Chance for De Melo to extend lead

Jack Milner

There is a hackneyed expression that claims, “nothing succeeds like success”.

As clichéd as it might seem, it certainly applies to jockey Keagan de Melo who is really riding at the top of his game. At the time of writing, he had already posted 66 wins, 16 ahead of Muzi Yeni in the race for champion jockey. But what is particularly impressive is that his win percentage is almost 23%.

And this is where that old maxim kicks in. The more successful you are, the more in demand you become as other owners and trainers want you to ride their horses.

As a result, De Melo has landed another decent card of rides at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday where they race on the Polytrack.    

There are two of De Melo’s mounts who really stand out – Mccartney in Race 1 and Shell Seeker in Race 6.

Mccartney is highly regarded by trainer Tony Rivalland but has not lived up to the hype so far and appears to have had some issues. To be fair, he had his head in front going into the closing stages in two of his last three races before running out of steam.

In his last run he finished a 1.70-length third to some decent types, including Kitchakal, who is highly rated by his yard. That performance suggests Mccartney may be over his whatever problems he may have been having.

None of the others he meets appears to have his clout on exposed form, and as such, he is best weighted, rated eight points higher than Word For Word and King’s Spear.

Although highly exposed, the main danger could come from Geronimo, who although five years old, is rarely far off the winner.

This will be Mccartney’s first run on the Polytrack and he should make it a winning debut on the surface in this Maiden Plate over 1200m.

Mark Dixon, unlike Rivalland, has been sending out winners with regular monotony and his only runner on the day, Shell Seeker, looks the livewire in Race 6, a MR 68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m.

The Master Of My Fate filly found her feet last time over 1400m looking dangerous to a point in her second run on the Polytrack. She has drawn well, and the faster run 1200m this time could do the trick with the filly who won her maiden so impressively just over a year ago.

All of Meteoric – back on her best surface – Flying The Star, dropped to a highly competitive rating, and Birdwatcher, who is in cracking form but yet to win over the trip, look certain to be in the fight and a boxed Quartet could reward as a cover bet but an each-way bet on Shell Seeker looks the way to go.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 7 Mccartney, 6 Geronimo, 4 Word For Word, 9 King's Spear

Race 2: 1 Johnny's Hope, 6 Corsican, 3 Imaginable, 7 Manic Monday

Race 3: 8 High Green, 4 Lord Minver, 11 Fever, 10 Ravens Sword

Race 4: 6 Camora, 2 Global Dollar, 1 Winter With Jo, 3 Maxiumus

Race 5: 2 Spy Master, 1 Giambattista, 4 Gentleman's Way, 7 Patronage

Race 6: 3 Shell Seeker, 2 Flying The Star, 1 Meteoric, 4 Birdwatcher

Race 7: 6 Boldly Go, 5 Corner Crusade, 8 Arctic Princess, 2 Girl Of Tregunter

Race 8: 2 Bonne Bouche, 9 Kileigh's Fate, 7 Enid's Girl, 1 Morgan La Fay

BEST BET

Race 1 No 7 Mccartney

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 2 Spy Master

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1x6

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 7

Leg 2: 1, 6

Leg 3: 4, 8, 11

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 6

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 4, 8, 11

Leg 3: 1, 2, 6

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3

Leg 6: 5, 6

Leg 7: 2, 9

PICK 6

R1920

Leg 1: 4, 8, 10, 11

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg 5: 5, 6

Leg 6: 1, 2, 7, 9

JACKPOT 1

R120

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg 4: 5, 6

JACKPOT 2

R96

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg 5: 5, 6

Leg 6: 1, 2, 7, 9