Gelded Cliff Top to make winning return

Jack Milner

The sky looked the limit for Cliff Top after he won the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m at Kenilworth on Cape Met day but at the end of his two-year-old season, one has to admit the jury is still out.

His victory in the Western Cape feature was no fluke as the son of Canford Cliffs was backed in from an opening call of 16-1 to go off favourite at 4-1, despite being a maiden from Port Elizabeth.

The result was never in doubt. Jockey Greg Cheyne had him out of the stalls in a flash and all the rest of the field ever saw of Cliff Top after that was his hindquarters.

Alan Greeff’s charge returned to the Eastern Cape and was given a short break but when he came back and was priced up a 1-5 favourite over 1200m at Fairview, was clearly in need of that run. He went tearing off to the front and then pulled up fatigued, only managing to finish a costly fifth behind Mur Mur.

That was all turned around in his next outing, the East Cape Nursery over 1200m, when he overcame a slow start and then raced away to beat Forest Spy by a very comfortable 1.25 lengths.

A crack at the Grade 1 Gold Medallion at Scottsville proved unsuccessful but Cliff Top would not be the first horse to fail in a debut run at that course.

His performances as a juvenile were good enough to see him named Eastern Cape Champion Two-Year-Old colt.

He was gelded three days after his Scottsville run and will begin his three-year-old career in Race 7 at Fairview on Friday, a MR 82 Handicap over 1200m on the turf.

If fit and well Greeff’s charge, who will be ridden by Richard Fourie for the first time, should be a good thing to win his handicap debut.

However, just in case he does need the run, it could be worth adding consistent Khaya’s Hope into one’s exotic bets. He won on debut and has since finished either second or third in his next five starts.

However, the last time he raced against Cliff Top, which was in the East Cape Nursery, Khaya’s Hope was beaten two lengths at level weights.

Now Gavin Smith’s charge has to give Cliff Top 4kg so if the latter is fired up for this race, they could all be chasing shadows.  

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Champagne Charlie, 1 Girl Scout, 6 Begonia, 7 Likeable

Race 2: 5 Flowers Of Nike, 9 Makaha Beach, 4 Echoes Of Winter, 2 Yemaya

Race 3: 2 Heathcliff, 1 Indy View, 5 Global Gunner, 3 Douglas Devastator

Race 4: 1 Divine Odyssey, 7 Barak, 3 Ancient Times, 6 Sabina's Prodigy

Race 5: 2 And We Danced, 9 Scarborough Fair, 6 Ancestral Prayer, 1 Dame Of Flames

Race 6: 1 Double Destiny, 4 Savannah Winter, 7 Stolen Kiss, 2 Afternoon Tea

Race 7: 6 Cliff Top, 1 Khaya's Hope, 4 Rock Garden, 8 Brass Bell

Race 8: 12 Mon Tresor, 9 Verified, 13 Kingston Rock, 4 Sanctity

Race 9: 16 Conker The World, 2 Jean Paul, 7 Potente, 9 Gaul Ruler

BEST BET

Race 2 No 5 Flowers Of Nike

VALUE BET

Race 8 No 12 Mon Tresor

BEST SWINGER

Race 7 1x6

BIPOT

R288

Leg 1: 5

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5

Leg 3: 1, 3, 7

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6, 9

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 7

Leg 6: 1, 6

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 2, 6, 9

Leg 4: 1, 4, 7

Leg 5: 1, 6

Leg 6: 9, 12, 13

Leg 7: 2, 7, 9, 16

PICK 6

R2000

Leg 1: 1, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 6, 9

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

Leg 4: 1, 6

Leg 5: 1, 4, 9, 12, 13

Leg 6: 2, 4, 7, 9, 16

JACKPOT 1

R200

Leg 1: 1, 2, 6, 9

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

Leg 3: 1, 6

Leg 4: 1, 4, 9, 12, 13

JACKPOT 2

R250

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

Leg 2: 1, 6

Leg 3: 1, 4, 9, 12, 13

Leg 4: 2, 4, 7, 9, 16