Jack Milner
Sean Tarry has two runners in search of a hat-trick running in consecutive races at Turffontein on Thursday and while both events are competitive, it would not come as a shock were they to achieve that success.
The first is Willow’s Wish and he comes up in Race 6, a MR 96 Handicap over 2000m on the Inside track.
The five-year-old gelding had a great start to his career, finishing fourth on debut before notching up three successive victories. But from September 2021 until March 2023, despite running numerous places, the son of Willow Magic failed to win a race.
As he was consistently running into the money, his merit rating remained relatively firm, in the end just coming down from 89 to 85. However, after a short rest Willow’s Wish came back well and paid two successive visits to the winner’s enclosure.
Considering he won the first by a head and the second by 0.50 lengths, the decision to raise his merit rating 11 points (5.5kg) for those two wins may be a little harsh.
Nevertheless, he does take a slight drop in class and the runner who finished a 1.75-length third in that last race, Otto Luyken, is just 1.5kg better off. While that should bring them much closer this time, Otto Luyken did fade late over 1800m and the additional 200m could catch him out.
A bigger threat could come from Flashy Apache who probably found 1450m a touch short last time and will be far better suited to this distance.
Keagan de Melo, who rode Willow’s Wish to victory last time, has been engaged to ride him once again.
In Race 7, a MR 73 Handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m, Tarry saddles Midnight Crystal, who has also won her last two outings. Once again, those victories were hard fought, the first by just 0.25 lengths over Memorial Day and the second by 0.20 lengths over Princess Ilaria.
This three-year old daughter of Vercingetorix battled after winning her maiden with ease and that saw her merit rating fall from a high of 73 down to 65. She got a four-point penalty for winning her penultimate start and another six points for her last victory. That has seen her going up to a career-high merit rating of 75.
She will have to be at her best to notch up a third successive win because there are some big weight turnarounds with some runners.
The most relevant is Pashasha, who is 6kg better off for a 0.40-length beating, so on paper should reverse the form. However, Midnight Crystal is an improving three-year-old while Pashasha might be at her peak right now.
The race will give us the answer.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 6 Gimmeanotherchance, 4 Dreamland, 2 Captain Wara, 1 Brotherhoodofmagic
Race 2: 11 Woodland Glade, 7 Sugary Sweet, 2 Be Real, 10 That's My Baby
Race 3: 2 Just Var, 4 Mocha Frappe, 13 White Pearl, 6 Princeofgreen
Race 4: 10 King Of The Seas, 2 Saka Gold, 9 Efficient Trader, 3 Captain Tik Tok
Race 5: 1 Poursomesugaronme, 2 Someday Maybe, 8 Inevitable, 4 Primrose Path
Race 6: 2 Willow's Wish, 1 Flashy Apache, 6 Home Of The Brave, 5 Otto Luyken
Race 7: 2 Midnight Crystal, 3 Pashasha, 8 Gilda Gray, 9 English Primrose
Race 8: 1 Call Me Master, 7 Stanley, 8 Twosidestoastory, 5 Green Sceptre
BEST BET
Race 1 No 6 Gimmeanotherchance
VALUE BET
Race 8 No 1 Call Me Master
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 2x3
BIPOT
R243
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 2, 7, 11
Leg 3: 2, 4, 13
Leg 4: 2, 9, 10
Leg 5: 1, 2, 6
Leg 6: 1, 2, 6
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 7, 11
Leg 2: 2, 4, 13
Leg 3: 2, 9, 10
Leg 4: 1, 2
Leg 5: 1, 2, 6
Leg 6: 2, 3
Leg 7: 1
PICK 6
R1296
Leg 1: 2, 4, 6, 11, 12, 13
Leg 2: 2, 9, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 6
Leg 5: 2, 3
Leg 6: 1, 7, 8
JACKPOT 1
R72
Leg 1: 1, 2, 10
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 6
Leg 4: 2, 3
JACKPOT 2
R72
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 6
Leg 3: 2, 3
Leg 4: 1, 7, 8