Chance to dance with Marco and MJ

Jack Milner

Trainer MJ Odendaal and jockey Marco van Rensburg have done reasonably well since joining forces and while only two winners, one of them on Sunday, have come from their association so far, they have placed on five other occasions.

Hopefully they can add another win to their tally when Danse Milord lines up in Race 7 on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday in a MR 68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m.

This is a drop in class for the Coup De Grace filly and she could be hard to peg back after running a one-length fifth at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in a MR 74 Handicap last time. However, that race was over 1750m and she was only swamped close to the line.

Her penultimate start was over this course and distance and it was a winning one for this four-year-old.

Keagan de Melo rode Danse Milord to that victory on the Polytrack and he is riding Quanabi who has not been convincing on the surface and is now being tried over 1600m which may suit.

De Melo, however, can pick up Race 8, a MR 73 Handicap over 1400m, as William Rufus rates a possible banker in his heat. The three-year-old gelding won his Polytrack debut easily and as his odds did not drift out once he had been backed into favourite, indicated the level of confidence about his chances.

His merit rating has gone up just three points, he has drawn well enough and could quickly add a second win to his tally.

Value propositions include Bright Star (Race 3) and Eventidor (Race 4). The former ran unplaced in both starts out of the maidens but wasn’t far off. It is worth noting S’manga Khumalo has been booked to ride her and she could now be given a positive ride from barrier No 2.

Eventidor was backed in a competitive marathon, but the stop-start pace did not appear to suit him. In both wins on the Polytrack, he did produce powerful finishes and as there is always a good pace on, he could bounce back to best this time.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Miss Dora, 2 Tephra, 7 Hugsandhighfives, 4 Vermacilli

Race 2: 6 Lady Heist, 4 Kingsmeads Krystl, 1 Blush Of Dawn, 8 Pelargonium

Race 3: 2 Bright Star, 5 Kileigh's Fate, 4 French Princess, 6 Queen Mercury

Race 4: 5 Eventidor, 2 Thunder Masala, 1 Futurismo, 3 Blazing Light

Race 5: 3 Spirit Of My Fate, 4 With Pleasure, 2 Syx Hotfix, 6 Straight Up

Race 6: 6 Afropolitan, 5 Lou Lou The Legend, 1 Majestic Power, 8 Justfortheepenny

Race 7: 4 Danse Milord, 2 Quanabi, 3 Dilluh, 7 Shaken Not Stirred

Race 8: 5 William Rufus, 1 Count Marsh, 9 Gentleman's Way, 7 Parmenion

BEST BET

Race 8 No 5 William Rufus

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 3 Spirit Of My Fate

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 4x6

BIPOT

R324

Leg 1: 1, 2, 7

Leg 2: 6

Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 6

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5

Leg 5: 2, 3, 4

Leg 6: 1, 5, 6

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R243

Leg 1: 6

Leg 2: 2, 4, 5

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4

Leg 5: 1, 5, 6

Leg 6: 2, 3, 4

Leg 7: 5

PICK 6

R1792

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 6

Leg 4: 1, 5, 6, 8

Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 7

Leg 6: 5

JACKPOT 1

R256

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 6

Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 8

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 7

JACKPOT 2

R64

Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 6

Leg 2: 1, 5, 6, 8

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 7

Leg 4: 5