Jack Milner
A strong line-up of three-year-old sprinters are set to go to post for the Grade 3 TAB National Currency Sprint over 1100m on the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday.
There are some top-class runners in the National Currency Sprint and included in that group is impressive Wild Justice from the Gareth van Zyl yard.
This impressive son of Vercingetorix arrives with almost impeccable form having run five times for four wins and a close-up third place.
This race will be his acid test as this is the strongest field he has met and he also has to travel. But he has won races in firm going and in the wet, so the state of the course is not going to impede him in any way.
S’manga Khumalo has ridden him three times for three wins and he will be delighted to be back in the saddle for this race.
However, Wild Justice will be coming against some strong opposition, headed up by Peter-trained Zalatoris. This three-year-old gelding has been frustrating for the connections as he shows a lot at home but does not always bring it to the track.
As a result, they have resorted to fitting him in blinkers and he apparently put up a superb gallop during the week with them fitted. Log-leading jockey Craig Zackey has been engaged to take the ride.
Mike and Mathew de Kock have their yard is superb form and while he might prefer slightly further, it would be unwise to omit Miami Mountain. Two runs back he flew to get the better of stablemate One Eye On Vegas over 1160m at this track and he has gone on to place in two Graded races.
The Non-Black Type Bidvest Bauhinia Stakes (Race 6) over 1000m looks tailor-made for Rifle Queen, and it would be a surprise if she doesn’t start a warm order. Trained by Peter, the daughter of Buffalo Bill Cody was unbeaten in two juvenile starts and lost little in defeat when second after a five-month break in January.
She bounced back in style over 1160m on this track earlier this month, leading throughout against male opposition under Gavin Lerena. The six-point penalty is the assessor’s nod to quality, but her natural gate speed should offset it. Dropping to 1000m, she may be even more potent. If she jumps cleanly, her same-sex rivals could be chasing shadows.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Gathering Winter, 1 Wings Of Kildra, 2 Onceinabluemoon, 7 Shivering Light
Race 2: 1 Highwayman Harry, 8 Rabble Rouser, 2 Willow Charm, 7 Sivaji
Race 3: 1 Buffalo Storm Cody, 2 Main Defender, 3 William Robertson, 5 Chrome Tourmaline
Race 4: 4 Enflame, 2 United Council, 5 Arumugam
Race 5: 3 Believe In Fate, 1 Blizzard Snow, 2 Arashi, 6 Xenophon
Race 6: 4 Rifle Queen, 2 Little Ballerina, 1 Chasing Happiness, 5 Poblano
Race 7: 3 Zalatoris, 4 Wild Justice, 8 Miami Mountain, 7 One Fine Winter
Race 8: 5 Aquarius, 3 Scarlett Heart, 1 Too Late My Mate, 9 Reece's Wish
Race 9: 1 Paris Fun, 6 Dondoyaki, 3 Pearl In Her Crown, 7 Mattiazo
BEST BET
Race 3: 1 Buffalo Storm Cody
VALUE BET
Race 1: 3 Gathering Winter
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 3x4
BIPOT
R240
Leg 1: 1, 2, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 2, 4
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 6, 13
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4
Leg 6: 3, 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R144
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 2, 4
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4
Leg 5: 3, 4
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5
Leg 7: 1
PICK 6
R1728
Leg 1: 2, 4, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 13
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 4: 3, 4, 8
Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 9
Leg 6: 1
JACKPOT 1
R576
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 13
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 4: 3, 4, 8
Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 9
JACKPOT 2
R96
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 3, 4, 8
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 9
Leg 4: 1