Time to take a quantum leap

Jack Milner

With all the rain on the Highveld this week the fate of Thursday’s Turffontein meeting remains in the balance. If the rain stays away it looks as if the meeting can be saved, even if it has to be moved to the Vaal.

Weather predictions are not providing much comfort though and gallops will be held at both Turffontein and the Vaal at around 7am on Thursday to help reach a final decision.

A stakes race generally favours the best handicapped runner but unfortunately it is not always that simple.

That is an issue bettors will need to deal with in Race 7 at Turffontein tomorrow, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1160m on the Standside track.

The first problem is the distance. Sprinkles comes out as the best weighted runner but she is better over longer distances.

After that there are a number of runners who are very close together and any of them are capable of winning this event.

There are two very talented females who have very good form over the course and distance in Full Velocity and Bon Vivant. The former, a five-year-old mare trained by Sean Tarry, has run six times over 1160m at Turffontein for two wins and four places. She is among the best handicapped runners and has a top jockey in Gavin Lerena.

Bon Vivant is a four-year-old filly trained by Johan Janse van Vuuren and she has a record of two wins and two places from four runs over this track and trip. She also has an in-form jockey up in Keagan de Melo, who is currently leading the National Jockeys’ log.

But it doesn’t end there. The two top weights, William Robertson and MK’s Pride, are both feature-race winners and although they have been racing over further in their last few runs, both have done well in sprints.

William Robertson last raced in the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Summer Cup over 2000m last November but he failed to see out the distance and is undoubtedly better over shorter. He has won over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Greyville and finished a 0.40-length second behind Horse-Of-The-Year Captain’s Ransom in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m at the same track.

Trainer Corne Spies has engaged Piere Strydom for the ride and if not in need of a run, this son of William Longsword could be the one to beat.

MK’s Pride has recently changed stables and it is unsure whether he will need the run because he too last raced in the Summer Cup. What could be significant, however, is that Muzi Yeni, who has ridden MK’s Pride to Grade 1 victory and is the first-choice jockey for trainer Robbie Sage, has opted to ride stable companion Quantum Theory.

That has to bring the three-year-old son of Querari into the reckoning as well and he could well be the one to beat.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Poursomesugaronme, 4 Rockingthetimeaway, 2 Camerata, 10 Western Wishes

Race 2: 5 Miss Shaivi, 10 Sylvan Lady, 8 Stormy Choice, 11 That's My Baby

Race 3: 6 Max The Magician, 11 Courageous, 5 Kamokamo, 4 Guy Gibson

Race 4: 2 Rosslyne, 1 Spirit Princess, 3 Powers That Be, 4 Unyielding

Race 5: 1 Stepping Out, 7 American Biscuit, 9 Jet Dynasty, 10 On The Guest List

Race 6: 3 Napoleon, 7 Oyster King, 6 Stunning Kitten, 9 Prime Example

Race 7: 7 Quantum Theory, 1 William Robertson, 4 Full Velocity, 5 Bon Vivant

Race 8: 5 Elembee, 8 Kwazzi's Lady, 10 Speechmaker, 3 Say Yes

BEST BET

Race 8 No 5 Elembee

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 7 Quantum Theory

BEST SWINGER

Race 5 1x7

BIPOT

R288

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 5, 8, 10, 11

Leg 3: 4, 5, 6, 11

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3

Leg 5: 1, 7

Leg 6: 1, 3, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 5, 8, 10

Leg 2: 5, 6, 11

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 7

Leg 5: 1, 3, 7

Leg 6: 1, 4, 7

Leg 7: 5

PICK 6

R1800

Leg 1: 1, 6, 11, 12

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 13

Leg 3: 1, 7, 9

Leg 4: 3, 4, 6, 7, 9

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 6: 5

JACKPOT 1

R450

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 13

Leg 3: 1, 7, 9

Leg 4: 3, 4, 6, 7, 9

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

JACKPOT 2

R90

Leg 3: 1, 7, 9

Leg 4: 3, 4, 6, 7, 9

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 6: 5