Don’t be left in the dark

Jack Milner

Jet Dark could be in for a busy winter.
He made his seasonal debut in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes, is all set to run in Saturday’s Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, has a ticket to the Hollywoodbets Durban July in three weeks’ time, and will presumably be looking to defend his title in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m on 30 July.
It could prove a balancing act for trainer Justin Snaith to keep the son of Trippi ticking over for all those races. But whatever is decided for the rest of the season, Saturday’s race over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville has to be one of his main missions.
And with that Drill Hall Stakes run under his belt, Jet Dark will be very hard to beat. Snaith’s charge has tremendous form over 1600m, having won the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate at Kenilworth for two successive years. He also captured the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville last year, so he does perform at this track, and he does come in as the best-weighted runner.
He will have to jump from No 9 draw and that is always a concern at Greyville, but he does tend to sit off them in any case and has a tremendous turn of speed.
One should not put too much store into his unplaced run in the Drill Hall Stakes as he usually needs his first race after a rest. In that race he was drawn No 14 out of 14 and was an 11-length last at the 800m. He still managed to produce the fastest last 400m to finish 4.65-lengths back.
He will be in the pink of condition on Saturday and teams up once again with S’manga Khumalo who has ridden him to two Grade 1 victories.
The key dangers look to be Linebacker and MK’s Pride. Vaughan Marshall-trained Linebacker has been relatively quiet this year and has not won a race since last year’s Daily News 2000.
However, he was placed in last year’s Durban July, the Green Point Stakes and the Cape Town Met. He also had an outing in the Drill Hall Stakes and did finish behind Jet Dark so not sure he will be able to turn that around, but it is interesting Marshall has opted to put a set of blinkers on him for the first time.
Linebacker’s main mission is surely the Durban July over 2200m on Saturday 2 July and perhaps these days 1600m could be a touch short for the son of Master Of My Fate, but Marshall will be anticipating a forward showing from his charge.
This race is definitely at the top of MK’s Pride’s assignment list. He won the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein in April and although he has yet to triumph at Greyville, he has placed at the course on a couple of occasions.
Unfortunately, jockey Muzi Yeni will have to deal with the widest draw of all at No 12 and that has to be a concern. He will need things to go his way.
If one is looking for a good outsider then look no further than Bingwa. He is at his best over 1600m and had a promising first run for his new stable last time. He could also take advantage of a favourable No 2 draw.

Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Vasilikos, 7 United Prince, 10 Potente, 8 Wylie Riley
Race 2: 5 USA’s Hope, 6 Zooberi, 10 Lazy Guy, 2 Buster Keaton
Race 3: 1 Littlemarysunshine, 2 Canadian Summer, 3 Only Hearts, 5 Air Of Mystery
Race 4: 2 Union Square, 4 Ready Or Not, 8 Cousin Casey, 10 Superior Force
Race 5: 12 Firealley, 1 Warrior, 9 Reunion, 3 Gainsford
Race 6: 8 Supreme Quest, 10 Zarina, 6 Marina, 1 Sweet Future
Race 7: 9 Jet Dark, 7 Linebacker, 12 MK's Pride, 2 Bingwa
Race 8: 6 Master Archie, 1 William Robertson, 2 Coin Spinner, 5 Isivunguvungu
Race 9: 1 Hold My Hand, 6 Devils And Dust, 4 Edvige, 3 Sea Cruise


BEST BET
Race 9 No 1 Hold My Hand
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 12 Firealley
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 2x7

BIPOT
R120
Leg 1: 2, 5, 6, 10
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 2, 4
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 9, 12
Leg 5: 6, 8, 10
Leg 6: 9

PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R72
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 2, 4
Leg 3: 1, 3, 9, 12
Leg 4: 6, 8, 10
Leg 5: 9
Leg 6: 1, 2, 6
Leg 7: 1

PICK 6
R525
Leg 1: 2, 4, 8
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9
Leg 3: 1, 2, 6, 8, 10
Leg 4: 9
Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8
Leg 6: 1

JACKPOT 1
R525
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 6, 8, 10
Leg 3: 9
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8

JACKPOT 2
R25
Leg 3: 1, 2, 6, 8, 10
Leg 4: 9
Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8
Leg 6: 1