Jack Milner
Bettors can get off to a good start at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday with a double on the first two races.
Trainer Candice Bass-Robinson and stable jockey Aldo Domeyer look likely to kick off the meeting as a return to 1000m, coupled with his track experience to count on, should see Warm Winter Nite break his duck under Domeyer in Race 1.
Bass-Robinson's charge has improved as a gelding, with his last three starts after the operation yielding two third-place finishes as well as a second over 1000m.
This three-year-old son of What A Winter reverts to his preferred distance having run in a 1200m sales race against winners at set weights last time, so will undoubtedly find this an easier task. Furthermore, Warm Winter Nite is the only runner in the opening contest to have raced at the country course.
Coastal Commander was a desperately unlucky loser of his last race and Vaughan Marshall’s charge is expected to make amends in Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1250m.
He looked to be travelling like a winner when bursting clear coming into the straight over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth last time, but started to hang in the straight and was caught on the post by Steadfast.
Jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe explained that his charge changed legs turning for home and had become unbalanced and that made him difficult to ride.
Fayd’Herbe stays with the three-year-old Lancaster Bomber gelding and from No 1 draw, he looks a stand-out bet, despite the fact that there are some very well-bred first-timers in the field.
Most interesting of these is Foudre, who is out of “super mare” Halfway To Heaven and is a half-brother to Rainbow Bridge, Hawwaam and Golden Ducat by relatively new sire Fire Away.
However, Bass-Robinson, who trains the colt, has commented that although a nice colt, he will need the experience.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Warm Winter Nite, 6 Connery, 8 Unicorn Alert, 1 Great Cat
Race 2: 1 Coastal Commander, 6 Nordic Chief, 5 Kaapse Klopse, 4 Foudre
Race 3: 7 Greeting My Master, 1 Night Bomber, 9 Lindbergh, 4 Terminator
Race 4: 3 Red Moon Rising, 7 Strata, 9 Listentotheocean, 11 Ice Rain
Race 5: 10 Luce Verde, 1 Marshall Field, 6 Diamond Rock, 9 Lord Fyfield
Race 6: 5 Two A Penny, 6 Montreal, 7 Passchendaele, 3 Go Like Flo
Race 7: 10 Charlie Croker, 9 Augusta Blue, 2 Narina Trogon, 13 San Pedro
Race 8: 1 Questioning, 3 Sylvan Theater, 5 Liketheclappers, 6 Kimball O'Hara
BEST BET
Race 2 No 1 Coastal Commander
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 10 Charlie Croker
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 1x7
BIPOT
R72
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 7
Leg 4: 3, 7, 9
Leg 5: 1, 6, 10
Leg 6: 3, 5, 6, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 7
Leg 3: 3, 7, 9
Leg 4: 1, 10
Leg 5: 5, 6, 7
Leg 6: 2, 9, 10
Leg 7: 1, 3
PICK 6
R1728
Leg 1: 1, 7
Leg 2: 3, 7, 9, 11
Leg 3: 1, 6, 10
Leg 4: 3, 5, 6, 7
Leg 5: 2, 3, 9, 10, 13, 15
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5
JACKPOT 1
R288
Leg 1: 3, 7, 9, 11
Leg 2: 1, 6, 10
Leg 3: 3, 5, 6, 7
Leg 4: 2, 3, 9, 10, 13, 15
JACKPOT 2
R216
Leg 1: 1, 6, 10
Leg 2: 3, 5, 6, 7
Leg 3: 2, 3, 9, 10, 13, 15
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5