Soma can leave punters Lost For Words yet again

Jack Milner

Trainer Joe Soma does not have a big stable, but what is impressive is that on the latest standings, and with the season soon coming to an end, he has the second highest percentage of winners in the country of people who have been training the entire year.

That figure of just under 19% is quite remarkable and currently his stable is in top form. Soma might not churn out the number of winners of the bigger stables but his record in some of the top Graded features, especially on the Highveld, is striking.

He has been involved in the racing industry almost from the day he was born and has a vast knowledge and understanding of “the game”.

In particular, he understands the patience one needs to bring a horse along and how to get the best out of them, in particular, knowing the right races to put them in.

This is particularly noticeable with Canford Cliffs filly Lost For Words. She started her career with Michelle Rix and Harold Crawford and must have been showing them something because her debut run came in the 2024 Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville although she did finish at the back of the seven-horse field, beaten 13.90 lengths.

Lost For Words was out of action for almost a year and joined Soma’s yard in mid-March last year. He clearly spent time getting her right and she only made her first appearance for the stable on 9 August in a Maiden Plate over 1160m at Turffontein.

She only found one too good for her and that occasion, beaten six-lengths into second place by Tony Peter-trained Perfect Miracle, who is certainly no slouch. In fact, she has gone on to win four races, including a Grade 2 and a Grade 3 race.

Lost For Words next race came some seven weeks later over 1200m at the Vaav, she was well supported in the betting and went on to beat Quiet Winter by 3.30 lengths.

A second win followed the following month, this time in a MR 82 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1160m at Turffontein, and once again kept on strongly to beat Tuscan Romance by 0.75 lengths.

It could be worth noting that both of those races were run in soft going.

This full sister to Stuart Ferrie-trained four-time winner King Of Spin was not seen in action again until 18 May when she contested a MR 97 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m at the Vaal clearly was in need of the outing when finishing 3.35-length fourth behind Captain Selvie.

Her last run came last month, again over 1160m at Turffontein, and this time she came into the race with just 52kg, and with French jockey Mickaëlle Michel up, got the extra 1.5kg sex allowance.

This filly was the talk of the racecourse and was well supported to go off at 5-2. The result was never in doubt as she went on to beat Just The Two Of Us by 1.75 lengths.

Lost For Words will be in action in Race 7 at Turffontein on Thursday, a MR 94 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m, but this time on the Inside track.

This will be her first race around the turn and she is drawn widest of all in gate No 10. She did get a kg penalty for her last win and she does have a couple of things against her but Lost For Words appears to have the class and talent to overcome those hurdles.

Michel will be back in the irons once again.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 2 Jack’s Legacy, 4 Buffalo Dream, 5 Irish Wilma, 6 Miss Dutton

Race 2: 3 Me And You, 1 Empress Of Peace, 7 Up And Up, 6 Trex On Fire

Race 3: 6 Midnight Show, 3 Jimmy Vega, 4 Kovil, 7 Pogini Greine

Race 4: 3 Kortvandraad, 4 Pretty Analia, 1 Delaware River, 2 Pearl In Her Crown

Race 5: 5 Streisand, 7 Onetwobucklemyshoe, 1 Kensal Green, 6 Russian Nobility

Race 6: 2 DJ Junior, 4 Euphrates, 3 Chabal, 6 Stop The Traffic

Race 7: 2 Lost For Words, 8 Kavady, 5 Blizzard Snow, 9 Crystal Grove

Race 8: 2 Trip Of Faith, 3 Brigitte Anne, 1 Plumbago Park, 5 Sakura Hanami

 

BEST BET

Race 7: 2 Lost For Words

VALUE BET

Race 5: 5 Streisand

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 3×6

 

BIPOT

R256

Leg 1: 2, 4

Leg 2: 1, 3

Leg 3: 6

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg 5: 1, 5, 6, 7

Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 6

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 3

Leg 2: 6

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4

Leg 4: 1, 5, 6, 7

Leg 5: 2, 3, 4

Leg 6: 2

Leg 7: 1, 2, 3

 

PICK 6

R1400

Leg 1: 3, 6

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

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

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9

Leg 5: 2

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 5

 

JACKPOT 1

R175

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

Leg 2: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9

Leg 4: 2

 

JACKPOT 2

R140

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

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5