Jack Milner
The Laird family has left an indelible mark on the history of South African horseracing. There has been a Laird with a training licence for around 66 years with brothers Syd and Russell heading the charge.
Now, just Alec is left to carry on the Laird tradition and after a few years in the doldrums, he has a number of horses in his yard capable of picking up feature races once again.
He has a massive prospect in three-year-old Fire Attack and recently won the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas with Parisian Walkway. Laird also claimed third place with more recent acquisition Aristotle.
More was expected from the three-year-old gelding in the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m but he was reported not to be striding out and perhaps he did not enjoy the mucky conditions on the day. It was also his second run back from a layoff and that may also have had some sort of impact on his performance.
The son of Rafeef won two races in the Western Cape and can get back into the No 1 box when he lines up in Race 7 at Turffontein on Saturday when he contests a Graduation Plate over 1600m on the Standside track.
It is the same distance over which the Guineas was run and as he takes quite a big drop in class, he stands out as a banker in all bets.
The average merit rating in his last two races have been 102 and 105 respectively and this time it is 94. He is also well drawn in gate No 3. It is worth noting that on debut Aristotle did run second to leading three-year-old colt One Stripe, and although he was beaten six lengths, it was an excellent first outing.
Jockey Kabelo Matsunyane has ridden him in both of his runs since arriving on the Highveld so he knows the gelding well.
Matsunyane should get the day off to a winning start in Race 1 over 1160m aboard Robyn Klaasen-trained Littlemisssplendid. This Act Of War filly didn't go unnoticed on debut over the same course and distance two weeks ago when finishing third against male opposition including former winners.
She would have come on appreciably with the benefit of that experience and Littlemisssplendid needn't improve much - if at all - to open her account under Matsunyane in the opener.
Muzi Yeni also has some decent rides on the day and he can go close in a number of races. But sometimes, even though the runner might not be off to Hollywood, a trainer finds the right race and even an average horse stands out in a race.
That looks to be the case with Pacific, who lines up in Race 10, a MR 66 Handicap over 1000m.
Owned, trained and bred by St John Gray, this four-year-old son of Willow Magic has a lot in his favour. This is not the strongest of fields, he is racing off a merit rating of just 59, his lowest rating so far, but comes off a good last run in which he ran a 0.90-length third behind Thunderbird.
He is well drawn towards the outside of the pack up the straight and Yeni is currently in top form.
This four-year-old gelding is one to include in All-To-Come bets.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Littlemisssplendid, 6 Queen's Pact, 5 Princess Keira, 7 Quiet Winter
Race 2: 3 Esteemed, 5 Simbine, 1 Blizzard Quest, 8 Blindfire
Race 3: 3 Old Fashioned, 2 Hemisphere, 1 Alesian Beau, 6 Ringho
Race 4: 2 Obsidian, 9 Saudi Sweep, 6 Canford Club, 8 Inclusion
Race 5: 4 Cape Saffron, 3 Art Nouveau, 6 Wearingofthegreen, 1 Summer Winter
Race 6: 1 Just Var, 3 Theres A Light, 6 Tokyo Medaglia, 2 Sigrid Swing
Race 7: 1 Aristotle, 4 Kamensky, 8 Too Late My Mate, 5 One More Star
Race 8: 5 Whafeef, 6 Apache Son, 8 Birthright, 4 Star Coin
Race 9: 4 Quantum Theory, 5 Mount Pilatus, 6 Karate Kid, 1 Mrs Browning
Race 10:7 Pacific, 5 Samoa, 9 Dancing Dora, 1 In The Ether
BEST BET
Race 10:7 Pacific
VALUE BET
Race 8: 5 Whafeef
BEST SWINGER
Race 4 1x2
BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3
Leg 3: 2
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 6
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 4, 5, 6, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R243
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 3, 4, 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 5, 6, 8
Leg 7: 4, 5, 6
PICK 6
R1500
1125
Leg 1: 2, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 6, 10
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
JACKPOT 1
R150
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 6, 10
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
JACKPOT 2
R30
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 4: 7