Jack Milner
The highlight of the Eastern Cape season, the R350,000 Betway Algoa Cup (Listed), takes centre stage on the turf at Fairview on Friday, and this year it looks a very competitive event.
The race has been complicated further by the inclement weather which induced the organisers to move the meeting from the turf track to the Polytrack.
It has also caused a change of distance to Race 2 which will now be over 2200m.
The change of surface resulted in Justin Snaith withdrawing his two runners, Calls To Unite and Rockpool, but still 14 runners remain in the field.
To add to the day, a R500,000 carryover will kick off the Pick 6, which is likely to reach R3 million.
One has to go back to 2009 to find the last time and home-based runner won this event and on that occasion it was Surfin’ USA who was trained by Jacques Strydom and was ridden by his brother, Piere.
Once again, visiting trainers from the Western Cape have made an outright assault on the race with Glen Kotzen fielding four runners and Brett Crawford one.
Both have provided multiple winners of this race over the last 14 years and could be hard to peg back once again.
This year could see a change of fortune for the local trainers, and it is worth noting that
champion jockey Richard Fourie has turned his back on the Western Cape raiders and will ride Alan Greeff-trained filly Joy And Peace who is top weight for this year’s race.
The four-year-old Master Of My Fate filly won four successive races, including two over 2000m, before her winning run was broken last time out, when slowly away in a false-run race. She still made good progress late to finish fourth behind surprise winner Mount Anderson.
It will be crucial to ensure she does not lose ground at the start this time around as she has cracked No 1 draw.
Fourie has won the last four races he has been aboard her.
She will also not be fazed by the move to the Polytrack as she has run six times on the surface for three wins, a second and two thirds. However, the major concern is that she will carry 60kg and give weight all round, which will be tough.
As a result, Joy And Peace will have to concede 8kg to Crawford-trained Allez Moris which will be no easy task.
While he has not yet raced on the Polytrack he will have no problem with the distance and has in-form Kabelo Matsunyane in the irons. He will know how to use the benefit of that light weight and could be the one they all have to beat.
Kotzen has had a good recent run with his raiders in the Eastern Cape but it is hard to pick which of his four runners could be the right one.
Holding Thumbs was impressive last time out but takes a huge jump in class. Blackberry Malt has improved with blinkers but also faces tougher this time.
Green Mandarin did not show his best last time out but that was over 1600m and Green Mandarin has been at his best over 1800m and should relish this longer distance so deserves respect
Chollima has run well at this course and is not out of it.
Many pundits will be looking to Cruise Control as a banker in the carryover Pick 6 and he lines up in Race 9, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m.
The Querari gelding has been better than ever since returning from Kwa-Zulu-Natal with two impressive wins.
His record with jockey Louie Mxothwa remains unblemished with six wins from six starts together and they can cap off a good day of racing.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Gimmethelimelight, 8 Fire Alarm, 9 Genteel, 10 Noodsberg
Race 2: 3 Woman's World, 1 Official Secret, 2 Medlers Tart, 4 Gideon's Daughter
Race 3: 7 Ellorix, 2 Happy Holly, 3 Blue Holly, 6 Symbol Of Love
Race 4: 5 Military Man, 1 Jack In The Green, 8 Mr Molony, 7 Lady Zultanite
Race 5: 5 Travel Master, 2 Abound, 3 My Bestie, 9 Golden Pavilion
Race 6: 1 Luna Halo, 2 Gimme's Lassie, 4 Red Sash, 8 Lady Silvano
Race 7: 4 On My Honour, 1 My Best Shot, 2 We Have Touchdown, 3 The Mask
Race 8: 12 Allez Moris, 1 Joy And Peace, 8 Blackberry Malt, 11 Holding Thumbs
Race 9: 1 Cruise Control, 5 Gimme's Laddie, 3 Cliff Top, 2 Fairy Knight
BEST BET
Race 9: 1 Cruise Control
VALUE BET
Race 4: 5 Military Man
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 1x4
BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 1, 3
Leg 2: 2, 3, 7
Leg 3: 1, 5, 8
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 9
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 1, 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 2, 3, 7
Leg 2: 1, 5, 8
Leg 3: 2, 3, 5
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 1, 4
Leg 6: 1, 8, 11, 12
Leg 7: 1
PICK 6
R600
Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4
Leg 5: 1, 4, 8, 11, 12
Leg 6: 1
JACKPOT 1
R120
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4
Leg 4: 1, 4, 8, 11, 12
JACKPOT 2
R15
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4
Leg 3: 1, 4, 8, 11, 12
Leg 4: 1