Arctic Princess to benefit from move to Greyville poly
Horse Racing
Arctic Princess to benefit from move to Greyville poly
February 2021
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Jack Milner:The move from Scottsville to the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday has affected the complexion of Sunday’s race meeting.
Obviously the change of surface will have the biggest impact, but also sprint races run up the straight at Scottsville will now take place around the turn, which makes life a lot trickier from outside draws. In addition, the change of venue has resulted in a number of withdrawals.
Also, there have been changes to some of the distances. Races carded over 1750m will now be run over 1800m, 2400m races reduced to 2000m, and 1950m races will also be run over 2000m.
Starting times remain unchanged.
The whole move could be a boon for Arctic Princess in Race 9, a MR 70 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m. Firstly, early favourite She’s A Keeper has been withdrawn and secondly, trainer Gary Rich’s runner has great form on the Polytrack.
Since she returned from a short rest in December last year, the four-year-old daughter of What A Winter has been in prolific form. The addition of blinkers and a return to the Polytrack also appear to have done the trick as she notched up two successive victories and was then unlucky not to make it three in a row last time after a bump at the start resulted in her racing too far off the pace.
Nonetheless, she produced a flying finish to go down 0.80 lengths to Umzinduzi.
All three f those runs wee over 1200m on the Polytrack and the move up to 1400m is unlikely to trouble her as she won her maiden over the course and distance in February last year.
Stuart Randolph rode her in her last two starts and he is back on board this time.
The other runner of interest in Race 9 is Peaceontherocks, who will be having her first run for Dean Kannemeyer after a move from Mike de Kock’s yard. As De Kock is one of the owners, one can glean from the decision that they feel she could be better on the Polytrack.
The blinkers have come off and Keagan de Melo takes the ride.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Silvery Blue, 9 Crested Eagle, 2 Iron Bark, 4 Gallic Chief Race 2: 8 After The Rain, 7 Crusade’s Star, 5 Cauldron, 11 Parallel Universe Race 3: 7 Coromandel, 4 Sonjador, 2 Komodosan, 12 Mr Pigalle Race 4: 3 Vitus Beiring, 6 Spring Fling, 4 Count Marsh, 1 Kapen Pride Race 5: 5 Twice Golden, 4 Mrs Hotline, 6 Run To Denmark, 2 Dream Destiny Race 6: 2 Impartial, 7 Kings Road, 3 Princekresh, 1 Storm Chaser Race 7: 7 Alado’s Pride, 5 Fever, 2 Bohemian Lad, 3 Al Jackman Race 8: 6 Mighty Smart, 1 H Two O, 2 Mambo Symphony, 9 Bhakka Race 9: 7 Arctic Princess, 6 Peaceontherocks, 2 Class Of Eight, 3 Brunilda