Peter saddles strong contenders at the Vaal
Jack Milner
Racing returns to the Highveld following an eight-day hiatus which probably left many local punters suffering from withdrawal symptoms. But have no fear, we are back at the Vaal on Thursday for a nine-race card.
Racing is on the Classic track and it could be a great day for the Tony Peter yard. He has some decent horses in action and it would come as no surprise where he could go away with a fistful of winners.
It could start as early as Race 1 where he saddles Astrophile in a Work Riders Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m. A daughter of Heavenly Blue, she showed plenty on debut but failed to reproduce that effort when beaten favourite in a Work Riders race last time, although there were valid excuses for that defeat.
With leading work rider Phenisile Mongqawa retaining the ride, a return to her debut form could see her make amends. As Mongqawa works for the Peter yard, he knows the horses well and is fully versed of their vagaries so he knows how to handle them.
Astrophile stumbled at the start last time and never fully recovered so she deserves another chance.
Bay Empire looks another strong Peter-trained proposition in Race 5, a MR 66 Handicap over 1600m. After a run of places, this five-year-old Fire Away gelding finally hit form with at the end of last season with a 0.50-length victory over The Mightiest and continued the good run into the new season with an even easier victory 1.40-length success against Spy Story.
Both those victories came with Kabelo Matsunyane in the irons and he will be back in action aboard Bay Empire on this occasion.
Ironically, one of the biggest threats could come from another Peter-trained runner in One State. This well-bred One World gelding confirmed his race-by-race progress by opening his account in emphatic fashion from the front over 1700m with Muzi Yeni in the saddle. He will be back aboard on handicap debut.
Drawn ideally in pole position, he should be able to dictate matters again and remains open to considerable improvement. He could be one to follow.
American Beauty could then keep the Peter bandwagon rolling in Race 7, a MR 90 Handicap for fillies and mares over 50m. This daughter of The United States has flourished since joining the stable, winning twice and finishing second twice in her last four starts.
Her latest runner-up finish came in stronger company, and a repeat of that performance should be good enough to see her return to the winner’s enclosure. Matsunyane has developed a formidable association with the yard and looks the right man to make the most of the opportunity.
A decent No 3 draw will aid her cause as she likes to race from the front and Matsunyane will not be hard pressed to get her there from that barrier position.
Blindfire completes the Peter attack in Race 9, a MR 7 Handicap over 1200m, and could provide the knockout blow. She finished second at this level against the boys last time and competes off the same mark, so there is little reason to expect anything less than another competitive showing.
Keagan de Melo will be aboard this time because Matsunyane will be riding another Peter runner, Late Bloomer. This four-year-old Querari filly fought on gamely in her first run for the stable in June to beat Flying World by a head.
That was also her first race on the Highveld as she came up from Cape Town and she should be fully acclimatised by now. However, both of these fillies will need to beat the colts.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 6 Astrophile, 1 Surreal Song, 2 Pennys Choice, 3 Digit Dash
Race 2: 4 Autograph, 1 Gallic King, 12 The Bachelorette, 6 Smoking Gun
Race 3: 1 Royale Jacket, 4 Midnight Show, 8 Dreaming Of Youth, 3 Echo Of The Wild
Race 4: 1 Elisa Mbali, 2 Sword Of Light, 9 Pretty Girl, 5 Empress Of Peace
Race 5: 2 Bay Empire, 1 Bold Action, 5 The Mightiest, 4 Eight Hats
Race 6: 4 Prince Of Kildare, 6 Spirit Of Gabz, 8 Knowmore, 1 Sky Pilot
Race 7: 1 American Beauty, 3 Trip Of Faith, 9 Lady Elliot, 7 Fish Hawk
Race 8: 3 Lightinthewoods, 1 Delaware River, 8 Can’t Catch Me, 6 Oh My Gucci Girl
Race 9: 2 Blindfire, 3 Late Bloomer, 5 Elusive Red, 7 Sunshine Day
BEST BET
Race 8: 3 Lightinthewoods
VALUE BET
Race 2: 4 Autograph
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 1×4
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 1, 4
Leg 2: 1, 4
Leg 3: 1, 2, 9
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5
Leg 5: 4, 6, 8
Leg 6: 1, 3
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 4
Leg 2: 1, 2, 9
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5
Leg 4: 4, 6, 8
Leg 5: 1, 3
Leg 6: 3
Leg 7: 2, 3
PICK 6
R1800
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 3, 7, 9
Leg 5: 3
Leg 6: 2, 3, 5
JACKPOT 1
R120
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8
Leg 3: 1, 3, 7, 9
Leg 4: 3
JACKPOT 2
R72
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 3, 7, 9
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5