With no less than 140 runners carded to contest 10 races at the Vaal on Thursday, bettors will be faced with quite a challenge.
Looking at the card as a whole might seem daunting, but there are some strong-looking early bets to build up a kitty and then if you can catch it right later on, big payouts await!
In Race 1, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m, What A Honey looks most likely to get punters off to winning start.
Trained by Lucky Houdalakis, this What A Winter filly ran a close third to Sheela on debut just over four months ago. Considering that Sheela has a Grade 2 victory on her résumé, as well as a third-place finish in a Grade 1 event, What A Honey should have too much firepower for the 14-strong contestants in the card opener.
She has had a long break after her debut run, but with time to mature, the experience gained, and her obvious talent, she is the one to beat. As an added bonus, Craig Zackey gets to ride her again.
In Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, Houdalakis saddles Arverni Warrior, a three-year-old Vercingetorix colt.
With a fourth, third and second place finish – in that order – in his first three runs, he looks destined to complete the sequence and take the honours in this 15-strong field.
Arverni Warrior was beaten just 0.25 lengths by Zeus in his last outing, with that winner going on to follow up with an emphatic victory over 1600m next time out, so that form line is proven.
Chase Maujean retains the ride.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 15 What A Honey, 7 Insatiable, 2 Moonstrike, 1 Quick Run
Race 2: 14 Sonnenstrahl, 6 Maradiva, 4 Vegas Hi Rise, 8 Back To Basics
Race 3: 2 Arverni Warrior, 4 Motor City Hitman, 14 Soweto Spina, 3 Alabaster
Race 4: 3 West Point, 4 Coming In Hot, 5 Captain Of Grit, 1 Wildeye
Race 5: 7 Kizzmekia, 10 Song Of Liberty, 18 Twice As Wild, 8 Scottadito
Race 6: 3 Cleveland, 1 Fromheretoeternity, 6 Funky Music, 11 Litigation
Race 7: 6 Captain Lannister, 5 Bard Of Avon, 2 Quantum King, 3 Dockofthebay
Race 8: 1 Zimbaba, 7 Crimson Causeway, 5 Cavivar, 2 Bat Out Of Hell
Race 9: 1 Infinite Wonder, 8 Lady Amherst, 2 Eskimo Pie, 5 Twin Turbo
Race 10: 13 Successful Secret, 9 Jet Captain, 8 West Coast Lover, 12 Midnight Badger
Race 3 No 2 Arverni Warrior
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 3 Cleveland
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 5×6
tabonline.co.za-Jack Milner
