Yeni to resume hot run at the Vaal

Jack Milner

Muzi Yeni is in fine form and came away with a double at Turffontein on Saturday and another at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Monday. While he rode two highly rated three-year-olds in first-timer Erikson for Weichong Marwing and lightly raced Fierceness for Mike and Mathew de Kock, those victories did not come easily and Yeni had to use all his wiles and experience to get them home.

The same is true of the two winners he got home at Scottsville.

He has picked up a few more decent rides at the Vaal on Wednesday and could easily come away with a few more winners.

He could strike as early as Race 2, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m, where he ridesFanie Bronkhorst-trained Piteraq. The four-year-old daughter of Hawwaam made an encouraging Highveld debut over 1000m, finishing strongly in her first start since relocating from James Crawford’s Cape Town base.

The extra 200m looks well within her compass, and even modest improvement should put her firmly into the winning picture. She is taken to open her account and get Yeni’s day off to a flying start.

Yeni has another strong chance in Race 4, a Maiden Plate over the straight 1600m when he partners three-year-old Be The One for Paul Matchett. There is little convincing form to recommend in this maiden event, but the daughter of Futura brings a solid recent effort to the table after finishing second over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track.

The additional 150m in the opening leg of the Pick 6 should present no obstacle and Be The One does not need to improve to go one better.

Best bet on the card, however, could be Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained One Eye On Dubai, in Race 5, a Maiden Plate over 2000m. This three-year-old Almanzor colt confirmed the promise of his 1200m debut fourth by finishing second over 1700m at this venue just 12 days ago.

The further 300m should bring another step forward, and with Lerena in the saddle, One Eye On Dubai has all the ingredients to go one better.

The only real threat is likely to come from another Yeni-ridden horse in Clairwood Breeze, also trained by Matchett.

This four-year-old Futura gelding has only raced three times and has improved since tried over longer distances. He has finished runner-up in his last two starts and if there are any flaws to find in One Eye On Dubai, Clairwood Breeze is the runner to find them.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Secret Santa, 7 Stilo Novo, 3 Blunderbore, 2 Berry Lancer

Race 2: 1 Piteraq, 4 Treasure State, 10 Rank And File, 6 Digit Dash

Race 3: 4 Beautiful Rania, 3 Fire In Her Soul, 2 Winter Rainfall, 6 Winds Of Grace

Race 4: 7 Be The One, 1 Giddy Up Grace, 5 Jet Platino, 6 Madrid

Race 5: 6 One Eye On Dubai, 1 Clairwood Breeze, 2 Sivaji, 7 Verdandi

Race 6: 2 Bellerophon, 1 Deepone, 6 Positive Attitude, 4 Mo Ment

Race 7: 4 Sheriff Bill Brown, 3 Palace Attack, 1 Boundless Love, 5 Redlightgreenlight

Race 8: 12 Cold Shine, 7 Antonio Gaudi, 5 Titan Of The Turf, 4 Vibe SA

Race 9: 1 Me And You, 3 Eight Hats, 8 Secret Life, 10 Can’t Catch Me, Concordia

 

BEST BET

Race 5: 6 One Eye On Dubai

VALUE BET

Race 8: 12 Cold Shine

BEST SWINGER

Race 5 1×6

 

BIPOT

R144

Leg 1: 1, 4, 10

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4

Leg 3: 1, 7

Leg 4: 6

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 6

Leg 6: 3, 4

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 2, 3, 4

Leg 2: 7

Leg 3: 6

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6

Leg 5: 3, 4

Leg 6: 4, 5, 7, 12

Leg 7: 1, 3, 8

 

PICK 6

R1728

Leg 1: 1, 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 6

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4

Leg 5: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12

Leg 6: 1, 3, 8, 10

 

JACKPOT 1

R108

Leg 1: 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4

Leg 4: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12

 

JACKPOT 2

R432

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4

Leg 3: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12

Leg 4: 1, 3, 8, 10