The presence of classy two-year-old filly Golden Palm seems to have scared away much of the opposition, with only seven runners lining up in Race 7, The Lady's Slipper (Listed), over 1400m at Fairview on Friday.
The Master Of My Fate filly is clearly progressive, having won her last two starts. Golden Palm has only had three starts so far and showed promise with a third-place finish on debut behind her unbeaten stable companion, Anotherdanceforme, in February.
The two-year-old filly reappeared a couple of weeks later – this time with Richard Fourie in the irons – and was heavily backed. She won by 5.50 lengths.
Golden Palm then made a rare raid to Gauteng for trainer Alan Greeff, where she proved too good for some decent fillies, winning by 2.20 lengths. She now tries 1400m for the first time, but that should not pose a problem, and she looks hard to oppose.
She is likely to raid Group 1 races in KwaZulu-Natal during the champion season and this looks a nice stepping stone for her.
If there are to be two fillies who can test her, then Barolo and Royal City Girl are the most likely challengers in the field. Barolo was narrowly beaten in her first two starts but was a wide-margin winner last time out. Royal City Girl beat Barolo when they met on 11 April and does seem to have talent.
Earlier on the card, the Fourie-Greeff combination can also win Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1600m, with Golden Grey.
This Danon Platina gelding has proven a costly horse to follow and is not an easy ride. However, the four-year-old has looked unlucky not to win in his two starts at this centre and could finally get the job done on this occasion.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Zambezi Sunset, 2 Supreme Judge, 5 Atlantic Pearl, 6 Money Galore
Race 2: 6 Golden Grey, 1 Cheerful Charlie B, 4 Garden Sun, 3 Prolific Star
Race 3: 2 Winter Gamble, 1 Twilight Bay, 7 Winter's Dragon, 5 Fantasy Girl
Race 4: 5 Walkonthewildside, 12 Lanciafiamme, 7 William The First, 4 Green Mandarin
Race 5: 5 Global Reef, 1 Mr Fox, 3 Home Reef, 2 George Handel
Race 6: 4 Winter Emeralds, 3 Anchor Man, 6 Blue Palace, 16 King Rahul
Race 7: 4 Golden Palm, 2 Barolo, 5 Royal City Girl, 1 Augusta Rosso
Race 8: 3 Sweet And True, 1 Silvonian, 4 Coastal Path, 11 Wordsworth
BEST BET
Race 7: 4 Golden Palm
VALUE BET
Race 5: 5 Global Reef
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 1x2
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5
Leg 2: 6
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 5, 7, 12
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 5
Leg 6: 3, 4, 6
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R270
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 1, 2
Leg 3: 5, 7, 12
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5
Leg 5: 3, 4, 6
Leg 6: 4
Leg 7: 1, 3, 4, 10, 11
PICK 6
R1080
Leg 1: 1, 2, 7
Leg 2: 4, 5, 7, 12
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5
Leg 4: 3, 4, 6, 7, 16
Leg 5: 4
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11
JACKPOT 1
R60
Leg 1: 4, 5, 7, 12
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5
Leg 3: 3, 4, 6, 7, 16
Leg 4: 4
JACKPOT 2
R90
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5
Leg 2: 3, 4, 6, 7, 16
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11
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