De Melo is at your command

Jack Milner

The Grade 3 Politician Stakes for three-year-olds over 1800m heads up the card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

The race is seen as a warm-up for the Grade 1 Cape Derby next month and has been won by some top-class performers, among them Kommetdieding, who was triumphant in 2021.

This year the race could provide a decent banker for punters as log-leading jockey Keagan de Melo teams up with At My Command, who finished third in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas behind Charles Dickens and last season's Equus Champion Two-Year-Old colt Cousin Casey.

Brett Crawford's charge has maintained a high level of consistency throughout his career and deserves a maiden Graded success, having finished fourth in the Langerman Futurity as a juvenile before second-placed finishes in both the Grade 3 Cape Classic and Grade 2 Cape Punters Cup prior to his Guineas third.

On that occasion At My Command was staying on in the finish which suggests he'll have no issue going 1800m for the first time and could have even more to offer over the distance.

The Querari colt has been ultra-consistent and has not finished out of the places in all of his eight starts.

The only slight concern is that he is drawn No 11 but over 1800m at Kenilworth that should not be a problem as De Melo has a long back straight to get him well placed.  

An even better bet on the card, and another likely winner for De Melo, comes up in Race 2, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m.  

He partners well-related Mike de Kock-trained Sharapova, and after back-to-back seconds over the distance, once on the Highveld on debut and the other over track and trip on her Cape Town introduction, this daughter of Querari out of stable star Nother Russia should go one better and open her account at the third attempt.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 13 Easy Money, 2 The Charleston, 7 Flying V, 11 Miss Paget

Race 2: 7 Sharapova, 9 Senhora Victoria, 6 Ilha Da Mauricia, 5 Miss New York

Race 3: 3 Mohandas, 6 Master Josh, 13 Contiguous, 5 Shoefella

Race 4: 9 Royal Invitation, 3 Alphabetty, 1 Saartjie, 8 Lady Silvano

Race 5: 8 Mufasa, 1 Bereave, 5 Street Outlaw, 4 Sun Dazed

Race 6: 4 Lion's Head, 1 Voldemort, 6 Silver Falcon, 5 Wiccan Warrior

Race 7: 11 At My Command, 9 Innamorare, 10 Rockpool, 1 Blackberry Malt

Race 8: 4 Mucho Dinero, 1 Ready Or Not, 5 Cosmic Event, 3 Elegant Noble

BEST BET

Race 2 No 7 Sharapova

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 8 Mufasa

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 2x13

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 2, 13

Leg 2: 7

Leg 3: 3, 6, 13

Leg 4: 1, 3, 9

Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 8

Leg 6: 1, 4, 6

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R144

Leg 1: 7

Leg 2: 3, 6

Leg 3: 1, 3, 9

Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 8

Leg 5: 1, 4

Leg 6: 11

Leg 7: 1, 4, 5

PICK 6

R1800

Leg 1: 3, 5, 6, 12, 13

Leg 2: 1, 3, 8, 9

Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 8, 11

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 5: 11

Leg 6: 1, 4, 5

JACKPOT 1

R120

Leg 1: 1, 3, 8, 9

Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 8, 11

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 4: 11

JACKPOT 2

R90

Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 8, 11

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 5: 11

Leg 6: 1, 4, 5