Jack Milner
It is amazing how many times one thinks a race meeting looks relatively easy for punters only to get a smack in the face as the fancied runners get run over.
On the other hand, sometimes they look competitive and all the fancied horses come romping home.
Hopefully one is not placing a curse on Monday’s event at Hollywoodbets Greyville when one says this Polytrack meeting appears to be quite favourable for bettors.
Alyson Wright-trained National Dream won his last two in style and as a result, stands out as the banker in Race 4, a MR 66 Handicap over 2000m.
Wright’s yard has been in solid form during the winter and in particular, she has been full of praise for National Dream, a son of Rafeef. He went through a bit of slump but has now started to realise his full potential.
He has risen from a merit rating of 50 this year to 67 but looks to have much more to come.
Keagan de Melo can complete a hat-trick aboard National Dream.
Another possible banker comes up in Race 7, a MR 78 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m, where Fabian Habib runs Ice Star. This two-year-old daughter of William Longsword has run four times for two wins and a third place but what particularly impressed was her facile win over 1200m on the Polytrack last time when she beat Flying The Star by 2.10 lengths.
She has a merit rating of 91 and gets a 9kg weight-for-age allowance which sees her come in carrying 57.5kg. It is also worth noting that S’manga Khumalo, who rode her last time, is back in the irons once again.
Race 3 looks a two-horse race between Medal Of Freedom and Johnny The Thief so this Pick 6 looks quite catchable.
Jak Milner’s selections
Race 1: 9 Hokaai My Meisie, 8 What Now My Gal, 5 Keenonkelly, 4 Ladies Day
Race 2: 6 Little Prince, 7 Luthuli, 5 Majestic Power, 4 Cupid's Song
Race 3: 1 Medal Of Freedom, 8 Johnny The Thief, 8 Mister Lincoln, 9 King And Country
Race 4: 3 National Dream, 7 Bayview Express, 5 Seattle Beat, 2 Safe Space
Race 5: 8 What A Tiger, 5 Trafalgar Square, 2 Royal Oasis, 4 Impartial
Race 6: 3 Fort J'Adore, 4 Flying The Star, 2 Poppy Of Bayeux, 1 Gimme A Lullaby
Race 7: 7 Ice Star, 9 Hugsandhighfives, 12 Mission Rocks, 1 Cataleya Summer
Race 8: 5 Parmenion, 10 Winter Waves, 12 Fibonacci, 2 Rugger Bugger
BEST BET
Race 4 No 3 National Dream
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 3 Fort J’Adore
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 1x8
BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 5, 8, 9
Leg 2: 5, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 8
Leg 4: 3
Leg 5: 5, 8
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R108
Leg 1: 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 8
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 8
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4
Leg 6: 7
Leg 7: 5, 10, 12
PICK 6
R200
Leg 1: 1, 8
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 5, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Leg 5: 7
Leg 6: 2, 5, 9, 10, 12
JACKPOT 1
R20
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 5, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Leg 4: 7
JACKPOT 2
R100
Leg 1: 5, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Leg 3: 7
Leg 4: 2, 5, 9, 10, 12