This one’s a proper Sheela

Jack Milner

There look to be some decent bets at Turffontein on Thursday when they race on the Standside track but many of them are likely to be very short in the betting.

However, one runner who should be a slightly better-priced favourite is Sheela, who runs in Race 6, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m.

This four-year-old daughter of The United States was well supported to win the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint last month but after leading through the 400m mark faded slightly to finish a four-lengths fourth behind Isivunguvungu.

Trained by Mike and Adam Azzie, Sheela came into that event having won her two previous races with ease but there was a break between the pair and perhaps she suffered the effects of a second run after a layoff.

However, she takes a drop in class this time and will be tough to beat. She is the best weighted runner by at least 1.5kg.

S’manga Khumalo has ridden her eight times for four wins and four places and he will be back in the irons once again.

Trainer Ashley Fortune, who is in the process of packing her bags for Australia with husband Andrew Fortune, should win the card opener, a Juvenile Plate for fillies over the 1160m straight where Ripple Effect looks a class above the rest of the field.

Having opened her account over the shortest trip of 800m at Turffontein on the Highveld, she followed up running just 3.70 lengths behind Golden Tatjana next time out over 1000m down at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in Cape Town.

Considering that Golden Tatjana then went on to contest two Group 3-races with distinction, finishing third and second respectively behind Winter Cloud and Cliff Hanger, there is absolutely no denying her ability.

Ripple Effect scored a second career win on the Turffontein Inside track two runs back and followed up with a stunning third-place finish in the Group 2 SA Nursery last time out where she was one of just two fillies taking on the opposite sex. Lucky Lad, the winner of that race, is unbeaten after three outings.

Bettors cannot expect any value when Ripple Effect enters the starting stalls, but they can expect to see this daughter of Erupt giving the judge an easy decision when the field cross the finishing line.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Ripple Effect, 2 Ice Star, 4 Si Veloce, 5 Striking Angel

Race 2: 1 Jerusalema Rain, 3 Sandringham Summit, 2 Ready To Charge, 4 Zoombomber

Race 3: 5 Running Rifles, 6 Brave Viking, 1 Meridius, 2 Willow Express

Race 4: 5 Turbo Power, 2 Free Movement, 1 Gimme A Diamond, 7 Lions Eye

Race 5: 2 Vitellius, 1 Angel Of War, 6 Vesuvio, 5 Scallywag

Race 6: 3 Sheela, 5 Godswood, 4 Rollwiththepunches, 2 Mercantour

Race 7: 10 Absolute Value, 1 Afraad, 2 Positive Attitude, 9 Mambo Come Tesio

Race 8: 1 Red Maple, 4 Southern Song, 8 Trump My Queen, 3 Opera Glass

BEST BET

Race 6 No 3 Sheela

VALUE BET

Race 3 No 5 Running Rifles

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1x3

BIPOT

R72

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 3

Leg 3: 1, 5, 6

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5

Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 6: 3

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 3

Leg 2: 1, 5, 6

Leg 3: 2, 5

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6

Leg 5: 3

Leg 6: 1, 2, 10

Leg 7: 1, 4

PICK 6

R1600

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 4: 3

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 9, 10

Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 8

JACKPOT 1

R100

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 9, 10

JACKPOT 2

R80

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 9, 10

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 8