Jack Milner: It is often difficult to assess just how talented a horse really is until they come up against some decent opposition.
That is the case with Bequest who has won all three of her starts impressively. It is clear Alec Laird’s charge is decent, but she has been running against some very ordinary runners and has not been fully tested.
That will happen at Turffontein on Sunday when the daughter of Oratorio lines up in the Listed Swallows Stakes over 1160m for three-year-old fillies.
She will be taking on some well-performed rivals in Anna Capri, Sweet Sensation and Ecstatic Green, and if she does beat this field, we know Laird has a top-class performer in his yard.
She also has to give 2kg to Anna Capri and Sweet Sensation and as such, it could be safer to give preference to those two.
However, what could work for Bequest is that both Anna Capri and Sweet Sensation are better over 1000m, but they are quite capable of winning, despite the extra 160m.
That brings Ecstatic Green into the picture. She might carry top weight but looking at her juvenile form, the Sean Tarry-trained runner has come up against some of the best of her age group.
She went down a long head to Vernichey in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Scottsville and then took on the colts in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe at Greyville and ran a close-up fourth to Nourbese.
From there she went on to win the Grade 2 Debutante over 1200m at Greyville which she followed up with a narrow loss to War Of Athena over 1200m on the Inside track at Turffontein.
She started favourite for the Grade 3 Magnolia Handicap over this course and distance but finished unplaced, beaten 8.25 lengths by Winter Smoke.
If she has put that run behind her Ecstatic Green has the credential to win this.
Top bet on the card has to be Marygold in Race 4. She is in top form and is the best weighted runner in this Progress Plate for fillies and mares over 1600m.
S’manga Khumalo rides both Marygold and Bequest for the Laird stable.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 11 Miracle And Wonder, 10 Greenhill, 3 Queen Anne’s Lace, 6 Amber Light
Race 2: 8 Future Lady, 2 Siren Of Greece, 5 Irish Willow, 4 Princess Sabrina
Race 3: 6 Raisetheredlantern, 3 Humble Tune, 4 I’m Al, 5 Major Winter
Race 4: 1 Marygold, 4 Sidonie, 2 Kayla’s Champ, 3 Cockney Pride
Race 5: 2 Purple Panther, 7 Tight Five, 5 Golden Duke, 1 Oscar Wilde
Race 6: 8 Putontheredlight, 2 Tierra Del Fuego, 3 Zouaves, 10 Fired Up
Race 7: 3 Anna Capri, 4 Sweet Sensation, 2 Bequest, 1 Ecstatic Green
Race 8: 8 Christmas Flower, 3 Double ‘O’ Eight, 6 Frosted Steel, 4 Springs Of Carmel
Race 9: 1 Stellar Motion, 6 Twelve Oaks, 2 Impressive Duchess, 4 Captain’s Reward
BEST BET
Race 4 No 1 Marygold
VALUE BET
Race 9 No 1 Stellar Motion
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 2×8
BIPOT
R72
Leg 1: 2, 8
Leg 2: 6
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 7
Leg 5: 2, 3, 8
Leg 6: 2, 3, 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R 243
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 2, 5, 7
Leg 4: 2, 3, 8
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4
Leg 6: 3, 4, 6
Leg 7: 1, 2, 6
PICK 6
R2592
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 7
Leg 3: 2, 3, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 5: 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10
Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12
JACKPOT 1
R288
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 7
Leg 2: 2, 3, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 4: 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10
JACKPOT 2
R648
Leg 1: 2, 3, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 3: 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12