Pinnacle a three-way contest

FORM: GOOD COUNCIL WELL WEIGHTED BUT MERIDIUS, MASTER CHRISTMAS TO GIVE CHEEK. Gray set for another good meeting at the Vaal.

- Jack Milner

Stakes races are often appealing events in that you either get one horse who stands out because he is so well weighted or on other occasions they can be highly competitive.

We all know the latter instance is a common occurrence in handicaps and that is the reason so many punters look to stakes races for that one good bet.

There is a very interesting Pinnacle Stakes over 1800m in Race 5 at the Vaal tomorrow when they race on the Classic track.

Only seven runners are carded to go to post and Lucky Houdalakis-trained None Other comes out as the best weighted runner, more due to her sex allowance than her current form. Not that she can't win. After all, she did finish fourth in the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet at HWB Greyville on 28 July. However, she was beaten 5.30 lengths, and she could need the run.

Houdalakis has another runner in the field and preference is for that runner, four-year-old gelding Master Christmas. He is currently in good form and he does have just 50kg on his back.