Jack Milner
After two very close defeats, Belle Of Belize looks ready to get off the mark in Port Elizabeth when she lines up in Race 3, a MR 92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1300m on the Polytrack on Friday.
Belle Of Belize did pretty well by winning four of 17 starts under the care of Paul Peter and made her local debut in October when touched off by a bang-in-form And We Danced.
She pushed that rival right to the edge and only went down by a head.
She already had proven she could handle the Polytrack as she won her maiden on that surface at Hollywoodbets Greyville so another good run on that surface last time came as no surprise. But once again she was touched off by 0.10 lengths, this time by Sacred Lotus, who re-opposes this time.
There is a 0.5kg swing in the favour of Belle Of Belize along with the fact Belle Of Belize should be fitter and more at home over the season will make her the one to beat.
Richard Fourie was on her the last two times and gets a chance to redeem those defeats.
It is a tough card that awaits punters but there are some interesting races, and recent fourth in the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup at Turffontein, Divine Odyssey, returns to the Eastern Cape.
This eight-year-old gelding has a good record at this centre, having won four of his eight starts and trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren has found him another race where conditions suit, in Race 7, The Fairview 1900.
Gavin Smith sends out his stalwart Global Drummer in Race 4, but he may not have things all his own way as there is some decent opposition ready to take him on.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Daisy Duke, 3 Dream Scape, 4 Dream Star, 2 Yaya Maia
Race 2: 2 Joyous Jubilee, 1 Last Survivor, 5 Siberian Fox, 3 Nairobi
Race 3: 3 Belle Of Belize, Miss Nibbles, Stolen Kiss, Sacred Lotus
Race 4: 1 Global Drummer, 11 Fly My Flag, Greenlighttoheaven, Giacomo Puccini
Race 5: El Romiachi, Raisetheredlantern, 7 Travel Master, 2 Duke Of Orange,
Race 6: 6 American Landing, 5 Almighwaar, 3 Almas Tower, 8 Guy Alexander
Race 7: 1 Divine Odyssey, 3 Native Tongue, 4 Jaeger Moon, 2 Grazinginthegrass
Race 8: 6 Daleel, 8 Perfection, 10 Silver Stardust, 4 My Boy Reecey
BEST BET
Race 1 No 1 Daisy Duke
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 6 American Landing
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 1x2
BIPOT
R64
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 2
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 1, 11
Leg 5: 1, 2, 7, 11
Leg 6: 3, 5, 6, 8,
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R108
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 1, 11
Leg 4: 1, 7, 11
Leg 5: 3, 5, 6
Leg 6: 1, 3
Leg 7: 6, 8, 10
PICK 6
R1500
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 1, 7, 9, 11
Leg 3: 1, 2, 7, 9, 11
Leg 4: 3, 5, 6, 8, 9
Leg 5: 1, 3, 4
Leg 6: 4, 6, 7, 8, 10
JACKPOT 1
R300
Leg 1: 1, 7, 9, 11
Leg 2: 1, 2, 7, 9, 11
Leg 3: 3, 5, 6, 8, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4
JACKPOT 2
R375
Leg 1: 1, 2, 7, 9, 11
Leg 2: 3, 5, 6, 8, 9
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4
Leg 4: 4, 6, 7, 8, 10