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