Tatjana to strike gold at Scottsville

Jack Milner

Although she has only notched up one victory, Golden Tatjana should have the edge over her opponents in Race 7 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, the R400,000 Farm Sale Stakes (Non-Black Type) for three-year-olds over 1200m.

The Glen Kotzen-trained filly won at the second time of asking but she has raced in a number of feature races as a juvenile where she performed decently.  

She finished third in the Summer Juvenile Stakes on Cape Met Day, third in the Cape Fillies Nursery, second in the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes at Scottsville and then fourth behind in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship, also at Scottsville.

She failed to show in the Golden Horseshoe at Hollywoodbets Greyville last time but there were excuses, and that run is best forgotten.

That form puts her way above the exposed form of her opposition and should make her good enough to win a race of this nature.

The obvious danger looks to be Sean Tarry-trained Dhoni, who was a fast-finishing second on debut, although that was over 1600m in soft going at Turffontein.

Of course, Tarry does have a line as he also trains Mrs Geriatrix who won the Allan Robertson with Golden Tatjana beaten 4.90 lengths behind her.

Golden Tatjana has performed well against the boys before, and she will benefit from the 2.5kg sex allowance. The colts all carry 60kg and the fillies come in with 57.5kg on their backs.  

Muzi Yeni has picked up the ride on the Erupt filly.

Dhoni was outpaced over 1600m on debut only getting into the race late when beaten just 0.40 lengths behind William Iron Arm.

Ant Mgudlwa will ride the son of Pomodoro.

Licence To Thrill could start off the season in style for trainer Mike Miller who drew a blank in July, which was to be expected considering the barrage of quality runners coming into the province from all over the country.

The Twice Over gelding finished second to Tail Of The Comet, who won in a very fast time. The latter, of course, hails from Tarry’s yard and most importantly, in just his second start came from a hopeless position to finish an unlucky third in the Grade 2 Umkhomazi Stakes last Sunday, franking the form in no uncertain terms.

Licence To Thrill also finished in front of Thisiswhatitmeans who had plenty experience over him, and he did this from a tricky outside starting stall. His form is solid and with a bit of improvement he should land Race 1, a Maiden Plate over 1200m.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 13 Licence To Thrill, 1 Helsinki, 14 Teatime Tipple, 3 Tipouri

Race 2: 11 Twinklelittlestar, 9 Purple Flower, 8 Madame Zee, 10 Sea Of Tears

Race 3: 4 Mambo's Call, 2 Aberdeen, 5 Potent Captain, 1 Kumemori

Race 4: 3 Sleek As Silk, 8 Shoefella, 7 Ibutho, 6 Mr Pigalle

Race 5: 4 Princekresh, 9 Chara Sands, 7 Donquerari, 8 Ziyasha

Race 6: 7 Querandi, 5 African Folklore, 6 Acacia's Blossom, 8 Sweet Symphony

Race 7: 2 Golden Tatjana, 3 Dhoni, 7 Qhawe Lami, 6 Azaleas For All

Race 8: 1 Tree Fairy, 5 Manic Monday, 7 Blazing Kiss, 2 Reckless Love

Race 9: 5 Gelsomina, 3 Foreshore, 4 Devils And Dust, 6 Rosy Lemon

BEST BET

Race 2 No 11 Twinklelittlestar

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 4 Princekresh

BEST SWINGER

Race 7 2x3

BIPOT

R162

Leg 1: 11

Leg 2: 2, 4, 5

Leg 3: 3, 7, 8

Leg 4: 4, 7, 9

Leg 5: 5, 6, 7

Leg 6: 2

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 2, 4, 5

Leg 2: 3, 8

Leg 3: 4, 7, 9

Leg 4: 5, 7

Leg 5: 2

Leg 6: 1, 5, 7

Leg 7: 3, 4, 5

PICK 6

R1440

Leg 1: 3, 7, 8

Leg 2: 2, 4, 7, 8, 9

Leg 3: 2, 5, 7

Leg 4: 2, 3

Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 7

Leg 6: 3, 4, 5, 6

JACKPOT 1

R120

Leg 1: 2, 4, 7, 8, 9

Leg 2: 2, 5, 7

Leg 3: 2, 3

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 7

JACKPOT 2

R96

Leg 1: 2, 5, 7

Leg 2: 2, 3

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 7

Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 6