Bank on Mont Loisir in the Cape

Jack Milner

Punters are faced with a tricky nine-race card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday, but the combination of trainer Brett Crawford and jockey Richard Fourie should get Pick 6 bettors off to a winning start in Race 4, an Open Maiden over 1400m where they team up with Mont Loisir.

The three-year-old Vercingetorix gelding returns from a 114-day layoff, his last race coming at Hollywoodbets Durbanville where he finished fifth, beaten 3.75 lengths by stablemate Willie John over 1600m with Fourie aboard.

That was only his third run and he has shown enough in all of those starts to give one the impression he has the ability to win a race of this nature on his reappearance. The break has also given Mont Loisir the opportunity to mature a little and it is worth noting that winners have come out of all his three runs to date.

Durbanville suits some runners better that others and one feels the return to Kenilworth will improve this gelding.

In what is a relatively modest lineup, feedback from the yard regarding Mont Loisir's well-being has been encouraging and the booking of Fourie also bodes well for Crawford's charge.

The concluding race, a Class 4 event over 1200m, looks a race in two between Winter Pearl and Hammies Hero.

Hammies Hero, trained by Candice Bass-Robinson and to be ridden by Aldo Domeyer, has had his merit rating chopped from 94 to 77 in the last nine months and that brings the four-year-old Twice Over gelding strongly into the reckoning.

He had an improved race last time when fitted with blinkers and that saw him finish a decent 2.70-length fourth behind All About Al. The winner has gone on to go well in his two follow up runs.

However, Winter Pearl has performed remarkably of late and has really done well under trainer Ricky Maingard. He joined the stable as a one-time winner and has now won three of his last six starts. He also has consistently performed well against stronger opposition than he meets in this event.

Interestingly, Maingard has engaged Morne Winnaar to take the ride and it looks an excellent opportunity for him.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 8 Three Coins, 1 Noon Day Gun, 5 United We Stand, 6 Rougarouin

Race 2: 9 Igugulethu, 2 Kaapse Klopse, 7 Sooty, Ellorix, 1 Tambourine Man

Race 3: 2 Cabaret, 5 Tokyo Princess, 3 Blind Faith, 6 Jet Green

Race 4: 3 Mont Loisir, 9 Indecent Proposal, 6 Mystery Cache, 2 Jack In The Green

Race 5: 5 Whistling Dixie, 4 Ticking Bomb, 9 Basic Maneuvers, 2 English Mistress

Race 6: 9 Twice The Master, 5 Dawn Cloud, 8 Exceeder, 3 Caramel Fudge

Race 7: 9 Royal Swan Master, 3 Slurricane, 7 Katsu, 1 No Apologies

Race 8: 6 Liketheclappers, 2 Master Of Paris, 4 Majestic Warrior, 5 Fly To Rio

Race 9: 5 Winter Pearl, 6 Hammies Hero, 3 War Chariot, 10 Mount Pleasant

BEST BET

Race 4 No 3 Mont Loisir

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 9 Royal Swan Master

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 2x5

BIPOT

R384

Leg 1: 2, 7, 9

Leg 2: 2, 5

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 9

Leg 5: 3, 5, 8, 9

Leg 6: 1, 3, 7, 9

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 2, 5

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 4, 5, 9

Leg 4: 5, 8, 9

Leg 5: 3, 7, 9

Leg 6: 2, 4, 6

Leg 7: 5, 6

PICK 6

R1440

Leg 1: 3

Leg 2: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9

Leg 4: 1, 3, 7, 9

Leg 5: 2, 4, 5, 6

Leg 6: 3, 5, 6

JACKPOT 1

R480

Leg 1: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9

Leg 3: 1, 3, 7, 9

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 6

JACKPOT 2

R288

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9

Leg 2: 1, 3, 7, 9

Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 6

Leg 4: 3, 5, 6