Flower to hit gold at Fairview

Jack Milner

The Listed Port Elizabeth Gold Cup is one of the highlights on the Fairview calendar and used to have the reputation of being the longest race in the country.

Until a few years back, it was run over 3600m and that added a touch of mystique to the event. These days it is run over 3200m, but it still attracts visiting trainers.

Glen Kotzen has his yard in top form whether it be in Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal or Port Elizabeth, and his charge, filly Flower Of Saigon, could be the one they all have to beat at Fairview on Friday.

She had an impressive warm-up for this race when storming past Gavin Smith-trained runners Ancient Times and Find Me Unafraid in a Pinnacle Stakes over 2700m at this track last month. She should relish the extra 500m of this contest.

The Flower Alley filly only found talented stable companion Follow The Star too good earlier this season in the Lakewood Handicap (Non-Black Type) over 2400m in her only other start at Fairview, so she clearly likes this track.

Flower Of Saigon had eight of her rivals in this race behind her when she won at Fairview last time and as that was a Pinnacle Stakes, she did not pick up a penalty for that triumph so the opposition will really have to hope she has an off day.

Barak has recently joined Alan Greeff’s yard and had a decent enough prep run last month when 4.35 lengths behind Irish Rain over 1900m on the Polytrack.

This is more his trip, the blinkers are on and Greg Cheyne is in the irons. This is one to include in all bets.

Trainer Andre Nel has brought Anse Lazio and if fit after an extended break could prove a big threat.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 11 Emily's Spirit, 2 Miss Rose, 1 La Fille, 12 Glitterfox

Race 2: 13 Tufaan, 10 Peach Daiquiri, 7 Ladyhawke, 5 Echoes Of Winter

Race 3: 7 Rafiki, 5 Horsey, 6 Le Bonheur, 2 Dammi

Race 4: 5 Broadway, 6 Ideal Time, 8 Global Beat, 9 Winter's Joie

Race 5: 9 Wildest Dreams, 7 Sugar Snap, 1 Global Forests, 3 Joe Harman

Race 6: 4 Policy Target, 7 Vida Futura, 10 Bold Strike, 3 Homer Fidget

Race 7: 7 Flower Of Saigon, 5 Barak, 1 Anse Lazio, 2 Ancient Times

Race 8: 14 Raisetheredlantern, 6 Travel Master, 3 Auld Mug, 13 Great Guy

Race 9: 4 Birdie And Bogie, 11 Paully, 18 Conker The World, 3 Abayyaan

BEST BET

Race 3 No 7 Rafiki

VALUE BET

Race 4 No 5 Broadway

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 2x11

BIPOT

R144

Leg 1: 7, 10, 13

Leg 2: 7

Leg 3: 5, 6, 8, 9

Leg 4: 1, 7, 9

Leg 5: 4

Leg 6: 1, 2, 5, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R243

Leg 1: 7

Leg 2: 5, 6, 8

Leg 3: 1, 7, 9

Leg 4: 4

Leg 5: 1, 5, 7

Leg 6: 3, 6, 13

Leg 7: 4, 11, 18

PICK 6

R2000

Leg 1: 5, 6, 8, 9

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7, 9

Leg 3: 4

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7

Leg 5: 3, 6, 13, 14

Leg 6: 3, 4, 5, 11, 18

JACKPOT 1

R100

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7, 9

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7

Leg 4: 3, 6, 13, 14

JACKPOT 2

R100

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7

Leg 3: 3, 6, 13, 14

Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 11, 18