Jack Milner
Trainer Joe Soma can get punters off to a winning start at the Vaal on Thursday when he sends out Lady Of Power in Race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m.
There are two fillies with decent form in this race, the other being Silver Mensa from the Paul Peter yard. Both have only raced once but while the Peter-trained filly found betting support to go off at 7-2, Lady Of Power started at 25-1.
But analysing the respective form, it is Lady Of Power who comes up trumps.
Firstly, winner of that race, Time Fo Orchids, came out to finish a one-length third behind Ameena in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper at Greyville on Saturday, despite jumping from a wide draw.
Then second-placed Flowerbomb was all the rage to win her next start and duly obliged, cruising home to beat Silver Winter by three lengths.
Add to that the fact fourth-placed Orarari Gold romped to a four-length victory over Tulip Tree in her next outing adds even more impetus to Lady Of Power’s cause, who is sure to improve with the experience under her belt.
Gavin Lerena takes the ride on the daughter of Master Of My Fate.
Unless there is a star among the unraced horses Silver Mensa must be the danger. She did choke up in the running on debut but that would have been dealt with by Peter.
Rozara has been highly consistent but she has been unable to find her way back into the winner’s enclose in her last four starts.
Hopefully that can all change for trainer Ashley Fortune when the three-year-old daughter of Wylie Hall lines up in Race 7, a MR 92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m.
This is quite a competitive race, but she teams up with Muzi Yeni for the first time and perhaps that will see a change of fortune.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 5 Lady Of Power, 9 Silver Mensa, 1 Berengaria, 6 Memorial Day
Race 2: 4 Fort Lauderdale, 5 Jimmy Don, 11 Timeinthewoods, 2 Brosnan
Race 3: 6 Johnny Dogs, 1 Big Five, 5 Bye Bye Birdie, 2 Never To Clever
Race 4: 3 Bless My Stars, 1 Mercurial Jet, 8 Queen Britanna, 2 Lunar Ballade
Race 5: 6 Heart And Mind, 9 Silver Clock, 5 A Touch Of Sugar, 1 Beltway
Race 6: 9 Far Away Winter, 8 Spielberg, 15 Vartacus, 14 Uncle Ticky Bird
Race 7: 8 Rozara, 9 Slalom Queen, 7 Sweet Sensation, 6 All Of Me
Race 8: 10 Rose For Trippi, 3 Love Bite, 5 Samoa, 8 Stormy Lass
BEST BET
Race 1 No 5 Lady Of Power
VALUE BET
Race 8 No 10 Rose For Trippi
BEST SWINGER
Race 6 8x9
BIPOT
R162
Leg 1: 5
Leg 2: 4, 5, 11
Leg 3: 1, 5, 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 8
Leg 5: 5, 6, 9
Leg 6: 8, 9
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 4, 5
Leg 2: 1, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 3
Leg 4: 5, 6, 9
Leg 5: 9
Leg 6: 7, 8, 9
Leg 7: 3, 5, 10
PICK 6
R1944
Leg 1: 1, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1, 3, 8
Leg 3: 5, 6, 9
Leg 4: 8, 9
Leg 5: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10
JACKPOT 1
R108
Leg 1: 1, 3, 8
Leg 2: 5, 6, 9
Leg 3: 8, 9
Leg 4: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
JACKPOT 2
R216
Leg 1: 5, 6, 9
Leg 2: 8, 9
Leg 3: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10