Jack Milner
Everybody loves a champion so there were many sighs of disappointment when Charles Dickens was touched off by Al Muthana in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
It so often happens in racing that a horse gets the better of every obvious danger but goes down to a total outsider. So, while that can be looked upon as a disappointment, one must not forget Charles Dickens had both Jet Dark and Kommetdieding, who went on to finish first and second respectively in the World Sports betting Cape Town Met a few weeks later, well beaten.
The Trippi colt has been untroubled by his own age group and that is who he will meet on Saturday in the Grade 1 Splashout Cape Derby over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
This colt is special and has to be a banker in all bets.
There are some outstanding bets for racing fans this weekend, starting off with a Pick 6 carryover of R500,000 with the pool likely to reach R3 million.
Then we have a very interesting Quartet innovation over the weekend with a carryover of R100,000 to the Race 7 pools at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today, Turffontein tomorrow and Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday.
The likely pool at all the meetings is R500,000.
To add to tomorrow’s fun, the Saudi Cup racemeeting in Riyadh is a World Pool event with Races 3 to 8 commingled with Hong Kong. The Saudi Cup, at US$20 million, is the world’s richest race and trainers and jockeys from all over the world will be participating at the meeting.
Some people may be worrying about the Derby distance for Charles Dickens but on breeding it should not be of much concern as both his full brothers, Charles and Somerset Maugham, have had success over the trip.
Of course, based on merit ratings, this should be a walk in the park as he meets all of his rivals at level weights. Had this been a handicap this Candice Bass-Robinson-trained runner would have to give second best rated At My Command 9kg and 14kg and upwards to the balance of the runners.
Justin Snaith rates Grade 3 Politician Stakes winner Rockpool quite highly but on the form of that 1800m race, he will battle to hold off At My Command who is now 6kg better off a 2.75-length beating.
Aldo Domeyer will be looking for vindication after Charles Dickens’ last defeat and he looks likely to get it – in spades.
Race 7 is the Listed Gordon’s Gin Jet Master Stakes over 1600m and is the perfect race to have a Quartet carryover as there are 16 runners.
It looks wide open but if the handicappers have got it right, it should be a walk in the park for Al Muthana who at 133 was made the highest rated runner in the land following his King’s Plate victory. He is the best weighted runner by at least 4.5kg, is running over his best distance and is drawn No 2.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 USA's Hope, 2 Proud Master, 6 Captain Bombshell, 10 Hammies Hero
Race 2: 4 Silverlinks, 8 Hold My Hand, 9 Gold Poker Game, 1 Saartjie
Race 3: 1 Captain's Ransom, 4 Santa Maria, 3 Happy Chance, 2 Gimme's Lassie
Race 4: 9 Golden Sickle, 10 Luna Halo, 4 Kyalami Girl, 11 Royals
Race 5: 7 Speeding Bullet, 10 Outlaw King, 4 Zoomie, 3 Except Temptation
Race 6: 2 The Abdicator, 10 Gimmelightning, 3 Golden Tatjana, 1 Winter Cloud
Race 7: 2 Al Muthana, 4 Imilenzeyokududuma, 16 Nexus, 7 Warrior
Race 8: 2 Charles Dickens, 4 At My Command, 11 Rockpool, 9 See It Again
Race 9: 4 Gimme A Prince, 11 Rio Querari, 7 We're Jamming, 3 Trip Of Fortune
Race 10: 6 Mighty Mac, 5 Hawk Circle, 2 Captain Casanova, 7 Aspect
BEST BET
Race 3 No 1 Captain’s Ransom
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 2 Al Muthana
BEST SWINGER
Race 10 5x6
BIPOT
R270
Leg 1: 4, 8
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 4, 9, 10
Leg 4: 4, 7, 10
Leg 5: 2, 3, 10
Leg 6: 2, 4, 7, 13, 16
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R108
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 4, 9, 10
Leg 3: 4, 7, 10
Leg 4: 2, 3, 10
Leg 5: 2, 4, 7, 16
Leg 6: 2
Leg 7: 4
PICK 6
R1750
Leg 1: 4, 9, 10, 11, 12
Leg 2: 3, 4, 7, 10, 15
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 10, 11
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 7, 13, 14, 16
Leg 5: 2
Leg 6: 4, 11
JACKPOT 1
R175
Leg 1: 3, 4, 7, 10, 15
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 10, 11
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 7, 13, 14, 16
Leg 4: 2
JACKPOT 2
R28
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 7, 13, 14, 16
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 4, 11
Leg 4: 5, 6