Ekoria to stamp her authority

Jack Milner

Ekoria has come into her own recently and demonstrated her ability last time with an emphatic victory on the Listed Breeders Guineas over 1600m on the turf at Fairview.

Gavin Smith’s charge looks set to add another feature to her tally on Friday when she lines up in the Listed Oaks Plate over 1800m.

The Futura filly had been runner-up in all three of her starts this season but indicated that the middle distances suit her now and she was full of running last time out.

Stepped up to 1800m this time should not be a problem and regular rider JP van der Merwe retains the ride.

Rival trainer Alan Greeff has a couple of runners entered to beat her and the best of them look to be Double Destiny and Sugarberry.

When Ekoria and Double Destiny met last season there was only 0.75 lengths between them and Double Destiny was expected to turn the tables on her rival last time out but she let the side down with a disappointing run.

She seemed to be caught out in a slow-run race that day and she should do a lot better this time around.

Her regular rider Richard Fourie has deserted her for Sugarberry this time and we have to respect that decision if that was indeed his choice.

Sugarberry is course-and-distance suited and is on the up but this is a tougher task.

The East Cape Filles Nursery (Listed) over 1200m is the second feature on the card and Greeff-trained Luna Halo looks the one to beat. She was an impressive debut winner and was not disgraced when raiding the Western Cape and finishing fourth.

Justin Snaith has sent Siddeley who showed good improvement from her fair debut to win second time out and must be respected.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 13 Esther, 1 Hundredfifthavenue, 6 Magenta, 2 Reggies Girl

Race 2: 5 Global Banker, 12 Back For More, 2 Bridgerton, 3 Empire Blue

Race 3: 1 Law Court, 2 Bournemouth, 4 Uncle George, 5 American Dazzler

Race 4: 1 Mount Anderson, 2 Ferrari Ice, 4 Bold Resolve, 5 Tarantino

Race 5: 1 Hazy Crazy Night, 16 Kavian's Cara, 7 Silvery Blue, 6 Silver Slippers

Race 6: 1 Ekoria, 2 Double Destiny, 3 Chroniclesofnania, 4 Sugarberry

Race 7: 4 Luna Halo, 6 Siddeley, 1 Hildelita, 2 Idita

Race 8: 9 Tuk Tuk, 7 Brenden James, 12 Gunsmoke, 2 Dammi

BEST BET

Race 6 No 1 Ekoria

VALUE BET

Race 8 No 9 Tuk Tuk

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 1x2

BIPOT

R72

Leg 1: 13

Leg 2: 2, 5, 12

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4

Leg 5: 1, 6, 7, 16

Leg 6: 1

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R288

Leg 1: 2, 5, 12

Leg 2: 1, 2

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 7, 16

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 4, 6

Leg 7: 2, 7, 9, 12

PICK 6

R1920

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8

Leg 3: 1, 6, 7, 8, 16

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 6

Leg 6: 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

JACKPOT 1

R120

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8

Leg 2: 1, 6, 7, 8, 16

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 6

JACKPOT 2

R160

Leg 1: 1, 6, 7, 8, 16

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6

Leg 4: 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

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