Zackey looks to be a lucky lad at Turffontein

Jack Milner

A number of exciting runners preparing for the Highveld’s summer season will be in action at Turffontein on Saturday.

Racing returns to the Standside track as the course is geared up for the Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile a week later.

Sean Tarry and Tony Peter unleash several of their stable stars, with Tarry-trained Grade 1 winner Lucky Lad the top-rated star attraction at the meeting after last-start seconds at the highest level in late July.

He will make his seasonal reappearance in Race 4, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1160m, while Peter's two-year-old Grade 1 winner VJ's Angel is out to redeem herself on her handicap debut in Race 8, a MR 94 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m.

Notably, jockey Craig Zackey has prioritised the Turffontein meeting over HWB Durbanville and given that his rides on the day include a highly touted debut winner, that seems a decision well made.

He and red-hot Gavin Lerena are the riders to be with throughout the day and supporters of both jockeys are likely to find themselves laughing all the way to the bank. Lucky Lad’s stable companion, Cousin Casey, was carded to run in the same race but he has been withdrawn and that paves the way for the four-year-old Gimmethegreenlight colt to keep his unbeaten record over this course and distance intact.   

Peter and Lerena should strike with classy VJ's Angel, winner of last season's Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m at HWB Greyville in which she beat male opposition.

Peter's charge lost little in defeat on her seasonal reappearance in the 1450m Grade 2 Betway Joburg Spring F&M Challenge, despite finishing unplaced. She was beaten under five lengths on that occasion from an unfavourable No 13 draw on the Inside track and better can be expected of the three-year-old Gimmethegreenlight filly on her handicap debut from stall No 1 with Lerena aboard.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 2 Mountain High, 6 Kommetjie Storm, 3 Sunfire, 5 Great Notion

Race 2: 10 Exceedingly Glam, 6 Grey Jet, 7 Hemisphere, 3 Alesian Beau

Race 3: 2 Ichacha, 6 One More Star, 9 Todoque, 3 Potberrie

Race 4: 2 Lucky Lad, 3 William Robertson, 8 Captain Peg, 7 Red Bomber

Race 5: 5 Atarime, 6 Marauding Horde, 8 Warhawk Bomber, 4 Argo Alley

Race 6: 3 Pistol Pete, 9 Greaterix, 7 Rainbow Reward, 2 Swing Upon A Star

Race 7: 7 Jury's Out, 4 Master Christmas, 3 Greeting My Master, 8 Mastership

Race 8: 1 VJ's Angel, 4 Quantum, 2 Danse Milord, 6 Zenobia's Gold

Race 9: 3 Heather's Boy, 4 Bacchus, 5 Safe Space, 9 Flag Bearer

Race 10: 7 Theatre Of Life, 9 Last Car To Pass, 5 Pearl In Her Crown, 10 Accept Cookies

BEST BET

Race 8: 1 VJ's Angel

VALUE BET

Race 7: 7 Jury's Out

BEST SWINGER

Race 9 3x4

BIPOT

R288

Leg 1: 3, 6, 7, 10

Leg 2: 2, 6, 9

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 5, 6, 8

Leg 5: 3, 9

Leg 6: 3, 4, 7, 8

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R48

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 5, 6, 8

Leg 4: 3, 9

Leg 5: 3, 4, 7, 8

Leg 6: 1

Leg 7: 3, 4

PICK 6

R168

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9

Leg 3: 3, 9

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

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 3, 4

JACKPOT 1

R84

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9

Leg 2: 3, 9

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

Leg 4: 1

JACKPOT 2

R72

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

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 3, 4

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10