Cash in on Rafeef Vaal double

Jack Milner

Rafeef was one of the top racehorses in this country and has now turned into a prolific sire as well. He is producing some talented individuals and his progeny can get punters off to a great start at the Vaal on Thursday, the final Highveld meeting of the current season, when they race on the Classic track.

Race 1 is a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1200m and it looks an ideal opportunity for Rafeef’s Queen to record her first victory.

Trained by Stuart Pettigrew, this daughter of Rafeef is a full sister to Franca who was a six-time winner in the Eastern Cape and was trained by Alan Greeff.

Rafeef’s Queen did not show up well on debut, trailing in 13.90 lengths behind Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained star Haute Couture. However, if one considers that winner came home 10.50 lengths clear of the second horse and then went on to win the Grade 1 Gold Medallion over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, that was not that bad a performance.

She performed a lot better second time out, producing an encouraging 2.25-length second behind second behind Indecent Obsession over 1000m. The step up to 1200m promises to suit perfectly and with Gavin Lerena taking the ride, she looks ready to convert promise into victory.

Of course, 1200m on the Classic track is run around the turn and that could also be in her favour.

There are a couple of well-bred first-timers in the field, one of them being a Sean Tarry-trained Rafeef two-year-old and is a half-sister to six-time winner Slings And Arrows.

Rafeef can complete an early juvenile double through Tenareef in Race 2, a Maiden Juvenile Plate also over 1200m. This Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained gelding advertised his potential on debut before confirming that impression with a close third over this trip last time.

Keagan de Melo retains the partnership and, on exposed form, Tenareef sets the standard. He needn’t improve much, if at all, to lose his maiden status.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Rafeef’s Queen, 4 Pretty Girl, 3 Navigatrix, 8 Volare Veloce

Race 2: 9 Tenareef, 1 Captain Cooper, 5 Mocha Magic, 8 Red Viking

Race 3: 8 Walkinginthewoods, 4 Dreadnought, 7 Two Tigers, 6 Pittar

Race 4: 5 Duke Of Lorraine, 9 Uncle Bob, 4 Crimson Ranger, 2 Vixeninthevineyard

Race 5: 5 Azaleas For All, 9 Art Nouveau, 1 Frangipani, 7 Boom Boom

Race 6: 7 Be My Fate, 4 Chariklo, 3 Utsaah, 5 Wise Counsel

Race 7: 4 Cover Charge, 1 Itsnowornever, 3 Stop The Traffic, 6 Full Go, Last Ginger

Race 8: 2 Hammer Blow, 1 Twentytwentyvision, 3 Arilena, 7 Time Will Tell

Race 9: 5 Lady Elliot, 2 Satyagraha, 6 Pretty Analia, 3 Elusive Red

 

 

BEST BET

Race 2: 9 Tenareef,

VALUE BET

Race 7: 4 Cover Charge

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 4×5

 

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 9

Leg 2: 4, 8

Leg 3: 5, 9

Leg 4: 1, 5, 9

Leg 5: 3, 4, 5, 7

Leg 6: 1, 3, 4

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R162

Leg 1: 8

Leg 2: 5

Leg 3: 1, 5, 9

Leg 4: 3, 4, 7

Leg 5: 1, 3, 4

Leg 6: 1, 2

Leg 7: 2, 5, 6

 

PICK 6

R2160

Leg 1: 5, 9

Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 2, 5, 6, 7, 11, 13

 

JACKPOT 1

R180

Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4

Leg 4: 1, 2

 

JACKPOT 2

R216

Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 2, 5, 6, 7, 11, 13