Jack Milner: Fairview’s opening meeting of the new season is a case of tough races encased in bookends of good bets.
It might sound a bit mysterious but in essence, the two good bets on the turf on Friday come up in Races 1 and 9.
Glen Kotzen has a good feel for runners who can win at Fairview and he can get punters off to a winning start with Rio Supremo.
The three-year-old Querari filly has been running against much stronger in Cape Town and should have no problem finding her way to the winner’s enclosure. Craig Zackey takes the ride.
She will go off at a short price, so it could be worth taking a double with Lady Defiance in Race 9.
The Australian-bred mare started her career on the Highveld and was an impressive winner on debut back in May 2019. However, she was not seen out again until December that year, when she finished unplaced.
Another disappointment followed in her third start, which was a year later, and it was back to the drawing board.
Trainer Alan Greeff has a magic touch with discards from other trainers and this last season he resurrected many a battling horse. So, it was not much of a surprise that Lady Defiance found her way to him.
In her two starts for Greeff, both on the Polytrack, she finished third to Enrique and fourth to Trickster. In both, she was not beaten very far. Those runs were in Plate races which suggests she may have run well above her current merit rating.
This will be her first run in a handicap, and this will be her initial race on the Fairview turf. But that should not be a problem as her only win was on turf at the Vaal.
Greg Cheyne takes the ride.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 8 Rio Supremo, 1 Meghan, 9 Twice The Secret, 2 Alloway Grove
Race 2: 1 Strong Casha, 5 Red Bishop, 9 Daleel, 2 Cyclops Jack
Race 3: 1 Vision On Ice, 2 Jo Loves, 5 Comedy Of Manners, 6 Ladonna Mia
Race 4: 3 Red Rules, 1 Serious Fun, 7 Giggle And A Talk, 5 Silvia Louise
Race 5: 10 Mighty Smart, 6 Cairon, 4 Bush Fever, 3 Gold Rock
Race 6: 5 Tsar Peter, 8 Mesmerizing Moon, 1 Push Off, 4 Futura’s Hope
Race 7: 1 Bloom, 3 Step Lively, 6 Gimme Gimme Gimme, 5 Luna Wish
Race 8: 2 Valetorio, 3 Moon Game, 4 Enrique, 6 Storm Commander
Race 9: 2 Lady Defiance, 8 Rose Of Bayeux, 1 Alaskan Fate, 3 Mistress Of Means
BEST BET
Race 1 No 8 Rio Supremo
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 10 Mighty Smart
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 1×5
BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 1, 5
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 3
Leg 4: 3, 4, 6, 10
Leg 5: 1, 5, 8
Leg 6: 1, 3, 6
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 3
Leg 3: 4, 6, 10
Leg 4: 1, 5, 8
Leg 5: 1, 3
Leg 6: 2, 3, 4
Leg 7: 2, 8
PICK 6
R1920
Leg 1: 1, 3
Leg 2: 3, 4, 5, 6, 10
Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 8
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 8
JACKPOT 1
R240
Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 6, 10
Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 8
Leg 3: 1, 3, 6
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 6
JACKPOT 2
R192
Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 8
Leg 2: 1, 3, 6
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 8