Jack Milner
Last Saturday saw the favourites dominate the meeting and it could be more of the same at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Topping the card is the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, one of the three Grade 1 races over 1600m in the country open to all horses.
The other two are the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Kenilworth and Turffontein respectively.
Al Muthana, under the mentorship of Ricky Maingard, claimed the King’s Plate and became the first horse to lower the colours of Charles Dickens.
Trip Of Fortune was in that race but was not at his best and finished down field. However, the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained gelding made the journey to Joburg for the Horse Chestnut Stakes and won it in style.
Charles Dickens has won two highly regarded races over 1600m, the Grade 1 Cape Guineas and the Grade 2 WSB Guineas last month at Greyville. The results of both races were never in doubt and despite his surprise loss to Al Muthana, this son of Trippi, trained by Bass-Robinson, will be the runner to beat.
In fact, he has been priced up at 9-20 to notch up his first Grade 1 victory in open company. Aldo Domeyer has been given the ride once again.
Al Muthana won this race last year when trained by Mike de Kock and will be back for a crack at a second title, however, he seems to be underrated by all except the handicappers. Currently he and Charles Dickens are the highest rated horses in the country and race off a merit rating of 132.
This is a weight-for-age contest and many pundits will be quick to point out that Charles Dickens is now 3.5kg worse off. However, that is a weight-for-age adjustment and makes the assumption the son of Trippi has improved by at least that amount in the last five months.
There is no doubt both Bass-Robinson and Domeyer would acknowledge that fact. He also did not have the best of fortune in the King’s Plate but with a win at Greyville to his credit, he is fully expected to reverse that defeat.
Trip Of Fortune has come on in leaps and bounds since having been gelded and showed his wellbeing when winning the Grade 2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m last month. As decent as he is, when one talks to the connections, one is aware they don’t consider him in the same league as stablemate Charles Dickens.
The Grade 3 Cup Trial could provide another banker for bettors as Rockpool is strongly fancied by his connections. Justin Snaith’s charge needs to win this to get a run in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and from No 1 draw with Richard Fourie up, he will take a power of beating.
There could be a third banker in Race 4 where Mike de Kock saddles Gimmeanotherchance. This two-year-old son of Gimmethegreenlight was super-impressive when winning his third run last time, trying a touch further for the first time.
His previous defeat was a head second behind Lucky Lad and Sean Tarry’s charge is unbeaten.
From No 1 draw with Keagan de Melo in the irons, he looks a standout bet in the Listed Gatecrasher over 1400m.
The toughest race is the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes for fillies and mares over 1400m and one will need to load up for the exotics.
But Sean Tarry has a strong hand with Marigold Hotel and Mrs Browning, and it is perhaps the latter who could provide the best value.
Mrs Browning is a full sister to Aragosta and came back to form with a promising victory over Cleaver Greene last time. Drawn No 5 with S’manga Khumalo up, a big run is expected.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 4 Rainbow Reward, 5 Helsinki, 1 Plaza Accord, 8 Seattle Ripper
Race 2: 5 Aberdeen, 4 Power Star, 8 Kyomai, 12 Petteia
Race 3: 7 Kingdom Of Gold, 4 Dolcezza, 2 African Folklore, 10 Oriental Bouquet
Race 4: 1 Gimmeanotherchance, 6 Romance In Rome, 7 Ermelo, 9 Except Temptation
Race 5: 1 Rockpool, 5 Winchester Mansion, 10 Shoemaker, 2 Union Square
Race 6: 5 Mrs Browning, 6 Shantastic, 11 Marigold Hotel, 7 Tipsy Tarragon
Race 7: 4 Charles Dickens, 3 Trip Of Fortune, 5 Al Muthana, 9 Do It Again
Race 8: 7 Southern Skies, 5 Magic Tattoo, 3 Smith And Wesson, 12 Captain Casey
Race 9: 2 Our Emily, 3 Reefway, 6 Shanta's Pride, 8 Russian Doll
Race 10: 1 Master Josh, 7 Down By The River, 11 Green With Envy, 6 Mister Lincoln
BEST BET
Race 4 No 1 Gimmeanotherchance
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 5 Mrs Browning
BEST SWINGER
Race 4 1x6
BIPOT
R60
Leg 1: 4, 5, 8
Leg 2: 2, 4, 7, 10
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 2, 5, 6, 7, 11
Leg 6: 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R240
Leg 1: 2, 4, 7, 10
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 5, 6, 7, 11
Leg 5: 4
Leg 6: 3, 5, 7
Leg 7: 2, 3, 6, 8, 10
PICK 6
R1000
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Leg 4: 4
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
JACKPOT 1
R100
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12
JACKPOT 2
R400
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Leg 4: 1, 6, 7, 11