Useful fillies clash at Vaal

Paul Matchett’s charge runs in a Graduation Plate for fillies and mares over a straight 1600m and it contains a small but high-quality field.

Before the running of the Grade 2 Starling Stakes over 1400m, Yeni wrote in his column that Gee For Go was very decent and should be included in their bets, so her second in that race did not come out of turn. He was very strong on her winning the Grade 3 Fillies Mile, which she did with ease, comfortably beating Miss Elegance who she meets in this race. 

Yeni chose to ride in Cape Town on that occasion so he missed out on the ride, but he will no doubt be delighted to get back aboard again.

Miss Elegance, trained by Lucky Houdalakis, finished one length behind Gee For Go and then followed that up by thumping Sidonie by 8.50 lengths in a Progress Plate over this course and distance. Interestingly, Yeni rode Miss Elegance on that occasion but seems happy to be back on Gee For Go in this event.  

They met at level weights in the Fillies Mile and they will do so again in this race. Also, Piere Strydom, who rode Miss Elegance in that Grade 3 race, will be up again on the daughter of Master Of My Fate.

The race certainly does not end with these two as neither is the best-weighted runner.

That honour goes to four-year-old Flower Alley filly Marygold from the Alec Laird yard. In fact, she is handicapped to win this race with ease as she is 9kg better weighted with either of the three-year-olds.

After finishing close behind recent Summer Cup winner Summer Pudding on no less than five occasions, she was given a rest. In her comeback-run over a shorter trip she was heavily backed and won accordingly. She will relish the extra 200m and won’t go down without a fight.

S’manga Khumalo takes the ride on Marygold and it will be great to see three of the best jockeys in the country go toe to toe in this fascinating little race.

Matchett also trains Lily Blue in Race 5, a FM 100 over 1800m. She recently won her first race in the country after moving from Zimbabwe, improving her record to 10 wins and five places from 18 starts.

She is another quite highly rated by Yeni who takes the ride again after winning on her last time. In that race Lily Blue showed her true potential when accounting for a useful field with consummate ease. There are a few runners looking to challenge but she looks to give her connections a top effort.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 9 Hukum, 4 Fast Draw, 2 Grey Street, 8 Passing Storm

Race 2: 6 Ration My Passion, 2 Ideal Wolff, 1 Major Return, 8 So Long Spring

Race 3: 2 Gee For Go, 3 Miss Elegance, 1 Marygold, 4 Elusive Woman

Race 4: 2 Bold Resolve, 8 Magic Vision, 6 Zabarjad, 7 Blue Moon City

Race 5: 5 Lily Blue, 1 Shivers, 6 Just Kidding, 2 Rouge Allure

Race 6: 1 Greek Fire, 2 Duke Of Swing, 4 Making A Scene, 5 Podcast

Race 7: 4 Valyrian King, 1 Captain Morisco, 7 Gang Leader, 3 Kings Road

Race 8: 2 Brooklyn Bridge, 15 Speechmaker, 4 Soul Of Wit, 13 Afriel

BEST BET

Race 5 No 5 Lily Blue

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 4 Valyrian King

BEST SWINGER

Race 7 1×4

BIPOT

R162

Leg 1: 2, 9, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2, 6

Leg 3: 2, 3

Leg 4: 2, 6, 8

Leg 5: 5

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R192

Leg 1: 2, 6

Leg 2: 2, 3

Leg 3: 2, 6, 8

Leg 4: 5

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 1, 4

Leg 7: 2, 4, 13, 15

PICK 6

R1920

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3

Leg 2: 2, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 5

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 5

Leg 5: 1, 3, 4, 7

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15

JACKPOT 1

R64

Leg 1: 2, 6, 7, 8

Leg 2: 5

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 5

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 7

JACKPOT 2

R160

Leg 1: 5

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 7