Jack Milner
An interesting Class 3 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m is one of the more challenging races on Wednesday’s card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
After having two race meetings in the Western Cape washed out over the past four days, racing fans will be itching for some local fare and they will certainly find it at this meeting.
Overall, the fields are small, but most of them are highly competitive. Only six runners are carded to go to post for Race 5 and five of the runners have strong winning credentials.
The sixth runner, Jeanne Darc, incidentally, is only ignored because these days she seems to be better over further but she does have some decent form over 1200m and she is hardly a no-hoper.
However, sometimes it is better to go with the runner best suited to the course and distance and irrefutably, that has to be Dean Kannemeyer-trained Lucrative. This daughter of Vercingetorix has a record of four wins and a second place in five starts at the course. That lone defeat was over 1400m where Lucrative got going too late.
However, she is unbeaten in all three starts over this course and distance.
She undoubtedly needed her race when beaten 2.05 lengths in the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m at HWB Greyville in June but that was her first race since January and she does not appear to like that course.
Craig Zackey takes the ride.
Russian Doll rates the main danger. The Michael Roberts-trained filly was restless and sustained cuts but nevertheless ran out an attractive winner when mowing down her field after a rest.
One would expect her to have more of a task against the fillies she met at the revised terms but Rachel Venniker’s 1.5kg claim will make her highly competitive. It also bears mentioning she has a better record in her second start after a rest winning three times out of five.
Lion Rampart has gone from a wide draw at Hollywoodbets Greyville last time to No 1 barrier in Race 7, an A Stakes run over 1000m.
If anywhere near his best form, he could get back to winning ways for the in-form yard of Gareth van Zyl.
The One World gelding was up with the best early in his career. Not only did he beat Candice Bass-Robinson’s high-class sprinter Kaiboy not once but twice, but he also took now globetrotting star and then stablemate One Stripe to the wire in the Grade 3 Winter Nursery.
He lost form this year, was gelded and then moved to Van Zyl.
Lion Rampart looks to have been given time to come to hand and could now shine in his third start for the yard.
His chances have been boosted by the scratching of 1000m specialist Ziyasha and Luhamba Phambili, reducing the field to just six runners.
S’manga Khumalo has done well for the Van Zyl yard in recent weeks and he will be aboard Lion Rampart.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: Cartel Queen, 1 Call Me Jane, 5 Queen Fenn, 3 Chericherilady
Race 2: 1 Peace Rose, 2 Flying South, 4 Gorgeous Cape, 9 Winter Blessing
Race 3: 1 Dawn Till Dusk, 5 Uzwano, 3 Forward Motion, 4 Bacchus
Race 4: 10 Miss Twinkle, 8 Nkwenkwezi, 1 Cassandra, 9 Curious Girl
Race 5: 1 Lucrative, 3 Russian Doll, 4 Miss Ladyaterix, 2 Convocation
Race 6: 3 Prized Platinum, 6 Captain Efficient, 1 The Mask, 11 Indecent Proposal
Race 7: 2 Lion Rampart, 8 Donquerari, 6 Hithemhardsunshine, 3 Mover And Shaker
Race 8: 5 French Trip, 6 Tommy Shelby, 1 Gotta Go Eddie, 9 Chill In The Air
BEST BET
Race 3: 1 Dawn Till Dusk
VALUE BET
Race 8: 5 French Trip
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 1x2
BIPOT
R108
Leg 1: 1, 2
Leg 2: 1, 2
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 8, 10
Leg 5: 1, 3, 4
Leg 6: 1, 3, 6
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 2
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 8, 10
Leg 4: 1, 3
Leg 5: 3, 6
Leg 6: 2, 6, 8
Leg 7: 1, 5, 6
PICK 6
R1600
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 8, 9, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6, 11
Leg 5: 2, 3, 6, 8
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9
JACKPOT 1
R320
Leg 1: 1, 8, 9, 10
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 3: 1, 3, 6, 11
Leg 4: 2, 3, 6, 8
JACKPOT 2
R400
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 2: 1, 3, 6, 11
Leg 3: 2, 3, 6, 8
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9