Jack Milner
With the Joburg season getting into full swing, we are starting to see the return of some of the top horses who were rested after the KwaZulu-Natal winter season.
They are clearly preparing for bigger things so their level of fitness is uncertain, which could make matters a little tricky for bettors.
Thunderstruck, winner of the Grade 1 Gold Medallion over 1200m at Scottsville on 4 June, makes his comeback in Race 2 on Thursday in a Graduation Plate for three-year-olds over 1200m on the Inside track at Turffontein.
This Sean Tarry-trained son of Rafeef ran third on debut but then found his racing legs once blinkers were added and ran out a facile victory in a Maiden Juvenile Plate in his next start, thumping Quantum Theory by 4.50 lengths. Five winners went on to win their next starts, including Quantum Theory who triumphed in his next two races, so that is a potent form line.
A tongue tie was added for his race in Pietermaritzburg and the outcome was never in doubt as Thunderstruck comfortably beat Now I Got You by 2.90 lengths.
As a result of that last victory, the colt was given a merit rating of 114, which puts him at least 4kg better weighted with the balance of the field.
So, Tarry’s charge looks the one to beat. It seems very unlikely he will be caught in the middle of a railroad track as there are only seven runners carded to go to post.
Calvin Habib, who rode him to victory in both wins, will be back aboard for this run.
But this outcome is not as cut and dried as one might expect. Firstly, he is coming back from a 96-day break and could be in need of the outing.
Secondly, he faces some decent competition, headed up by Corne Spies-trained Prophet. After winning his first two starts with ease, this Querari gelding was actually sent out a well-supported 2-1 favourite to win the Gold Medallion. He had the benefit of an inside draw which was a huge advantage at Scottsville, but it didn’t work for him on that occasion. A number of runners moved across to the inside of the track and before he knew what hit him, jockey Craig Zackey – to misquote an old idiom – found himself all pressed up with nowhere to go.
By the time he managed to switch his mount into the clear, the race was done and dusted. The fact he was beaten just five lengths, and only 1.70 lengths off the third-placed runner, was a good effort under the circumstances.
His run of bad luck continued when he ended up drawn No 13 of the 14 runners in the Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Greyville. Muzi Yeni had to expend a lot of energy to overcome that impediment and he did well to finish a 1.40-length third behind Cousin Casey.
Prophet had better luck in the Grade 1 Premier Champions Stakes over 1600m at Greyville when landing No 4 draw. He was up with pace but did not appear to see out the distance and faded late to run fourth, just 3.70 lengths behind Equus Champion Three-Year-Old Colt Cousin Casey again.
Those were not bad runs and back to 1200m around the turn, Prophet will find any weaknesses in Thunderstruck’s armour.
Marco van Rensburg gets the ride this time.
PICTURE: GOLD CIRCLE
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Lebanese Pound, 5 Drop Of Time, 6 Southern Style, 2 Pendragon
Race 2: 1 Thunderstruck, 2 Prophet, 3 Ridgerunner, 4 Kalahari Blue
Race 3: 8 Princess Ilaria, 2 Gimme The Flame, 6 Inner Sense, 3 Memorial Day
Race 4: 3 Flag Bearer, 1 Sir Tallin, 2 Pottinger, 4 Mirren
Race 5: 5 Ideal Jet, 2 Flame Flower, 3 Terra Time, 1 Ballroom Bliss
Race 6: 1 Kind Judy, 2 Quiet Rebellion, 3 Castle Durrow, 5 Summerland
Race 7: 4 Silver Stardust, 6 Sacred Valley, 1 Southern Blaze, 5 Berengaria
Race 8: 6 Stormy Lass, 8 Trust The Fire, 2 Phinda Mzala, 3 Sky Glitter
BEST BET
Race 7 No 4 Silver Stardust
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 5 Ideal Jet
BEST SWINGER
Race 6 1x2
BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 1, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2
Leg 3: 2, 6, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 5
Leg 6: 1, 2
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 2
Leg 2: 2, 6, 8
Leg 3: 1, 3
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5
Leg 5: 1, 2
Leg 6: 4
Leg 7: 2, 6, 8
PICK 6
R1500
Leg 1: 2, 3, 6, 8, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3
Leg 5: 4
Leg 6: 2, 3, 6, 7, 8
JACKPOT 1
R60
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3
Leg 4: 4
JACKPOT 2
R75
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 2, 3, 6, 7, 8