Jack Milner: Apprentice jockeys get the opportunity to show their mettle at the Vaal on Thursday as three of the races have been reserved for them only.
Perhaps the apprentice to follow is Gabriel Pieterse who has been booked for rides in all three of the Classified Stakes races. His best two look to be Bella Chica in Race 3 over 1000m, and Rainy Season in Race 7 over 2000m.
Pieterse knows Bella Chica better than most. He rode this Rafeef filly twice and on both occasions, crossed the finish line first.
Trained by Ashley Fortune, Bella Chica looks the runner best suited to the race conditions as she has the speed to outrun her older rivals over this trip.
The Rafeef filly does have her work cut out as she is not only taking on the boys but is still a two-year-old taking on older and more experienced runners. But she will have the added bonus of the 4kg claimed by Pieterse.
This is a very open race with many other contenders who could claim the victory, notably Belle Of Belize, Zodiac Princess, Alex The Great, Florence, Love Lies and Madame Patrice, but Bella Chica has done enough to warrant favouritism.
Rainy Season has beaten a number of his reopposing rivals in Race 7 and with the extra 4kg off his back, he must be considered a serious contender.
Weiho Marwing’s runner stood his ground in two post-maiden runs and with the benefit of travelling the distance last time he knows what to expect.
The biggest danger seems to be Opera Glass. However, this Flower Alley filly will have to overcome No 12 draw to be competitive but the long back straight will provide time for apprentice Jeffrey Syster to place his mount.
Sergei and Rabia The Rebel are others with chances. The former has recorded a victory and a runner-up finish over the distance while Rabia The Rebel ran a solid second at Turffontein on Sunday.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Night King, 1 Jet Cat, 3 Maraca Ginger, 4 Heart Of Harlem
Race 2: 6 Almalfi Coast, 5 La Fille, 3 Smelting, 1 Spanish Song
Race 3: 4 Bella Chica, 1 Love Lies, 3 Alex The Great, 5 Belle Of Belize
Race 4: 7 Time Spirit, 1 Nussply, 2 Star Effect, 6 Jackson’s Duel
Race 5: 2 Princess Thiana, 4 Sophia’s First, 3 Crusade To Royalty, 1 Two Fools Collide