A double dream for De Melo

Jack Milner

In spite of Richard Fourie having cut into his lead, Keagan de Melo goes into the final 14 days of the season with a 25-win lead which looks completely unassailable in the battle for champion jockey.

Both jockeys have some decent rides at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday and can bag a few winners but the best of De Melo’s look to be Mia’s Harper in Race 1 and Gimmeafirst in Race 8.

Both are for trainer Dean Kannemeyer and both run in the familiar yellow and black colours of Khaya Stables.

De Melo will be going off to Hong Kong next season and his place will be taken up by Craig Zackey.

Mia’s Harper made a somewhat spectacular debut last time in soft conditions over 1200m at this course. She lost two lengths at the start but motored home in the closing stages to finish a 1.25-length behind behind Montelena.

She returns to the same course and distance this time in Race 1 to contest a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies and looks impossible to oppose in this line-up. The daughter of Danon Platina looks to have some ability on her last run and a modicum of improvement should be good enough to clinch it.

Gimmeafirst lines up in a Cape B Stakes over 1400m and this three-year-old daughter of Gimmethegreenlight looks all set to notch up her third career win in just nine starts. She won on debut over 1200m where she beat Betty Boop, who she will meet again on this occasion on 3kg better terms, but it took her 10 months before she managed to win her next start which was over this course and distance.

She followed that up with a decent enough effort over 1600m but never really looked threatening when going down 2.70 lengths to Lady Silvano.

She should enjoy the drop to 1400m and she also has the advantage of jumping from No 1 draw.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 4 Mia's Harper, 6 Ellorix, 9 A Thousand Kisses, 8 True Horizon

Race 2: 11 Gimmethewaltz, 7 Listentotheocean, 5 Vix Princess, 3 Maria Christina

Race 3: 3 Meu Capitano, 8 Oni San, 1 Speeding Bullet, 5 Captain Arrow

Race 4: 13 Moonacres, 10 Snow Cloud, 5 Mont Loisir, 4 Sail The Sky

Race 5: 1 Miracle In Motion, 6 De Janeiro, 4 Whataball, 5 Lickety Split

Race 6: 9 Naushon, 8 Run Rudolph Run, 12 Marshall Field, 3 Hawk Circle

Race 7: 4 Warm Winter Nite, 8 Spirit's Unite, 1 Lines Crossed, 2 Jet Green

Race 8: 1 Gimmeafirst, 8 Betty Boop, 7 Inara's Dynasty, 9 Fun Zone

Race 9: 11 Gainsford, 6 Future Turn, 9 Narina Trogon, 5 Charlie Croker

BEST BET

Race 1 No 4 Ma’s Harper

VALUE BET

Race 9 No 11

BEST SWINGER

Race 7 4x8

BIPOT

R72

Leg 1: 11

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 4, 6, 10, 13

Leg 4: 1, 6, 8

Leg 5: 8, 9, 12

Leg 6: 4, 8

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 3

Leg 2: 6, 10, 13

Leg 3: 1, 6

Leg 4: 8, 9, 12

Leg 5: 4, 8

Leg 6: 1, 7, 8

Leg 7: 6, 9, 11

PICK 6

R1350

Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 10, 13

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

Leg 3: 8, 9, 12

Leg 4: 4, 8

Leg 5: 1, 7, 8

Leg 6: 6, 9, 11

JACKPOT 1

R90

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

Leg 2: 8, 9, 12

Leg 3: 4, 8

Leg 4: 1, 7, 8

JACKPOT 2

R54

Leg 1: 8, 9, 12

Leg 2: 4, 8

Leg 3: 1, 7, 8

Leg 4: 6, 9, 11