Vicky is a standout bet

Jack Milner: Any doubts that Vars Vicky would not see out 1400m were dispelled last week after he went down narrowly to Paisley Park over that distance at the Vaal.

The winner is no slouch and is highly rated by both trainer Sean Tarry and jockey Lyle Hewitson. Stuart Pettigrew’s charge looked likely to hold off the Tarry runner and it was only in the dying stages that Paisley Park was able to get the upper hand.

An objection followed from the runner-up, but that was overruled, and the result was allowed to stand.

Vars Vicky will now attempt to go a touch further on Thursday when he lines up in Race 6, a MR 96 Handicap over 1450m on the Vaal Classic track.

The fact this race is around the turn should not hold any fears for punters Vars Vicky has won on the Inside track at Turffontein.

The draw can be an issue over this course and distance but there are only eight runners carded and Vars Vicky will jump from barrier No 5. Muzi Yeni has picked up the ride for the first time.

Yeni has actually jumped ship as he was on Your Pace Or Mine in the race won by Paisley Park, but it does look to be a shrewd move as Vars Vicky finished 1.50 lengths ahead of the Mike De Kock-trained Querari gelding and in any case, Your Pace Or Mine has been scratched.  

The other contender was Rivonia Boulevard who is unbeaten in both runs over this distance, one of them at this track, but he is currently under medication and trainer Sean Tarry has scratched the son of Count Dubois.

On that basis, Vars Vicky looks a standout bet and a banker in all the exotics.

Mike and Adam Azzie saddle Futura filly Sweet Future in Race 8, a FM 84 Handicap over 1000m. She is well above average and despite shifting and returning “tied-up”, she still managed to thwart the challenge of the older and far more experienced Twelve Oaks, to whom she was conceding 2.5kg, by a neck.

She has only raced three times, and after going down narrowly to Afternoon Tea on debut over 1160m at Turffontein, she has notched up two successive victories. This will be her first run over 1000m, but she does seem to have the speed to be effective over the trip.

The only two dangers appear to be Mind Reader and Varina.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 4 Riccardo, 5 Deanagelo, 6 Global Town, 3 Curfew

Race 2: 13 Pecan Pie, 6 Miss Venezuela, 2 Ginseng, 1 Aflame

Race 3: 6 Flying Carpet, 7 Wolffs World, 2 Herodotus, 5 Castellano

Race 4: 4 Bebop, 9 Queen Bomi, 3 Lady Amherst, 2 Fort Anne

Race 5: 6 African Adventure, 8 Chitengo, 1 Barahin, 7 Glider Pilot

Race 6: 7 Vars Vicky, 2 Kayla’s Champ, 5 Rock The Globe, 3 In Cahoots

Race 7: 5 Winter Watch, 8 Sweet Sensation, 7 Slalom Queen, 4 Che Bella

Race 8: 1 Sweet Future, 5 Mind Reader, 2 Varina, 10 Showdown Kid

BEST BET

Race 6 No 7 Vars Vicky

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 5 Winter Watch

BEST SWINGER

Race 6 7×8

BIPOT

R108

Leg 1: 4, 5

Leg 2: 6, 13

Leg 3: 2, 6, 7

Leg 4: 3, 4, 9

Leg 5: 1, 6, 8

Leg 6: 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R192

Leg 1: 6, 13

Leg 2: 6, 7

Leg 3: 4, 9

Leg 4: 1, 6, 8

Leg 5: 7

Leg 6: 4, 5, 7, 8

Leg 7: 1, 5

PICK 6

R1680

Leg 1: 2, 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 9

Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 7

Leg 5: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 6: 1, 2, 5

JACKPOT 1

R140

Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 9

Leg 2: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 7

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

JACKPOT 2

R105

Leg 1: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 2: 7

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5