Jack Milner: In spite of the fact that Sunday’s race meeting was called off after Race 1, following a protest lodged by the jockeys, there is a lot of optimism coming out of Durban that Monday’s meeting on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville will go ahead.
Fortunately, the Polytrack does dry quite fast and if the rain stays away, the confidence could be correct.
Just in case, it is worth noting there are a couple of good bets early on the card. Nathan Kotzen could kick the meeting off with Emerald Palace, who will be ridden in Race 1 by champion jockey Warren Kennedy.
This is a Maiden Plate over 1200m for fillies and mares and Emerald Palace showed quite a lot of ability in her last start, which was the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m on the turf. As a maiden, the daughter of Potala Palace had her work cut out but she did not embarrass herself, and finished sixth, beaten 5.50 lengths by Caralluma.
Her earlier race was in a Maiden Plate over 1200m at Scottsville where Emerald palace ran a 4.40-length third behind Trickster. Two winners have come from that form line.
If she does not need the run the three-year-old filly could be hard to beat. If she does, the main danger has to be Trippin The Stars from the Justin Snaith yard. This daughter of Trippi has also contested a couple of features but she has run in Maiden Plates since then and has not been able to win.
This will be her first run in KwaZulu-Natal and her first around the turn, but she is well drawn and has Anton Marcus up.
Swingers with the two should bring rewards.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 5 Emerald Palace, 2 Trippin The Stars, 1 Fair, 7 Roy’s Slew Per Jet Race 2: 5 Freestate Star, 12 Kinskey’s Tune, 7 Im Attracktive, 9 Duchessofcornwall Race 3: 9 A Thousand Tunes, 8 All Time High, 2 Gazala Gallop, 5 Master George Race 4: 4 Ferrari Ice, 2 Sea Sponge, 9 World Cruise, 1 Fort Carol Race 5: 6 Sheik’s Storm, 7 Jay Bomb, 2 Top Salute, 8 Call Me Tonight Race 6: 2 Fives Wild, 7 Bright Flame, 1 Jonathan, 11 Bravo Zulu Race 7: 7 Maidens Prayer, 4 Song Of The Forest, 11 Arrabiata, 9 Marsanne Race 8: 4 Maitland Magic, 6 Sovereign Soldier, 8 Agent Murphy, 1 Hammam