Jack Milner
Xenophon was the second last winner ridden by Piere Strydom at the Vaal on 31 July, the final day of the 2024/25 season.
The Sean Tarry-trained son of Vercingetorix was sent off a 5-10 favourite to win on that occasion and Strydom could not have wished for an easier ride because he hardly had to move a muscle to score by 4.60 lengths.
While that was not a particularly strong field, a horse can do no more than win and his time was the fastest over 1200m on the day.
Nevertheless, there has been a winner from that form line and that is reopposing Silver Longsword. Furthermore, he beat Winston’s Wonder by 0.40 lengths and that runner-up has also gone on to win.
He lines up again in Race 7 at the Vaal on Thursday in a MR 76 Handicap over 1200m and Xenophon looks ready to now take the next step in his racing career.
He is quite well related and is a half-brother to Lucky Houdalakis-trained Dreamland, who is a six-time winner by Lancaster Bomber, as well as Dreamworld, a two-year-old trained by Vaughan Marshall who is quite highly rated, although he did let the side down last time.
Tarry could have a feature race on programme for Xenophon so they could be looking at bigger fish to fry but this is also not the strongest of fields and if he does have better targets in his future he should be capable of putting this race to bed.
He is four years old already but is lightly raced and there is no reason why he cannot still develop further.
Another interesting feature is that although Silver Longsword was beaten 5.30 lengths by Xenophon racing at level weights, now in a handicap he only gets 0.5kg from Tarry’ charge this time.
Craig Zackey has picked up the ride on Xenophon on this occasion so the gelding will get all the assistance required from the saddle.
The main challenge is likely to come from Falcon Strike who had a very good first run for Robyn Klaasen last time. It was in quite a strong field but the five-year-old New Predator gelding did well to go down 1.50 lengths to Hemisphere.
There will be a lot of support for Palace Prince, an impressive winner of his last race, and for good reason. St John Gray’s runner found the betting support and justified that by beating Beamonesque by 4.25 lengths over this course and distance.
However, that was a MR 70 Handicap with an average merit rating of 63 while this race is 78. In addition, Palace Prince got a 4kg penalty and that will make life a lot tougher for the son of Potala Palace.
Serino Moodley is in fine form and he takes the ride on this three-year-old colt.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Phuthi, 2 Raceway, 4 Savara's Princess, 6 Bella Boop Boop
Race 2: 7 Underdog, 1 Ubermensch, 3 Storm Burst, 2 Trip To States
Race 3: 11 Sword Of Light, 4 Universal Girl, 5 Amaze Me, 2 Madame Pompadour
Race 4: 8 Bellerophon, 13 Amazon Queen, 12 War Summit, 2 Seventh Fleet
Race 5: 4 Mattiazo, 3 Sheets And Goggles, 6 Gamer, 1 Dylan's Champ
Race 6: 1 Lava Lamp, 3 Rosy Lemon, 5 Cartagena, 7 Kiss Of Fire
Race 7: 6 Xenophon, 10 Falcon Strike, 2 Palace Prince, 1 Hong Kong
Race 8: 5 Time For Charity, 4 Princess Lola, 3 Captain Efficient, 1 In The Ether
BEST BET
Race 4: 8 Bellerophon
VALUE BET
Race 1: 3 Phuthi
BEST SWINGER
Race 4 8x13
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4
Leg 2: 1, 3, 7
Leg 3: 4, 11
Leg 4: 8
Leg 5: 1, 3, 4, 6
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R144
Leg 1: 1, 3, 7
Leg 2: 11
Leg 3: 8
Leg 4: 3, 4, 6
Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 7
Leg 6: 6, 10
Leg 7: 4, 5
PICK 6
R810
Leg 1: 4, 5, 11
Leg 2: 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
Leg 5: 6, 8, 10
Leg 6: 3, 4, 5
JACKPOT 1
R90
Leg 1: 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
Leg 4: 6, 8, 10
JACKPOT 2
R270
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
Leg 3: 6, 8, 10
Leg 4: 3, 4, 5