Class drop to benefit Dark Winter

Jack Milner

Dark Winter takes a massive drop in class at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday, and although bettors are unlikely to get a decent price, the daughter of What A Winter should get them off to a profitable start.

Justin Snaith’s charge has contested two feature races in her last two starts and placed in both. She now reverts to a Juvenile Plate for fillies in Race 1 over 1000m and is fully expected to notch up her second career victory.

She started her racing career in the Western Cape and notched up her first victory at the third time of asking. After a decent warm-up race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on her arrival in KwaZulu-Natal, Snaith then ran her in the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1200m at Scottsville.

She drifted alarmingly in the betting from an opening call of 1-1 to go off at 9-2, she eventually finished a two-length second behind well-supported Michael Miller runner Just Reckless, who went off a 77-100.

Her next start was in the Listed The Debutante over 1400m at Greyville and may have found the distance a touch too far at this stage of her career. In the end she faded slightly to run third, beaten 3.60 lengths by 28-10 favourite Whistle The Tune.

The drop to 1000m might trouble some punters but Snaith has decided to run her in blinkers for the first time and that should keep her focus on the job at hand.

This is not the strongest of fields and for the record, Dark Winter has an unofficial merit rating of 92 while Discerning, who looks to be her main opposition, is rated 83. They meet at level weights and on that basis Snaith’s charge is the best handicapped runner.

Sean Veale rode her last time and with Richard Fourie not in action at this meeting, he has been engaged to ride her again.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 9 Dark Winter, 7 Discerning, 3 Ayuwi Yuwi, 5 Lady Eli Mo

Race 2: 7 Parisian Walkway, 6 Spirit Of Levana, 1 French Flame, 3 Commanding

Race 3: 7 Trippi T, 10 Good Living, 2 Silver Savage, 6 World Pharoah

Race 4: 6 Ombudsman, 7 Mc Dazzler, 5 My Boy Lollipop, 11 Gimmethegoodlife

Race 5: 9 Blind Speed, 12 Yellow Jacket, 2 Laugh Till I Cry, 10 Safari Lodge

Race 6: 3 Red Mountain, 5 Burning Man, 1 Global Ruler, 8 James Fitzjames

Race 7: 10 Itsrainingwilliam, 3 Royal Guide, 6 Imilenzeyokududuma, 1 Bristol Hercules

Race 8: 6 Licence To Thrill, 8 Voldemort, 7 Winter Waves, 12 All The Time

Race 9: 1 Rafeef's Choice, 12 Shanta's Pride, 6 One Smart Cookie, 11 Maggie Smith

BEST BET

Race 1: 9 Dark Winter

VALUE BET

Race 8: 6 Licence To Thrill

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 6x7

BIPOT

R288

Leg 1: 7

Leg 2: 7, 10

Leg 3: 5, 6, 7

Leg 4: 2, 9, 12

Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 8

Leg 6: 1, 3, 6, 10

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 7

Leg 2: 6, 7

Leg 3: 2, 9, 12

Leg 4: 1, 3, 5

Leg 5: 3, 6, 10

Leg 6: 6, 7, 8

Leg 7: 1, 12

PICK 6

R1620

Leg 1: 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 2, 9, 12

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

Leg 4: 1, 3, 6, 10

Leg 5: 6, 7, 8

Leg 6: 1, 6, 12

JACKPOT 1

R180

Leg 1: 2, 9, 12

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

Leg 3: 1, 3, 6, 10

Leg 4: 6, 7, 8

JACKPOT 2

R180

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

Leg 2: 1, 3, 6, 10

Leg 3: 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 6, 12