Bess for back-to-back wins

Jack Milner

 Trainer Mike de Kock has pointed out that as he is not chasing Dubai World Cup winners it has resulted in some of his top horses, who would have been exported, remaining in South Africa.

That has resulted in De Kock picking up a number of feature races this season, including the R5-million Hollywoodbets Durban July with Sparkling Water.

While there are no feature races at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, Mike de Kock sends out some interesting runners, in particular Good Queen Bess and Winter Pearl.    

When Good Queen Bess won on debut last year, there were high expectation for this beautifully bred daughter of Kingman but she clearly had some issues and has only raced seven times since.

One must also take into account that she was bred in the Northern Hemisphere and is thus six months younger than her locally bred rivals so may have needed time to mature.

After having been tried over further, Good Queen Bess returned to sprinting last time and that got her back in the winner’s enclosure as she beat the boys in a MR 76 Handicap over 1200m at Scottsville.

It was her debut at the course and she did exceptionally well, coming from well off the pace to win going away. The horse she beat, Botz, is highly regarded by his yard. In fact, Botz was well supported to win but he found her too hot to handle.

Her merit rating was given a five-point hike for that win but there was a lot to like about the manner of that victory.

On Sunday she drops in distance but now takes on members of her own sex and she line up in Race 7, a MR 94 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m.

It is a stronger field but whereas she carried 60.5kg last time, she will have just 54kg on her back on his occasion and hopefully can give owner Mary Slack another victory in her colours.

Richard Fourie, who won on her last time, is back in the irons for this race.

De Kock has another interesting running in Race 4, a Maiden Plate over 1000m, where he saddles Winter Pearl who returns from a 253-day rest. His previous race was in October last year when he finished a 1.75-length third behind Angel Of War, and he was gelded shortly after that.

On debut the son of What A Winter went down 0.90 lengths to Bard Of Avon, who went on to win two more races and has placed in a Grade 3 race.

If running anywhere near that form Winter Pearl should be hard to beat in maiden company.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 2 Feeling Groovy, 10 Bright Star, 3 Grandi Orecchie, 1 Umvoti

Race 2: 9 Fleet Commander, 1 Political Party, 5 Aspect, 6 Equestrian Affair

Race 3: 12 Gimme's Laddie, 14 American Dream, 10 Black Cherry, 1 Reginas Angel

Race 4: 3 Winter Pearl, 5 United Prince, 7 Ndaka, 8 Vihaan's Grey

Race 5: 4 La Dreamer, 9 Special Charm, 5 Take To War, 3 Sexy Shiraz

Race 6: 6 Space News, 13 Madiba's Cuppa, 14 Exceeder, 3 Atomic Blonde

Race 7: 8 Good Queen Bess, 12 Lady Catherine, 2 Sweet Symphony, 3 Vivid Jet

Race 8: 4 Two Of Us, 2 Sir Pom, 5 Blaze Of Silk, 7 Happy Wanderer

Race 9: 1 Diamond Girl, 8 Ride The Lightning, 16 Shell Seeker, 9 Ethiopian Queen

BEST BET

Race 7 No 8 Good Queen Bess

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 6 Space News

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 2x10

BIPOT

R324

Leg 1: 1, 5, 9

Leg 2: 10, 12, 14

Leg 3: 3, 5, 7

Leg 4: 4, 5, 9

Leg 5: 6, 13, 14

Leg 6: 8

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 10, 12, 14

Leg 2: 3, 5

Leg 3: 4, 5, 9

Leg 4: 6, 13, 14

Leg 5: 8

Leg 6: 2, 4

Leg 7: 1, 8, 16

PICK 6

R1500

Leg 1: 3, 5, 7

Leg 2: 3, 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 3: 3, 6, 12, 13, 14

Leg 4: 8

Leg 5: 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 6: 1, 8, 9, 11, 16

JACKPOT 1

R100

Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 2: 3, 6, 12, 13, 14

Leg 3: 8

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 7

JACKPOT 2

R100

Leg 1: 3, 6, 12, 13, 14

Leg 2: 8

Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 4: 1, 8, 9, 11, 16