Precocious to get back on track

Jack Milner

After being out in the cold – literally – for the last few weekends, racing returns to Turffontein on Saturday with an appetising nine-race card.

There are some decent runners on show and hopefully speedy filly Precocious find her way back to the winner’s enclosure.

Tony Peter’s charge makes her eagerly anticipated return in Race 7, a MR 101 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1160m.

The unbeaten run of four wins on the Highveld came to an end for this Ideal World filly when last seen, but there was no disgrace in defeat and the break may have arrived at exactly the right time.

Although all four of her victories have come over 1000m, she has always shaped as though further would suit and the extra distance looks unlikely to trouble a filly bred to stay further. She could prove difficult to contain if returning in the same condition.

While she was outpaced in her last race, she did run on gamely and she should give a good account of herself over the additional 160m.

Apprentice Blaine Marx-Jacobson has been aboard her in all but one of her five runs so far and he returns to the irons on this occasion. She is carded to carry 61.5kg but he will be taking a further 1.5kg off her back with his apprentice allowance.

Despite the fact that she would probably need further, the main threat is likely to come from Robbie Sage-trained Valentina Balducci. This filly has not raced since January but as she is racing fresh and has Gavin Lerena up, she does need to be respected.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 3 Fierceness, 2 Gimme Some Luck, 6 Shining Sun, 7 Sutter’s Mill

Race 2: 2 Staggerwing, 1 Perfect Sky, 3 Arabella Figg, 6 Elusive Dragon

Race 3: 1 Meghan’s Diamond, 2 Rendevous In Rio, 11 New York Groove, 8 Fallodon

Race 4: 6 Give Me A Chance, 1 Highwayman Harry, 3 Tiger’s Captain, 11 Chancellor

Race 5: 3 Bellerophon, 2 Battleground, 6 Corrupt, 4 One More Star

Race 6: 1 Trombolines, 2 Winston’s Wonder, 3 One Of Those Days, 6 Quevano

Race 7: 1 Precocious, 4 Valentina Balducci, 10 Lost For Words, 5 Just The Two Of Us

Race 8: 1 Cold Shine, 2 Dads Dream, 5 Shivering Light, 7 Maverick Queen

Race 9: 6 Malshana Mou, 4 Crystal Grove, 2 Pointer, 11 Kia Kaha

 

BEST BET

Race 7: 1 Precocious

VALUE BET

Race 6: 1 Trombolines

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1×2

 

BIPOT

R144

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 1, 2, 11

Leg 3: 1, 6

Leg 4: 2, 3, 6

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 6

Leg 6: 1

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 1, 6

Leg 3: 2, 3, 6

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 1, 2

Leg 7: 2, 4, 6

 

PICK 6

R1440

Leg 1: 1, 3, 6, 11

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

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 1, 2, 5

Leg 6: 2, 4, 6, 11

 

JACKPOT 1

R90

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

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5

 

JACKPOT 2

R72

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5

Leg 4: 2, 4, 6, 11