One of the main ingredients to success on a tough, bread-and-butter racemeeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville, is to find horses with a Polytrack profile.
On Monday, when a large part of the world celebrates May Day, also called Workers’ Day, trainer Alyson Wright has two with big claims.
In Race 1, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m, the horse with the better profile looks to be Imperious Destiny.
She produced a solid finishing effort on debut when second to more experienced Duchess Of Gold at this venue. She then tightened up showing good pace on the turf again, only tiring late in her second start down the straight in what was soggy underfoot conditions.
That early speed is what is required on the poly, and she is also bred to much appreciate the extra distance.
Whitehead’s other runner, Tephra, was backed on debut which happened to be on the poly, but she appeared uncomfortable and after showing pace lacked a finish. She ran on well when tried on turf thereafter and appears as if she may just prefer the grass.
It could be worth playing the stable Swinger.
Andre Nel-trained Sunday Island has already proven himself on the poly. On his debut on the surface, he handed Arumugam 1.5kg and a gutsy beating and was expected to go on and reel off more. Arumugam has since evolved into a high-class stayer, but Sunday Island seems stuck on earning prizes without winning.
He was gelded not long after the win, but only recently started to show the same fire needed to bag races. He won his last race on the turf with something in hand and interestingly he didn’t make respiratory noises in his last two starts. Now back on the poly he has the profile that most others don’t have in Race 2, a MR 86 Handicap over 1900m.
The horse that looks to have the biggest chance of all comes up in the last race on the day – a FM 73 handicap for fillies and mares over 1100m.
Shipholia seems to have everything in her favour including starting stall No 1.
Most who saw her last run would have had their black books out. She is also the type who can speed along at Greyville and then turn on acceleration at the end in contrast to her runs down the straight at Hollywoodbets Scottsville where she goes with the field for much of the way before running out of steam.
Back at Greyville last time she came from the clouds to finish second from a wide gate, only finding one better in a horse that got away at the right time. She is arguably even better on the poly and from draw No 1 this time she will be the horse that the others have to catch.
A banker in all bets.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 4 Imperious Destiny, 9 Taste Maker, 1 Tephra, Daddy's Jet, 8 Vermacilli
Race 2: 4 Sunday Island, 2 Exceeder, 1 Etiquette, 6 Warrior Bling
Race 3: 7 Sky Velocity, 3 Jollification, 5 Nonoti, 9 Trip To Nebraska
Race 4: 1 Rafiki, 7 Majestic Power, 1 Porfirio, 4 Arrow's Mark
Race 5: 1 Victor Rail, 3 Brosnan, 6 Cotton Ron, 4 Maserati Roar
Race 6: 3 Grey Ocean, 6 Lord Edward, 1 Life Goes On, 7 Phaka Imali
Race 7: 1 Ingakara, 4 Corsican, 2 Gimme Gorgeous, 9 Immeasurable
Race 8: 1 Shipholia, 2 Shona Kirsty Yves, 9 Vision Of Will, 4 Dollar A Dime
BEST BET
Race 8 No 1 Shipholia
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 1 Ingakara
BEST SWINGER
Race 8 1x2
BIPOT
R324
Leg 1: 1, 4, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4
Leg 3: 3, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 7
Leg 5: 1, 3
Leg 6: 1, 3, 6
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4
Leg 2: 3, 7
Leg 3: 1, 7
Leg 4: 1, 3
Leg 5: 1, 3, 6
Leg 6: 1, 2, 4
Leg 7: 1
PICK 6
R2000
Leg 1: 3, 5, 7, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6, 7, 12
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9
Leg 6: 1
JACKPOT 1
R500
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 6
Leg 3: 1, 3, 6, 7, 12
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9
JACKPOT 2
R100
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 6
Leg 2: 1, 3, 6, 7, 12
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9
Leg 4: 1