A little help from Jack
JACK MILNER - WITH three successive meetings lost to rain, Gauteng punters will be hoping that everything returns to normal at the Vaal on Thursday when two R125,000 (non-black type) races over 1000m are carded to take place on the sand track.
The first is the Lightning Stakes, an ideal name in the circumstances although we’ll all be hoping it stays away, and the other is the Summer Speedsters for fillies and mares.
Both races leave punters with a smidgeon of pondering to do. In the Lightning Stakes, likely favourite Waitangi has not raced on the sand before. He is trained by Geoff Woodruff at the Vaal so has had the opportunity to work on the surface. However, Woodruff often lets horses who work well on the Vaal sand race on that surface quite early in their careers and Waitangi, having his eighth start, has not done so.
He does have the benefit of Piere Strydom’s expertise. The ace jockey has ridden the son of Captain Al in two of his last three starts and won on him on the Vaal turf in December.
Anaboo does not have the same problem. Charles Laird’s runner has yet to win at the course but has placed in three of his four starts over the course and distance. On the turf, Waitangi certainly has Anaboo’s measure, having beaten him by four lengths in that race at the Vaal. However, the last time Anaboo raced on the Vaal sand, he finished a 0.75-length second to stablemate Cyber Case, despite casting a shoe in the race.
August Eight has won three and placed three times in 10 starts over 1000m on the sand but comes into this race 3kg under sufferance. Barend Botes’ runner has yet to prove himself in this sort of company but has a chance to finish in the money.
There is a question about whether Bismarck has lost his form or just reached his mark in the handicap. He hit a purple patch in no uncertain manner, winning five of six races including one on the Vaal sand last year, but then seemed to go backwards. MJ Odendaal is looking for his first winner since returning from injury and perhaps he can generate something special from Lucky Houdalakis’ charge.
National Victor has good form but has run two poor races on the sand, so will need to improve to feature.
Sandy Beach will probably be a warm favourite for the fillies’ race. She is a class performer, especially on the sand, but there are doubts about her capabilities at the distance. Her only win over 1000m was her maiden victory back in 2008 and she may need further nowadays.
Mochachino is another classy runner but her only race on the sand left little over which to enthuse. She raced over 1450m and finished a 4.50-length fourth behind Madam Casey.
So with some doubts clouding the better-performed runners, it may be worth siding with Bella Mia, who loves the course and distance. Leon Erasmus has been racing her on the turf recently but under just 52kg, coupled with her incredible pace, a return to the sand could just be what she is looking for. She is sure to be a nice price and has talented apprentice Evert Pheiffer in the saddle.
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