Jack Milner: Racing fans will be treated to five feature races at Turffontein on Saturday, headed up by the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m on the Standside track.
The other features are all Listed events, the Drum Star Handicap over 1800m, the Derby Trial and the Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial, both over 2000m and the Non-Black Type Gold Rush Sprint over 1100m.
The Senor Santa Stakes has attracted a highly competitive field but the race has been thrown into turmoil with the announcement just before the start of racing that favourite True To Life has been withdrawn, suffering from colic.
“I am gutted as the yard was bidding for our third consecutive Group 2 Senor Santa,” trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren sent on Twitter. “And I should add – this year was my best chance.
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but I know the decision was made for my filly and the punters.
“True To Life will see you back on track on 4 April.”
That opens the door for the two Sean Tarry-trained runners – Chimichuri Run and Eden Roc.
Preference is for Eden Roc, who is in top form and has Lyle Hewitson in the irons.
On 31 December is a Pinnacle Stakes over this course and distance, Chimichuri Run beat True To Life by 0.75 lengths and they were due to meet at identical weights. What was interesting is that Gavin Lerena, who has ridden Tarry’s charge in his last 12 starts, had decided to go with True To Life. Calvin Habib takes the ride this time
Perhaps the most interesting runner is Mount Pleasant who return to sprinting after failing in two starts over 1600m.
Mike de Kock’s charge is very talented, and with blinkers on and back to racing up the straight in a sprint, he could find his true form.
Vars Vicky has done little wrong but we will know a lot more about the ability of Stuart Pettigrew’s charge after this race. He is badly weighted based on merit ratings but does carry just 52k and has Muzi Yeni up.
He is now the current favourite at 33-10
The Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m looks equally competitive but there could be some value with Green Haze, who will be having his first run for trainer Paul Peter. He finished a 4.75-length third behind Running Brave last time but is 5kg better off and could reverse the placings, especially as Fanie Bronkhorst’s mare has been down to Cape Town in the interim.
Fabian Habib runs Youcanthurrylove will be having his peak run and has definite claims. He ran a decent second behind Jet Start last time.
Pamushana’s Pride takes a jump in class in the Derby Trial but Alec Laird’s charge is in good form and always shows lots of guts in a finish. He does not win by large margins, but he does get the job done and has won over the trip.
However, a lot could depend on whether Tarry-trained Invincible Warrior sees out the trip. The son of Vercingetorix has looked promising in his three starts but has not raced beyond 1600m.
The scratching of Traveling Wilbury from the Oaks Trial has opened the door for Ideal Jet. She could be the runner to challenge War Of Athena comes the Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks next month as she is a proven stayer.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 9 Warrior Captain, 5 Irfaans Boy, 6 Not Your Call, 8 Volluto
Race 2: 8 Promise Of Hope, 4 Gin And Tonic, 12 Take Control, 5 Hamaama
Race 3: 1 Forever Mine, 2 Valyrian King, 5 Celestial Love, 3 Captain Morisco
Race 4: 5 Green Haze, 4 Youcanthurrylove, 2 Running Brave, 9 Cornish Pomodoro
Race 5: 3 Invincible Warrior, 2 Pamushana’s Pride, 1 Have A Go Jo, 5 Baymax
Race 6: 1 Ideal Jet, 6 Mauby, 3 Phoenix, 8 Aryaam
Race 7: 2 Eden Roc, 1 Chimichuri Run, 4 Mount Pleasant, 14 Vars Vicky
Race 8: 10 Orus Apollo, 5 Imperial Duke, 6 Afraad, 2 Fsquadron
Race 9: 14 Written In Stone, 4 Battleoftrafalgar, 5 Captain Hindsight, 8 Spanish Boy
BEST BET
Race 3 No 1 Forever Mine
VALUE BET
Race 8 No 10 Orus Apollo
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 4X8
BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 4, 8
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 2, 4, 5
Leg 4: 2, 3
Leg 5: 1, 3, 6
Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 14
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 2, 4, 5
Leg 3: 2, 3
Leg 4: 1, 6
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4
Leg 6: 5, 6, 10
Leg 7: 4, 5, 14
PICK 6
R2400
Leg 1: 2, 4, 5, 9
Leg 2: 2, 3
Leg 3: 1, 3, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 14
Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 6, 10
Leg 6: 4, 5, 8, 13, 14
JACKPOT 1
R120
Leg 1: 2, 3
Leg 2: 1, 3, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 14
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 6, 10
JACKPOT 2
R300
Leg 1: 1, 3, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 14
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6, 10
Leg 4: 4, 5, 8, 13, 14