Jack Milner
Some horses are said to course suited or distance suited, but remarkably Dave The King appears to be “Province suited”.
Last season’s Horse Of The Year, Dave The King, was most disappointing on the Highveld late last year, but he has shown himself to be a different horse in KwaZulu-Natal. The Global View five-year-old gelding had six runs in KZN for three wins, a second, two thirds and a sixth. That unplaced run was in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and he clearly found 2200m too far, but Dave The King returns to his favourite province on Sunday and will line up in Race 6, an A Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, where he comes in as the best weighted runner.
Dave The King took home the Equus Award for best horse in the land after dominating the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m in June and the HJKC Champions Cup over 1800m at the end of July, both run at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
He beat the country’s top horses and if anywhere near that form should be difficult to pass in Race 6 where he has also drawn ideally in gate No 3.
The best son of Galileo stallion Global View is racing after more than five months off and is only best weighted by 1.5kg over dual Grade 1 winner Royal Victory. But in this very same build up race last year Dave The King beat Royal Victory easing up by 3.50 lengths and with no change at the weights and racing fresh there is no reason why he can’t repeat the feat.
It is also worth noting that Callan Murray, back in South Africa at least until the end of the season, will take the ride on the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained runner.
There as some up-and-coming exciting horses that will be going for the Gold Challenge and Champions Cup this year, however, and it will be interesting to see if he can defend those titles.
Another runner for the father-and-son De Kock team who looks to have a big winning chance on the day is Tyrconnell who lines up in Race 8, a Class 3 Handicap over 1400m. The United States gelding has battled some wide gates of late but has caught the eye in those races and may have better luck this time.
He has a solid record of two wins and a second from four starts over the course and distance. It was in his last start that his record was spoiled but he found himself too far back then and suffered interference late.
The biggest pointer to his chances is that when he was second over the course and distance, he encountered very soft conditions but was only beaten 0.30 lengths by Imposing.
The latter is in the race and while he has drawn best in stall No 1, he is 4kg worse off and Tyrconnell should get his revenge with the going likely to be good.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 5 African Pride, 1 Trajanus, 7 Little Boy Blue, 2 Bugle
Race 2: 6 Late Bloomer, 10 Hierarchy, 7 Water Hyacinth, 8 What A Passion
Race 3: 1 Tripping Thunder, 5 Victor Hugo, 2 Aristocratic, 4 Galactic Lover
Race 4: 2 Princess Arverni, 13 Catch A Penny, 11 Miss Kansas, 7 Celestial Diamond
Race 5: 2 Indigenous, 7 El Capitan, 12 Tee Dog, 1 Lunar Descent
Race 6: 3 Dave The King, 5 Pacaya, 8 Royal Victory, 4 Rapidash
Race 7: 5 Danube, 6 Ultra Quick, 7 Beach Palace, 3 Lake Como
Race 8: 7 Tyrconnell, 6 Plaza Accord, 2 Mr Hotstepper, 9 Hat's Pride
Race 9: 4 Holds The Key, 3 Abaddon, 7 Mojo Man, 8 Jet Legacy
Race 10: 6 Vision To Achieve, 4 Ibhele, 2 Warrior Of Royalty, 7 Philispiel
BEST BET
Race 5: 2 Indigenous
VALUE BET
Race 7: 5 Danube
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 1x5
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 6, 7, 10
Leg 2: 1, 5
Leg 3: 2, 5, 13
Leg 4: 2
Leg 5: 3, 5, 8
Leg 6: 3, 5, 6, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 1, 5
Leg 2: 2, 5, 13
Leg 3: 2
Leg 4: 3, 5
Leg 5: 5, 6, 7
Leg 6: 2, 6, 7
Leg 7: 3, 4, 7
PICK 6
R1800
Leg 1: 2, 5, 10, 11, 13
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 3, 5, 8
Leg 4: 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 5: 2, 6, 7, 9
Leg 6: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
JACKPOT 1
R60
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 3, 5, 8
Leg 3: 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 4: 2, 6, 7, 9
JACKPOT 2
R480
Leg 1: 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 2, 6, 7, 9
Leg 3: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 4: 2, 4, 6, 7