Captain to lead the charge
March 2021
Jack Milner: The “usual suspects” are back in town for Friday’s race meeting on the turf at Fairview, which includes the Listed East Cape Sprint Cup over 1200m and the Listed East Cape Guineas over 1600m.
Justin Snaith, Candice Bass-Robinson, Glen Kotzen and Andre Nel have been making regular visits to Port Elizabeth of late and they are enjoying regular success in the Eastern Cape, although the locals have been holding their own in some of the feature events.
While Kotzen does not have a runner in the sprint, he does team up with Luke Ferraris and they have four horses at the meeting, including Northern Song in the Guineas.
But the other three will be challenging for Sprint Cup honours although it looks as if Snaith could well hold the trump card with Captain Tatters.
This Gimmethegreenlight gelding was stymied by a high merit rating early in his career and that has made it very hard for Snaith to pick the best races for his runner. It is thus unsurprising the four-year-old has just the solitary win to his name after 11 runs.
Captain Tatters has been very good in defeat though, and none was more glorious than his recent fourth-place finish behind stablemate and current sprinting sensation Rio Querari.
Captain Tatters looked to have every chance of winning the Diadem Stakes until stablemate Rio Querari flashed past him to win impressively. Richard Fourie is back aboard Captain Tatters and he should win this time round.
The main threat should come from Bass-Robinson’s charge, Constable. He has not won since November 2019 but he has run well enough in some feature races to suggest he could be competitive in this event. Aldo Domeyer rides.
Bass-Robinson, however, should pick up the Guineas. The scratching of Red Lark as opened the door for Adios Amigos.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Norton Sound, 2 Vic Falls, 3 Arctic Advance, 7 Mr Hyde
Race 2: 9 Subterfuge, 2 Iron Henry, 10 Paris Opera, 1 Al Qaasim
Race 3: 12 Red White And Blue, 1 Firstamongequals, 2 Hikaru, 3 Jaspero
Race 4: 1 Inbetween Dreams, 3 Madam Seville, 14 Sarajevo, 7 Lady In Waiting
Race 5: 7 Dragon Power, 6 Delicasea, 8 Varsity Bourbon, 9 Spring Awakening
Race 6: 3 Adios Amigos, 5 Find Me Unafraid, 4 Northern Song, 2 Jaeger Moon
Race 7: 1 Captain Tatters, 4 Constable, 8 La Bella Mia, 2 Pleasedtomeetyou
Race 8: 3 Mendocino, 4 Kathleen, 9 Herrin, 7 Brandina
BEST BET
Race 7 No 1 Captain Tatters
VALUE BET
Race 3 No 12 Red White And Blue
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 1×4
BIPOT
R108
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3
Leg 2: 2, 9, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2, 12
Leg 4: 1, 3
Leg 5: 6, 7
Leg 6: 3
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R108
Leg 1: 2, 9, 10
Leg 2: 1, 2, 12
Leg 3: 1, 3
Leg 4: 6, 7
Leg 5: 3
Leg 6: 2
Leg 7: 3, 4, 9
PICK 6
R600
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 12
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7, 14
Leg 3: 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11
Leg 4: 3
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 7, 9
JACKPOT 1
R30
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7, 14
Leg 2: 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 1
JACKPOT 2
R30
Leg 1: 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 7, 9