Equus sprint king set for a storming return

Jack Milner

Buffalo Storm Cody is undoubtedly the best sprinter in the country and was rewarded for that honour when named Equus Champion Sprinter at a gala function in August.

There are three Grade 1 sprint races in the country, and he won two of them – the Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein and Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

He did disappoint in the third Grade 1 sprint, the Cape Flying Championship at HWB Kenilworth, but the travelling to Cape Town probably got to him and he clearly was not himself.

Now five years old there is no reason why he should not make further improvement this season. After all, he defeated Jet Force by 0.90-lengths at level weights in the Mercury Sprint, and the runner-up went on to frank that form line when winning the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes at Hollywoodbets Durbanville last month.

An overseas trip has been planned for him, but it could be in the balance as the full quota needed to make the charter flight worthwhile has not been achieved.

So, in the meantime, his local life resumes and the Tony Peter-trained son of Buffalo Bill Cody will be making his seasonal reappearance at the Vaal on Thursday and will line up in Race 5, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1100m.

His form speaks for itself. Since he was gelded in December 2024 he has gone on to win 10 of his 14 starts with two seconds, a fourth, and that lone unplaced run at Kenilworth in which he was beaten just 2.35 lengths by Kingdundee.

He is the best-weighted runner in the field and despite a 74-day absence, his rating leaves him with a clear advantage. He does not need to return at peak fitness to be competitive at this level.

Most of his best runs have been with either Gavin Lerena or Richard Fourie up but the latter is not riding at the meeting while Lerena is out with an injury. So that gives Kabelo Matsunyane the opportunity to get his first ride on the champion sprinter.

There is no question Matsunyane has never been in better form and he has already ridden 22 winners for the Peter stable. As he has been riding regularly for the yard he will no doubt have done his fair share of work aboard Buffalo Storm Cody.

As a result, in spite of the 74-day layoff, Peter’s charge does look the standout bet on the card and is banker in all bets.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 2 Thanksgiving Day, 8 Nicci Beach, 6 Eastwood, 1 Dog In The Fog

Race 2: 9 Beautiful Rosie, 4 Rafeef’s Queen, 1 Piteraq, 5 Ruby Whisper

Race 3: 2 Dreadnought, 7 Giddy Up Grace, 3 Lance Attack, 8 Comic Artist

Race 4: 5 Cool Gambler, 6 Evening Parade, 3 Kavady, 2 Status Symbol

Race 5: 1 Buffalo Storm Cody, 6 Green Diamond, 9 Charming Cheetah, 10 Chapbook

Race 6: 4 Sakura Hanami, 7 Apparition, 5 Power Of Pearls, 2 Playing Trix

Race 7: 2 Caladrius, 9 Surreal Song, 4 Wings Of Kildra, 8 Ushouldbedancing

Race 8: 7 Sail The Sky, 1 Longsword, 9 Kylie’s Angel, 11 King Bluetooth

 

BEST BET

Race 5: 1 Buffalo Storm Cody

VALUE BET

Race 6: 4 Sakura Hanami

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 4×9

 

BIPOT

R96

Leg 1: 2, 6, 8

Leg 2: 4, 9

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 2, 4, 5, 7

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 4, 9

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 3, 5, 6

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 4, 5, 7

Leg 6: 2, 4, 9

Leg 7: 1, 7, 9, 11

 

PICK 6

R1200

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leg 3: 1

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

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

Leg 6: 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12

 

JACKPOT 1

R150

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1

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

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

 

JACKPOT 2

R200

Leg 1: 1

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

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 8, 9

Leg 4: 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12