Time to Take A Risk at the Vaal

Jack Milner

Punting is all about taking a risk but some risks are more fallible than others. One runner that has proven costly of late is aptly named Taking A Risk.

That this Mike Azzie-trained daughter has some ability is without question, however, she does have a problem getting her head down when it matters most.

She is also impeccably bred, being by Fire Away out of Frankel mare Risk Taker, but so far she has only managed to notch up one victory in 17 starts. Nevertheless, she has also placed 10 times, six of them being in the runner-up position.

She has finished second in her last three starts but in fairness, she has run behind some decent performers such as Catfish and Lovable.

But Azzie could have found the perfect opportunity for his charge to finally end that frustrating run of seconds when she lines up in Race 5 at the Vaal on Thursday, a MR 74 Handicap over 1000m. She will be taking on males but she has performed well against them before and they do not look particularly fearsome.

Azzie has also engaged the services of champion jockey Craig Zackey so that is another fact in her favour.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 13 Vision Of Gold, 2 Go For Broke, 6 Go Gucci Go, 9 Resolute Bay

Race 2: 12 Kings Mountain, 9 Capability Brown, 2 Smuggler, 6 All Time Legend

Race 3: 3 Gone Cold, 2 Sands Of Valhalla, 1 Trompe L’Oeil, 6 Staggerwing

Race 4: 1 Nkandla Gold, 7 Bell Of Angelus, 5 Royal Horizon, 2 God’s Country

Race 5: 4 Taking A Risk, 5 Lonely As A Cloud, 6 Ushouldbedancing, 8 Echoes Of War

Race 6: 4 Master Christmas, 2 Master Spy, 1 Secret Chord, 9 Future Gamble

Race 7: 8 Feast Of Berries, 9 Sword Of Light, 4 Alta Capitana, 2 Top Shelf Teddy

Race 8: 4 Noble Saint, 8 Proper, 11 Spy Story, 2 Satyagraha

 

BEST BET

Race 5: 4 Taking A Risk

VALUE BET

Race 6: 4 Master Christmas

BEST SWINGER

Race 7 8×9

 

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 2, 6, 13

Leg 2: 2, 9, 12

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3

Leg 4: 1, 7

Leg 5: 4

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 7

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R192

Leg 1: 2, 9, 12

Leg 2: 2, 3

Leg 3: 1, 7

Leg 4: 4

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 9

Leg 6: 8, 9

Leg 7: 4, 8

 

PICK 6

R720

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 6

Leg 2: 1, 5, 7

Leg 3: 4

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 9, 10

Leg 5: 4, 8, 9

Leg 6: 2, 4, 8, 11

 

JACKPOT 1

R45

Leg 1: 1, 5, 7

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 9, 10

Leg 4: 4, 8, 9

 

JACKPOT 2

R60

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 9, 10

Leg 3: 4, 8, 9

Leg 4: 2, 4, 8, 11