Jack Milner
When Raiseahallelujah arrived at Candice Dawson’s yard in August last year he was just a one-time winner. However, the five-year-old Querari gelding has prospered on the Highveld and in his 10 races so far, he has achieved five more victories and three second places.
Raiseahallelujah will be looking for his fourth successive triumph when he lines up in Race 5 at the Vaal on Tuesday in a Pinnacle Stakes over 2400m. This will be a real tester for him because he probably meets the strongest group of opponents yet.
Included in this field is Imperial Ruby, who finished a 0.60-length second in the Grade 3 Gold Cup over 3200m, Shango, winner of the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m and Light Of The Moon, runner-up to Triple Tiara champion Rain In Holland in the Grade 2 SA Oaks as well as placing second in the Grade 3 KZN Oaks at Scottsville.
The latter, in fact, is the best weighted runner but she has not run since that Scottsville race in June.
In addition, Raiseahallelujah meets Jamaila, a horse he beat by 0.10 lengths the last time they met, 1.5kg worse off.
So, while he does have his work cut out, there are a few facts that support the chances of Dawson’s charge. Firstly, he is one of those horses who just does enough to win. His last three successes have been won, in total, by just 0.80 lengths.
Secondly, he is likely to benefit from the longer run-in and that could see Raiseahallelujah remain competitive in this line-up.
Kabelo Matsunyane has ridden him to victory in three of his starts on the Highveld and he gets the ride once again.
With the strong opposition, Raiseahallelujah could go off at a decent price and could provide bettors with really good value.
If Light Of The Moon is close to peak fitness she has to be a massive runner. She has been a revelation since joining trainers Barend Botes and Yolande Vosloo at their Vaal yard and has produced some solid performances when they started to put her over ground.
She runs well for Muzi Yeni and he will be back in the irons for this race.
Shango is the next best-weighted runner and while he perhaps did not see out 3200m in the Gold Cup, he has won his only race over 2400m and that was Grade 3 event.
Sean Tarry’s charge has had a run over 1400m on 4 September so he should be fit enough to be competitive in a race of this nature.
Imperial Ruby is always dangerous and if Corne Spies’ runner is allowed a soft lead, he too could be hard to peg back. In the Gold Cup, it was only in the last few metres that Shangani managed to get up and clinch the race.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 10 Miss Soho, 9 Mandalay, 1 Full Go, 6 Mon Choisy
Race 2: 4 A Time To Flower, 5 Above The World, 9 Glittering Boots, 8 Chilly Princess
Race 3: 13 Raven Black, 1 Big Five, 15 World's Best, 3 Hearts Thunder
Race 4: 11 Greenlightranger, 2 Memorial Day, 7 Camerata, 3 Karin's Legacy
Race 5: 6 Raiseahallelujah, 4 Light Of The Moon, 5 Jaimala, 1 Shango
Race 6: 10 Back To Basics, 11 After Hours, 3 Irrevocable Dream, 9 Dancing Dora
Race 7: 12 Meet The Captain, 1 Texas Red, 4 Admiralty Arch, 3 Great Times
Race 8: 6 Duke Of Sussex, 7 Gallic Tribe, 11 Call Me Master, 12 Mo Jive
BEST BET
Race 3 No 13 Raven Black
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 12 Meet The Captain
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 1x13
BIPOT
R120
Leg 1: 9, 10
Leg 2: 4, 5
Leg 3: 13
Leg 4: 2, 11
Leg 5: 4, 5, 6
Leg 6: 3, 9, 10, 11
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R288
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 13
Leg 3: 2, 11
Leg 4: 4, 5, 6
Leg 5: 3, 9, 10, 11
Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 12
Leg 7: 6, 7, 11
PICK 6
R1500
Leg 1: 13
Leg 2: 2, 7, 11
Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 6
Leg 4: 3, , 9, 10, 11
Leg 5: 1, 3, 4, 8, 12
Leg 6: 5, 6, 7, 11, 12
JACKPOT 1
R300
Leg 1: 2, 7, 11
Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 3, 9, 10, 11
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 8, 12
JACKPOT 2
R500
Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1, 3, 9, 10, 11
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 8, 12
Leg 4: 5, 6, 7, 11, 12