Jack Milner
Tyrone Zackey has been training since….well, probably since the Barbarians sacked Rome.
Okay, it hasn’t been that long, but he is one of those trainers who has always been around and now, closing in on 80 years old, is still going strong.
He has not had the big-name patrons supporting his yard but he does have the ability to find some decent horses. And that looks to be the case again with Littlemissmillion, a three-year-old daughter of underrated sire Elusive Fort.
She won both her races as a juvenile last season and came into the Grade 3 Fillies Mile on Summer Cup day as favourite, although going off at 5-1.
She was beaten on that occasion, only managing to finish a 3.75-length fifth behind Hazy Dazy, but closer analysis of that run indicates it was a lot less disappointing than some people may think.
To begin with, it was her first run back from a five-month break; secondly it was her first run in yielding going and thirdly, with all the rain in the province over that period many horses came into their races underdone due to the lack of training facilities.
Winner Hazy Dazy had not had much work, but they were able to get a race in before the feature and trainer Corne Spies admitted that was probably her saving grace.
To back that up three winners have already come out of that form line and that was upped to four yesterday when Eastern Cape raider Silva City, who finished last in the Fillies Mile beaten almost 17 lengths, came out to win her next start at Fairview.
But Littlemissmillion does look very decent and she can atone for her Fillies Mile defeat when she lines up in Race 6, a MR 100 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m on the Vaal Classic track on Thursday.
She has a lot in her favour now, starting off with the belief that this is a very good filly and she could well be the one to follow in the upcoming Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara starting on 7 February with the running of the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas over 1600m.
So far, all of her races have been over 1600m, and on breeding she should have no problem going 1800m in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic or the 2450m of the Grade 2 SA Oaks.
At the Vaal she comes in carrying just 53kg and is perfectly drawn in gate No 3. She also has the benefit of having won over the course and distance and will be ridden by Philasande Mxoli, who rode her last time.
This filly does look special and is owned by Zackey’s daughter and son-in-law, Nadine and Kevin Backos, who really deserve another classy performer after all they have put into the game.
The main threat is likely to come from Roy Magner-trained Accept Cookies, an extremely reliable filly who will be ridden by Gavin Lerena. Their record together speaks volumes – four wins and three places from seven rides.
The Gimmethegreenlight filly is a proven specialist over this course and distance, boasting two wins and a second from three attempts.
She wasn’t disgraced when fourth behind Boom Boom over 1800m last time and now meets that rival on 2kg better terms.
However, she will have to give 4kg to Littlemissmillion and she will jump from No 12 barrier position. That is going to be a tough ask, but Exactas could be the way to go.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Blood Of Eden, 4 Hubertus Hunt, 5 Chickasaw, 7 Comic Artist
Race 2: 13 The Reason, 6 Brigitte Anne, 5 Lanteri, 1 Falconfly
Race 3: 9 Go Johnny Go, 4 Shoreybomba, 5 Royale Jacket, 8 Errol Flynn
Race 4: 8 Emerald City, 1 Naretoi, 15 War Talk, 14 Special Al
Race 5: 6 Read All About It, 5 Gerbera, 7 Copper Eagle, 1 Enflame
Race 6: 9 Littlemissmillion, 3 Accept Cookies, 4 Bakwena, 12 Boom Boom
Race 7: 4 Special Star, 2 Sigrid Swing, 8 Opera Fan, 7 Pretty Analia
Race 8: 6 Lady Blunt, 4 Cape Saffron, 3 Princess Ilaria, 7 Vamanos
Race 9: 4 Western Wishes, 2 Inspiration, 3 Never Never Land, 7 Palace Revolt
BEST BET
Race 6: 9 Littlemissmillion
VALUE BET
Race 9: 4 Western Wishes
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 3x6
BIPOT
R64
Leg 1: 6, 13
Leg 2: 4, 9
Leg 3: 1, 8, 14, 15
Leg 4: 5, 6
Leg 5: 9
Leg 6: 2, 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 4, 9
Leg 2: 1, 8, 15
Leg 3: 5, 6
Leg 4: 9
Leg 5: 2, 4
Leg 6: 3, 4, 6
Leg 7: 2, 3, 4
PICK 6
R900
Leg 1: 1, 8, 9, 14, 15
Leg 2: 5, 6, 7
Leg 3: 9
Leg 4: 2, 4
Leg 5: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 7, 11
JACKPOT 1
R36
Leg 1: 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 9
Leg 3: 2, 4
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
JACKPOT 2
R60
Leg 1: 9
Leg 2: 2, 4
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 7, 11