Habib runner to shine bright at the Vaal
Jack Milner
One of the intriguing aspects about the start of a new season is watching the past season’s juveniles bloom as they begin racing against their elders.
The rate of improvement can be differently paced as some start to excel quickly while others take their time. Of course, there are others that don’t improve at all and some that may have been precocious two-year-olds, who are overtaken by those they have previously beaten.
One of the interesting runners is Bright Comet who lines up in Race 6 at the Vaal on Thursday to contest a MR 71 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1700m.
Trained by Fabian Habib, this daughter of Buffalo Bill Cody showed very little in her first two runs. Her initial racecourse appearance came in a World Riders’ Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m at the Vaal Classic track on 4 May.
Bright Comet was clearly showing something at home because she was sent off at 3-1, but anything that could go wrong did go wrong. She lost ground at the start and raced greenly, and in the end finished a 6.90-length fourth behind Empress Wu.
That was not a bad form line as second placed Princess Of All came out to win her next start, beating Master’s Lady by 2.25 lengths.
Bright Comet’s second run was even worse. This time racing over 1200m up the Vaal straight, she went off a 50-1 and never got into contention, eventually ending up in 10th spot, beaten again by 6.90 lengths.
It is worth noting that in both those runs, despite things not going well, Bright Comet was still able to produce the third fastest time for the final 400m.
Two winners came out of that form line and one of those was Bright Comet herself. Two months later she was back in a World Riders’ Maiden Plate, this time over 1500m up the Vaal straight with Savanna Valjalo in the irons.
She found some betting support, shortening from 25-2 to go off at 7-1, and after sitting off the pace, she hit the front some 200m from home to run out a very easy winner, beating Life And Letters by 2.50 lengths.
She clearly enjoyed the longer distance and could be even better over the additional 250m and racing around the turn for the first time.
She will have a lot more to do this time and will be fully tested, jumping up markedly in class, but Bright Comet appears to be improving quickly and could provide backers with some good value.
It is also worth noting that Gavin Lerena will be taking the ride this time and there must have been something about that last run that also caught his eye.
She will carry 57kg and jumps from No 2 draw.
The main threat is likely to come from Tony Peter-trained Future Red. This lightly raced four-year-old filly had three runs in the Western Cape before moving up to the Highveld and has had two runs since then. Her first was over 1400m on the Standside track at Turffontein where she attempted to lead from start to finish but faded slightly to finish third behind Hot Choice.
She was reported to be blowing so was clearly in need of the run, but she made amends in her next start which was over 1800m at the Vaal.
The same tactics were adopted as jockey Kabelo Matsunyane took her to the front, but this time there was no stopping and she kept going gamely to hold off Uncle Bob by 0.50 lengths.
Matsunyane takes the ride again this time, and now having her third run for the stable, should be perfectly primed for this race.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 11 Madison County, 4 Greenhilsofjamaica, 8 Bellflower, 7 Shiraz Glow
Race 2: 9 Mulholland Drive, 2 Two Tigers, 6 Frederico Cagishas, 8 Up And Up
Race 3: 2 Trompe L’Oeil, 1 Charming Cheetah, 4 His Majesty, 5 Titan Of The Turf
Race 4: 5 One Eye On Dubai, 1 Imyourhuckleberry, 2 Midnight Show, 6 Reachingforthemoon
Race 5: 3 Frangipani, 1 Into Dancing, 7 Anahita, 5 Surprise Party
Race 6: 6 Bright Comet, 2 Future Red, 1 Flying World, 4 Eight Hats
Race 7: 9 Samuel Sharpe, 7 Euphrates, 3 Culturati, 4 Dark Silver
Race 8: 1 Mrs Stormiatrix, 2 Tempranillo, 6 Love Not War, 7 Angel’s Oasis
Race 9: 1 Hemisphere, 3 Sergeant Soqrat, 5 Time Will Tell, 4 Nkandla Gold
BEST BET
Race 4: 5 One Eye On Dubai
VALUE BET
Race 6: 6 Bright Comet
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 1×2
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 2, 6, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2
Leg 3: 5
Leg 4: 1, 3, 7
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 6
Leg 6: 3, 7, 9
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 2
Leg 2: 5
Leg 3: 1, 3
Leg 4: 1, 2, 6
Leg 5: 7, 9
Leg 6: 1, 2, 6
Leg 7: 1, 3, 5
PICK 6
R1600
Leg 1: 5
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6
Leg 4: 3, 4, 7, 9
Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 5
JACKPOT 1
R400
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 6
Leg 3: 3, 4, 7, 9
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
JACKPOT 2
R320
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6
Leg 2: 3, 4, 7, 9
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5