Expect a Fireball to strike Turffontein

Jack Milner

There are some interesting sprint races taking place on the Inside track at Turffontein on Saturday which will pit some up-and-coming runners against horses that have performed well in two-year-old feature races.

Perhaps the most appealing contest comes up in Race 5, a MR 101 Handicap for three-year-olds over 1200m the inside track.

Heading up the race is Corne and Xander Spies-trained Bisou Bisou who has only raced three times, but his last start was in the Grade 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 26 July.

It was an outstanding effort as he finished second, 1.10 lengths behind 16-1 shot Fish Tales. The Querari gelding went off at 25-1 and clearly ran above the punting public’s expectations, a view not shared by his connections.

Of course, once you perform that well in a Grade 2 feature you are going to have the handicappers snapping at your heels and that run resulted in Bisou Bisou being slapped with an eight-point penalty.

As a result, he comes into this race carrying top weight of 61.5kg but that could be offset by having the services of champion jockey Craig Zackey in the saddle. In Durban, Bisou Bisou had the benefit of jumping from No 1 draw and this time he will be equally well treated jumping from the No 2 barrier position.

Also in the race is Mano Pandaram-trained Kudikaran who two runs back finished third in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Of course, he was well and truly beaten by the top two finishers, Haute Couture and Rich Man’s World respectively, but it was considered good enough to land him a merit rating of 101.

Then we have a couple of runners who have not been exposed to the top level of the sport.

Clinton Binda saddles Whatsdamatterwithu who could prove particularly well suited by the return to a more favourable course and distance. The three-year-old son of Fire Away boasts an excellent record with Calvin Habib up, having won twice and finishing third twice in four starts with the rider aboard.

Both victories came over 1160m, making the step up from 1000m to 1200m look more like an

opportunity than a concern. Gate No 1 enhances his claims.

However, perhaps the runner who has the most going for him is Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Gimme A Fireball. This son of Gimmethegreenlight has only raced twice, finishing third on debut and then running out a facile, 4.50-length winner in his second start. Both of those runs were over 1200m at Scottsville.

While they may not be that impressive on their own, the fact that numerous winners have gone on to win their next starts does speak volumes. While only one winner came out of his debut run, and that of course was Gimme A Fireball himself, three winners from the second outing have gone on to frank that form line.

He clearly does have a bright future and with only 54kg on his back and Sean Veale coming up to Joburg to take the ride once again on this colt, he could well be the best banker on the eight-race card.

The value, however, could lie with Robyn Klaasen-trained Bright And Brazen in Race 7, Middle Stakes over 1200m.

The four-year-old filly returns to the course and distance over which she registered back-to-back victories before finishing a commendable third in last month’s Non-Black Type Betway The Lady’s Stakes. Habib partnered her that day and retains the ride.

She is also joint-best weighted on official ratings, giving her a compelling profile from a betting perspective.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 2 Steel Pier, 4 Kwaito, 5 Close Encounter, 1 Elisa Mbali, Dreaming Of Youth

Race 2: 2 Itsnowornever, 3 Guerilla Warfare, 8 Rosy Lemon, 4 Utsaah

Race 3: 3 Sands Of Valhalla, 1 Top Floor, 7 Kovil, 4 Palace Attack

Race 4: 7 Calla Lagoon, 3 King Harald, 1 Pressonregardless, 4 Captain West

Race 5: 3 Gimme A Fireball, 1 Bisou Bisou, 4 Rivera, 6 Whatsdamatterwithu

Race 6: 5 Little Boy Blue, 7 Reckless Abandon, 1 Status Symbol, 4 Brigitte Anne

Race 7: 6 Bright And Brazen, 1 Precocious, 5 Pumpkin Pie, 3 The Last Duke,

Race 8: 5 Hot Choice, 6 Jack’s Legacy, 4 Ubermensch, 2 Quevano

BEST BET

Race 5: 3 Gimme A Fireball

VALUE BET

Race 7: 6 Bright And Brazen

BEST SWINGER

Race 8 5×6

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 2, 4, 5

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 8

Leg 3: 1, 3, 7

Leg 4: 1, 3, 7

Leg 5: 3

Leg 6: 5, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R162

Leg 1: 2, 3, 8

Leg 2: 1, 3, 7

Leg 3: 1, 3, 7

Leg 4: 3

Leg 5: 5, 7

Leg 6: 1, 6, 7

Leg 7: 5

PICK 6

R1260

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 1, 5, 7

Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 6: 5, 6

JACKPOT 1

R90

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

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 1, 5, 7

Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8

JACKPOT 2

R36

Leg 1: 3

Leg 2: 1, 5, 7

Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 5, 6