injury so there was a valid excuse. Rock The Fox is better than that performance and if back to best has to be a lively contender.
But if you like Rock The Fox you have to consider None Other, trained by Lucky Houdalakis, as she beat Tarry’s charge in both of those last two races and, in the case of the run behind Captain Peg, is 3kg better off.
S’manga Khumalo rode her last time when fifth behind Miss Daisy and he has picked up the ride again.
Mike de Kock has a very interesting runner in Bonete. This beautifully bred filly has only raced once, running out a facile winner by 4.75 lengths over 1450m. She does take a huge jump in class but De Kock loves to throw them in at the deep-end to see how they will swim – and this filly could well rise to the occasion.
Other to consider are Emirate Gina and Berengaria.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Mighty Goddess, 1 Mia Fiore, 16 Virgin River, 10 Powers That Be
Race 2: 11 Munchkin, 4 Stroke Of Mercy, 15 We've Got Tonight, 3 Walker Bay
Race 3: 8 Mini Coop, 11 Twice The Storm, 6 Jimmy Don, 4 Frontline Fighter
Race 4: 3 Integrate, 12 In The Ether, 13 Power Ranger, 1 Esquevelle
Race 5: 4 Diesel And Dust, 12 Flying First Class, 3 Flashy Apache, 5 Whispers Of War
Race 6: 1 Reny, 3 Asiye Phambili, 4 Barmaid, 7 Gilda Gray
Race 7: 2 Bless My Stars, 3 Rock The Fox, 5 None Other, 9 Bonete
Race 8: 1 Crimson Princess, 5 Magical Flight, 4 Bureau Des Legende, 2 Definitely Maybe
Race 9: 8 Gallic Tribe, 5 Unzen, 1 Forever Mine, 3 Reunion
Race 10: 5 Electric Gold, 2 Expeditioner, 4 Arividicio, 8 Houston
BEST BET
Race 2 No 11 Munchkin
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 4 Diesel And Dust
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 1x2
BIPOT
R108
Leg 1: 11
Leg 2: 6, 8, 11
Leg 3: 1, 3, 12, 13
Leg 4: 3, 4, 12
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 2, 3, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 8, 11
Leg 2: 3, 12, 13
Leg 3: 3, 4, 12
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 2, 3, 5
Leg 6: 1, 5
Leg 7: 5, 8
PICK 6
R1750
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 12, 13
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 8, 9
Leg 5: 1, 5
Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8
JACKPOT 1
R70
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 2, 3, 5, 8, 9
Leg 4: 1, 5
JACKPOT 2
R300
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 8, 9
Leg 2: 1, 5
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8
Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11