Jack Milner: Lyle Hewitson has been stood down for Sunday’s Turffontein meeting and all of his rides have been taken by visiting Cape jockey Grant van Niekerk
The trip should prove worthwhile for Van Niekerk who has picked up some top rides for trainer Sean Tarry.
Tarry and Van Niekerk team up with Fisher King in Race 3, Full Velocity in Race 5 and Grappler in Race 6 – and all three have strong winning form.
Fisher King contests a MR 90 Handicap over 1600m on the Standside course and is confidently expected to follow up on his facile victory last time over 1400m at the same track.
That was his first run after a three-month break in which he was gelded. Despite the layoff, the money was poured on to the three-year-old son of Willow Magic and his supporters never had to sweat as he raced away to beat Foreign Field by 3.75 lengths.
He does take a jump in class but with just 52kg on his back, Fisher King should be able to notch up his third career win.
Wolffs World did probably find 2000m a touch too far last time. Paul Peter’s charge led the field through the 400m mark but was run out of it late and ended up in third place, 3.50 lengths behind The Kop.
On a line through that winner, Oyster King could have the beating of Wolffs World but if one looks at their run on their run behind Great Warrior over 1800m, Peter’s charge did finish 1.25 lengths in front of Oyster King and is now 4kg better off.
The drop in distance to 1600m should suit Wolffs World even further and coupled with the fact Warren Kennedy takes the ride this time, that should enable him to confirm his superiority over Chris Jonker’s runner.
By the same token, Full Velocity stands out in her event, a MR 91 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1160m.
This four-year-old Philanthropist filly has run six times for three wins and three seconds. Her run was in a small but strongly contested Progress Plate over this course and distance where she took on the colts and finished a respectable 2.25-length second behind Rivertown.
Back against her own sex she will be very hard to beat.
Hewitson rode a brilliant race to get Grappler up in the dying stages to get the better of Ramchandani Road by the narrowest of margins. That was his first run back from a longer than four-month layoff.
The drop to 1000m in this MR 84 Handicap might be a concern but this Trippi gelding can only improve from his last run and could make it three wins in a row.
One can expect a strong challenge from Ashley Fortune-trained Irfaans Boy who has been competing in two-year-old features and has performed well in sprints.
Muzi Yeni takes the ride and he felt very positive about the chances of his mount. “He gives me a very good feel and he has put up some outstanding runs as a juvenile. I believe he is better than this division and I’ll be disappointed if he can’t win,” wrote Yeni in his weekly column.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Pick A Lily, 5 Frosted Ice, 8 End Of Rock, 2 Super Tanaye
Race 2: 4 Who’s That Star, 2 Lulu’s Boy, 7 Bethel, 1 Chariot Master
Race 3: 7 Fisher King, 1 Wolffs World, 3 Nordic Rebel, 4 Oyster King
Race 4: 5 Voltron, 3 On Cue, 1 Me Time, 2 Big City Girl
Race 5: 4 Full Velocity, 7 Twelve Oaks, 1 Greens, 8 Franca
Race 6: 4 Grappler, 7 Irfaans Boy, 1 Godswood, 9 Marengo
Race 7: 4 Ball Rolling, 9 Hey Bennie, 5 Light Without, 1 Immeasurable
Race 8: 7 Dark Travel, 2 City By The Sea, 1 Elusive Woman, 5 Midnight Caller
Race 9: 4 Signals, 5 The Brass Way, 7 Kapama, 3 Anatura
BEST BET
Race 5 No 4 Full Velocity
VALUE BET
Race 8 No 7 Dark Travel
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 2×4
BIPOT
R192
Leg 1: 2, 4
Leg 2: 1, 7
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5
Leg 4: 4
Leg 5: 1, 4, 7, 9
Leg 6: 1, 4, 5, 9
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R243
Leg 1: 7
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 1, 4, 7
Leg 5: 4, 5, 9
Leg 6: 1, 2, 7
Leg 7: 4, 5, 7
PICK 6
R2000
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5
Leg 2: 4
Leg 3: 1, 4, 7, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
Leg 6: 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
JACKPOT 1
R100
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 1, 4, 7, 9
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
JACKPOT 2
R500
Leg 1: 1, 4, 7, 9
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 7, 8