Jack Milner
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the KwaZulu-Natal Champions Season is that it brings the best runners from all over the country to compete in the final three months of the season.
Horses do travel to the Western Cape during the summer but at that stage little is known about the two-year-olds at this stage of the season and very few three-year-olds are ready to take on their elders.
There are, of course, exceptions to the rule and this year’s two-three-year-olds did stake their claims at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. One Stripe came out on top in the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate while Eight On Eighteen came out on top in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Met.
While One Stripe is on his way to compete internationally, Eight On Eighteen is in Durban and he will make his first appearance in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting Guineas over 1600m on Saturday.
The other Grade 2 features on the nine-race card are the WSB Fillies Guineas and the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m.
There will also be a Pick 6 Carryover of R500,000 with the pool likely to reach R3 million. The Pick 6 kicks off in Race 4 at 13:25 and with highly competitive racing on offer this could hand somebody a massive payout if they can get it right.
When it comes to bringing on the best in KZN, the Guineas stands out as not only will Justin Snaith-trained Eight On Eighteen be competing, but he will be joined by two other Grade 1 winners.
Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Champion Cosmic Speed will also line up in the R750,000 race.
Eight On Eighteen should have little problem with the distance as he also won the Cape Guineas over 1600m.
However, he might be in need of the run and that could give Cosmic Speed the edge. This Querari gelding last ran in the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein where he finished a 0.50-length second behind Main Defender.
Four weeks earlier he won the Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m, which is one of the top three Grade 1 races open to all horses over this distance. In addition, last year as a juvenile he captured the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Greyville.
All this adds up to the fact that he is probably fitter than his opposition, is ideally distance suited and has the benefit of experience at this course.
Richard Fourie will be aboard Justin Snaith-trained Eight On Eighteen while Craig Zackey is up on Cosmic Speed.
Dual Grade 1 winner Fatal Flaw was not declared for the Fillies Guineas but there is a full field of 14 runners in the final line-up.
Tarry-trained Green Sapphire brings solid form into the race but has a tricky draw to overcome whereas the highly rated VJ’s Angel, trained by Tony Peter, will jump from pole position.
Mike and Mathew de Kock also have a strong hand with Oxalis Gold and Spumante Dolce.
The latter, in particular, has the best form in the field and she will take a lot of beating, as long as Gavin Lerena is able to overcome No 11 draw.
The Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m has attracted a competitive field of 12 horses, including last year’s winner Royal Aussie with Andrew Fotune aboard the Snaith runner this time.
However, this year’s race looks particularly wide open and it might be prudent to include as many runners as is practical in the carryover Pick 6.
The value could lie with Gladatorian who had a decent enough comeback run last time out in the Listed Kings Cup over 1600m. That run would have brought him on nicely and Sean Veale could pick up one of the features on the card for trainer Stuart Ferrie.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 8 The Abdicator, 10 Trafalgar Square, 1 Million Voices, 2 Holds The Key
Race 2: 5 Flag Champ, 7 Director, 6 World Of Royalty, 2 Intensity
Race 3: 2 Dark Matter, 11 Kim Kay, 8 Love The USA, 1 Royal Kailani
Race 4: 4 Goodnessgraciousme, 2 Hat's Queen, 8 Fatal Gem, 7 Mocha Blend
Race 5: 5 Gladatorian, 11 The Real Prince, 3 Royal Aussie, 2 See It Again
Race 6: 11 Spumante Dolce, 12 Green Sapphire, 1 VJ's Angel, 7 Oxalis Gold
Race 7: 3 Cosmic Speed, 5 Eight On Eighteen, 4 Fire Attack, 1 Sail The Seas
Race 8: 2 Rodeo Drive, 4 Basked In Glory, 12 Khethiwe's Destiny, 6 Sovereign Grant
Race 9: 13 Run For Cover, 12 Moya Wa Laliga, 8 World Of Our Own, 4 Super Fast
BEST BET
Race 8: 2 Rodeo Drive
VALUE BET
Race 5: 5 Gladatorian
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 3x5
BIPOT
R324
Leg 1: 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 2, 8, 11
Leg 3: 2, 4, 8
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 11
Leg 5: 1, 11, 12
Leg 6: 3
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R288
Leg 1: 2, 8, 11
Leg 2: 2, 4, 8
Leg 3: 2, 3, 5, 11
Leg 4: 11, 12
Leg 5: 3
Leg 6: 2
Leg 7: 4, 8, 12, 13
PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 11
Leg 3: 1, 7, 11, 12
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5
Leg 5: 2
Leg 6: 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13
JACKPOT 1
R72
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 11
Leg 2: 1, 7, 11, 12
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5
Leg 4: 2
JACKPOT 2
R72
Leg 3: 1, 7, 11, 12
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5
Leg 5: 2
Leg 6: 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13