Trainer Candice Bass-Robinson and Drakenstein Stud owner Gaynor Rupert have established themselves as prominent players not only on the Western Cape racing scene but across South Africa, even joining forces to win at the highest level with star fillies such as Inara and Clouds Unfolds as well as this season's Grade 1 winners Trip Of Fortune and 'boom horse' Charles Dickens.
And both leading ladies will likely enjoy further success this weekend - together and in their personal capacity - when racing returns to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday 4 June for a 10-race card that features a pair of two-year-old Listed events.
After three consecutive seconds to begin her career, Bass-Robinson has sent out Drakenstein homebred Distant Winter to back-to-back recent wins. This highly rated juvenile filly won the Grade 3 Fillies' Winter Nursery last time out over 1100m and is good value to follow up in the 1200m Listed Perfect Promise Sprint (Race 7) under Aldo Domeyer.
As the only multiple winner in the line-up, this daughter of What A Winter must concede weight to all but her experience and solid form credentials will stand Distant Winter in good stead and could, ultimately, give her the edge.
Rupert is strongly represented in the race with Justin Snaith-trained debut winner Summer Lily a more-than-capable second string to the Drakenstein bow.
After an impressive debut win Baltic Secret was sent off a weak 7-2 favourite to win the Grade 3 Winter Nursery over 1100m last month.
However, Justin Snaith’s charge showed quite a bit of inexperience and ended up in fourth behind Distant Winter, beaten just 1.75 lengths.
With that experience under her belt the Querari filly looks ready to pick up a feature race success when she contests the Listed Somerset 1200.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 11 Epikleros, 9 Future Star, 10 Beach Bomb, 4 Quiet Whisper
Race 2: 11 Fatal Gem, 5 Callmegetrix, 12 Montelena, 10 Miracle In Motion
Race 3: 4 Noon Day Gun, 5 Captain Arrow, 7 Steadfast, 9 Head Girl
Race 4: 5 Beau Kala, 4 Flirty Dancer, 2 Poorlittlerichgirl, 6 Sunlit From Heaven
Race 5: 5 Impetuous, 7 Narina Trogon, 2 Nevada King, 4 Top Quality
Race 6: 1 Gimmeafirst, 3 Fun Zone, 7 Miss Greenlight, 8 Inara's Dynasty
Race 7: 6 Distant Winter, 3 Summer Lily, 8 Unconquerable Lady, 5 Quick Trip
Race 8: 3 Baltic Secret, 4 Teflon Man, 5 Underworld, 1 Dumbledore
Race 9: 11 Masked Vigilante, 10 Winter Pearl, 7 Tuscan Gold, 5 Seeking Peace
Race 10: 7 Where's The Party, 5 Musical Arts, 8 Camille Claudel, 9 Porque Te Vas
BEST BET
Race 8 No 3 Baltic Secret
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 5 Impetuous
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 3x6
BIPOT
R324
Leg 1: 5, 10, 11, 12
Leg 2: 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 2, 4, 5
Leg 4: 2, 5, 7
Leg 5: 1, 3, 7
Leg 6: 6
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R162
Leg 1: 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 2, 4, 5
Leg 3: 5, 7
Leg 4: 1, 3, 7
Leg 5: 6
Leg 6: 3
Leg 7: 7, 10, 11
PICK 6
R800
Leg 1: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 2, 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 1, 3, 7, 8
Leg 4: 3, 6
Leg 5: 3
Leg 6: 3, 5, 7, 10, 11
JACKPOT 1
R32
Leg 1: 2, 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 1, 3, 7, 8
Leg 3: 3, 6
Leg 4: 3
JACKPOT 2
R50
Leg 1: 3, 6
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 3, 5, 7, 10, 11
Leg 4: 3, 5, 7, 8, 9
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