Boost the kitty early at Greyville

Favourite backers should get off to a winning start at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Plinian and Mia’s Athena in Races 1 and 2 respectively, should escape the maiden ranks but come race time their prices may end up being extremely short.

Plinian has everything in his favour but could have most to fear from unraced runners in Race 1, a Maiden Plate over 1000m, and while two of the three, namely Beach Palace and Star Of The Future, have speedy pedigrees, the comments from their trainers are “will probably need the outing” and “bit on the sharp side and if not too green can run a place” respectively.

Plinian has shown superiority over raced runners B Fiftytwo and Bomber Stream and it’s hard to see those turning it around. His biggest advantage is that he has brilliant gate speed and once he jumps it should be difficult for a less experienced first-timer to fetch him.

Mia’s Athena rates the best bet on the day as she is officially head and shoulders above her field in the equivalent Maiden Plate for fillies and mares. The daughter of ill-fated but prolific stallion Lancaster Bomber is merit rated 85 while second highest rated runner is Kian’s Pride at 75.

Not surprisingly her form lines stand out. She was a heavily backed favourite when runner-up to subsequent Grade 2 runner up Captain’s Christy on debut and for a while was too speedy for the opposite sex next time out. None of the others has run in, let alone run well, in that type of company.

Her problem is that she did too much in the early to middle stages of her races and ran out of steam late. But she looked a different horse last time when moving up strongly before finding one better in feature raced Bomber Girl. The stable of trainer Duncan Howells has hit the ground running in the new season and Mia’s Athena should frank the form of the yard.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 2 Plinian, 5 B Fiftytwo, 4 Star Of The Future, 1 Beach Palace

Race 2: 2 Mia's Athena, 4 Kian's Pride, 3 Witchwood, 7 Pretty Analia

Race 3: 7 Sign Of Fate, 8 Madame Pompadour, 10 Kitty Mo, 1 Grecian Palace

Race 4: 8 Josephine's Pride, 5 Player X, 11 The Green Gallant, 4 Reach Forthe Stars

Race 5: 2 Kitchakal, 8 Addabar, 4 Paris Pike, 3 News Stream

Race 6: 1 Porfirio, 6 Giambattista, 13 Winter Waves, 2 Stevie Gee

Race 7: 8 War Empress, 2 Maquette, 7 Sting Ray, 9 Certainly

Race 8: 7 Thisiswhatitmeans, 11 Seattle Ripper, 1 Trade War, 3 Licence To Thrill

BEST BET

Race 2 No 2 Mia’s Athena

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 1 Porfirio

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 2x4

BIPOT

R162

Leg 1: 2, 4, 5

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 7, 8

Leg 4: 5, 8, 11

Leg 5: 2, 4, 8

Leg 6: 1, 6, 13

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 7, 8

Leg 3: 5, 8, 11

Leg 4: 2, 8

Leg 5: 1, 6, 13

Leg 6: 2, 7, 8

Leg 7: 7, 8, 11

PICK 6

R1620

Leg 1: 7, 8, 10

Leg 2: 4, 5, 8, 9, 11

Leg 3: 2, 4, 8

Leg 4: 1, 6, 13

Leg 5: 2, 7, 8

Leg 6: 1, 3, 7, 11

JACKPOT 1

R135

Leg 1: 4, 5, 8, 9, 11

Leg 2: 2, 4, 8

Leg 3: 1, 6, 13

Leg 4: 2, 7, 8

JACKPOT 2

R108

Leg 1: 2, 4, 8

Leg 2: 1, 6, 13

Leg 3: 2, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 3, 7, 11