Jack Milner: A Pinnacle Stakes over 1100m on the turf heads up Sunday’s Hollywoodbets Greyville card and the outcome could depend on the fitness of Chantyman.
Gareth van Zyl’s charge tops the best-weighted column in Race 7, but he has not raced since finishing unplaced in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m at this track in July last year.
This six-year-old son of Oratorio is an eight-time winner from 22 starts with 10 places.
The weight-for-age Mercury Sprint was always going to be a tough assignment for him but with a good draw, his 13th place in the 14-horse field was unexpected.
This will be his first run for Van Zyl who took over his training last November. His decision to put up Lyle Hewitson might be an indication he is expecting a decent effort.
If close to his best the gelding does have at least a 2.5kg advantage over his opposition under the race conditions. Chantyman is well drawn at No 3.
However, it might be a lot safer to side with Sunset Eyes. This seven-year-old gelding also comes back from a layoff but his last run was in November which means he has only been off the track for 126 days.
He also ran unplaced in the Mercury Sprint was beaten just 3.10 lengths. In his last start he ran a decent 1.10-length third behind Captain Oupie over 1000m at this track, giving the winner 6.5kg.
Trainer Peter Muscutt has engaged Anton Marcus for the ride and they will jump from barrier No 2.
Marcus has won on him, but that was in November 2019 on the Polytrack.
It should be quite a tight race between Good Rhythm and Pearl Of Asia. They met in January over 1200m at Scottsville and Pearl Of Asia won by 2.30 lengths. However, thanks to the allowance of apprentice Kyle Strydom, Good Rhythm is now 5kg better off and that could give Louis Goosen’s charge a slight edge, although he will have to deal with No 10 draw.
An interesting runner is Spydas Corner. He appears to be quite decent but is hopelessly under sufferance in this line-up, based on merit ratings. He is 7kg out with Chantyman and 4.5kg with Sunset Eyes but Duncan Howells’ charge could be far better than his rating.
He carries just 52kg and has in-form Muzi Yeni in the irons.
Howells has made a change to his headgear as the blinkers have been removed in favour of cheek pieces. Spydas Corner is nicely drawn at No 4.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 6 Imbejeje, 3 Poppy Of Bayeux, 2 Heartsease, 4 Bay Of Dreams
Race 2: 11 Good Traveller, 3 Paris Rix, 6 Party Time, 1 West Point
Race 3: 2 Promise To Dream, 6 Raise The Standard, 8 No Name Brand, 9 Shampompo Shampizi
Race 4: 8 What A Splash, 2 Intombi, 3 Hello Tomorrow, 1 Namaqua Dove