Jack Milner
The form of the R5-million HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap will come under the spotlight at Kenilworth on Tuesday when Empire State lines up in Race 7, a Class 3 Handicap over 1100m.
That Non-Black-Type event over 1400m has been discussed at many levels in racing circles as the interference suffered by boom three-year-old One Stripe, who was having his last race in South Africa, saw him finish unplaced behind stable companion All Out For Six.
The winner was reported to be the main cause of the interference in a race he won by 1.75 lengths from La Pulga. Behind them came Great Plains, beaten 3.50 lengths, The Grey King (4.70 lengths) and Empire State in fifth, five lengths off the winner.
So far the form has worked out quite well. La Pulga, trained by Candice Bass-Robinson and stable companion to Empire State, came out to win his next start and then finish 3.45 lengths behind Garrix in the Grade 3 Legal Eagle Stakes.
Great Plains, trained by Justin Snaith, followed up his third place with and encouraging 0.30-length third behind Gladatorian in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 3 May while stablemate The Grey King next competed in the Grade 3 Variety Club Stakes, also beaten by Garrix.
Empire State actually finished narrowly ahead of One Stripe and when he lines up in Tuesday’s race, he does a “double drop” – one in distance and the other in class.
Neither should trouble him as he won his penultimate start over this course and distance and the only significance of the drop in class is the increase in weight – from 53kg to 58.5kg, but the average merit rating goes down from 104 to 88.
Based on his last performance Aldo Domeyer could well have picked up the best bet on the card.
A race later, progressive stablemate Kleinzee will likely complete a quickfire double for the same trainer-jockey combination in a Class 4 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1500m.
The well-bred three-year-old Gimmethegreenlight filly was a workmanlike winner of her post-maiden debut from a wide draw over 1600m and a three-point penalty for that last-start success is not likely to prevent Kleinzee from completing the hat-trick in a similar contest over a slightly shorter trip.
Craig Zackey is embroiled in a protracted three-way fight for the national jockeys' title with reigning champion Richard Fourie and Gavin Lerena, but ought to extend his lead atop the standings with a race-to-race double at the meeting aboard Ruby Rex and Rhydian.
Adam Marcus-trained Ruby Rex showed pace throughout to finish a career-best second over 1100m last month when only outrun late in the concluding stages. On that evidence, this daughter of Captain Of All should enjoy the shorter 1000m trip in Race 4, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares, and any further improvement should suffice in Leg 1 of the day's Pick 6.
Rafeef gelding Rhydian is one of the better maidens in the country and although costly to follow in his five starts, Dean Kannemeyer's charge would not be winning out of turn when he lines up in Race 5, a Maiden Plate over 1200m, after four second-place finishes, the latest of which came over the same course and distance on his reappearance after a gelding operation.
Like Ruby Rex in the preceding event, any improvement from Rhydian should see him break his duck and land Zackey back in the winners' enclosure.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 9 Inside Voice, 7 Electromagnetism, 5 Winter In Auckland, 8 Heavenly Mafia
Race 2: 1 Lowveld Lily, 6 South Of France, 2 My Dear Friend, 4 Viva La Vida
Race 3: 3 Sierra Sagrada, 8 Roland Garros, 2 Diamond Days, 6 Big Deal
Race 4: 6 Ruby Rex, 7 Thingamabob, 3 American Ultra, 1 Larking About
Race 5: 4 Rhydian, 7 Future Free, 9 Boundless Love, 3 Klein Karoo
Race 6: 5 Red State, 4 Cold Breeze, 9 Call Me Jane, 2 Rosa Osiria
Race 7: 5 Empire State, 6 Elusive Winter, 7 Bluff On Bluff, 1 Nordic Chief
Race 8: 7 Kleinzee, 9 Una The Unicorn, 3 La Divina, 2 Oni San
Race 9: 4 Lady Springfield, 1 Twice The Master, 8 Heliotrope, 11 Show Off
BEST BET
Race 7: 5 Empire State
VALUE BET
Race 6: 5 Red State
BEST SWINGER
Race 4 6x7
BIPOT
R54
Leg 1: 1, 2, 6
Leg 2: 2, 3, 8
Leg 3: 6, 7
Leg 4: 4
Leg 5: 4, 5, 9
Leg 6: 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R144
Leg 1: 2, 3, 8
Leg 2: 6, 7
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 4, 5, 9
Leg 5: 5
Leg 6: 7, 9
Leg 7: 1, 4, 8, 11
PICK 6
R720
Leg 1: 6, 7
Leg 2: 4, 7, 9
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9
Leg 4: 5
Leg 5: 2, 3, 7, 9
Leg 6: 1, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12
JACKPOT 1
R60
Leg 1: 4, 7, 9
Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9
Leg 3: 5
Leg 4: 2, 3, 7, 9
JACKPOT 2
R120
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9
Leg 2: 5
Leg 3: 2, 3, 7, 9
Leg 4: 1, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12