Vicky to provide the value

Jack Milner

Usually, the advantage of a fixed weight race for punters is that one or two horses are particularly well handicapped based on merit ratings.

However, in Race 6 at Turffontein on Thursday, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m on the Inside track, just 2kg separates the entire field, almost turning the event into a straight handicap.

But based on form, both the advantage and the value, could lie with Vars Vicky. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, he is unbeaten in two runs over the course and distance, and secondly, trainer Stuart Pettigrew has left the blinkers on.

The second reason might be construed as strange because the first time he was fitted with blinkers was two runs back. However, the comment about blinkers came from Pettigrew prior to that start and he proved to be spot on.

On that occasion the five-year-old Var gelding looked to be going nowhere with 200m to run but suddenly took off late to mow down the opposition and win going away.

It did not work as well for Vars Vicky in his next start but that was in the Grade 2 Post Merchants over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Despite that, he still performed well enough to end up just 2.80 lengths behind Val D’Orcia.

Diego de Gouveia, who rode him to victory in his penultimate start, is back in the irons.

Ultra Magnus is an interesting runner. The seven-year-old gelding only recently joined the Mike de Kock yard and made his debut for the yard in the Listed Topbets Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside track.

He drifted in the betting and ran accordingly, beaten 8.30 lengths by Team Gold with only one runner behind him.

But he has to be better than that performance and if he is able to reproduce his best form, Ultra Magnus has to be a contender.

Others to consider are Bon Vivant, Bard Of Avon and Quantum King.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Regina Bellissima, 7 Don't Tell Ash, 6 Wilkies, 8 Treaty

Race 2: 1 Pyromaniac, 4 Total Protection, 5 Boisterous, 2 Fast Love

Race 3: 2 Var Park, 8 Siberian Steel, 10 Unzen, 3 Pendragon

Race 4: 1 Brazilian Storm, 10 Karin's Legacy, 3 Strange Magic, 2 Countess Danza

Race 5: 9 Whispers Of War, 8 Ablaan, 3 Barneys Pride, 5 Leopold

Race 6: 2 Vars Vicky, 3 Ultra Magnus, 8 Bon Vivant, 6 Bard Of Avon

Race 7: 1 Big Eyed Girl, 7 Iphiko, 9 Insatiable, 3 On Cue

Race 8: 9 Mythical Dream, 4 Moonstrike, 1 Laetitia's Angel, 5 Feather The Nest

BEST BET

Race 2 No 1 Pyromaniac

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 2 Vars Vicky

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 No 10

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 2, 3, 8, 10

Leg 4: 1, 10

Leg 5: 3, 8, 9

Leg 6: 2, 3, 8

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R162

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 2, 8, 10

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 8, 9

Leg 5: 2, 3, 8

Leg 6: 1, 7, 9

Leg 7: 1, 4, 9

PICK 6

R1536

Leg 1: 2, 3, 8, 10

Leg 2: 1, 10

Leg 3: 3, 8, 9

Leg 4: 2, 3, 6, 8

Leg 5: 1, 3, 7, 9

Leg 6: 1, 4, 5, 9

JACKPOT 1

R96

Leg 1: 1, 10

Leg 2: 3, 8, 9

Leg 3: 2, 3, 6, 8

Leg 4: 1, 3, 7, 9

JACKPOT 2

R192

Leg 1: 3, 8, 9

Leg 2: 2, 3, 6, 8

Leg 3: 1, 3, 7, 9

Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 9