Jack Milner
The jockey ranks have been highly depleted for at least the next week or two for a number of reasons.
Greg Cheyne and Warren Kennedy will be riding overseas with the former off to the UK and the newly installed Champion Jockey going to ride in New Zealand.
Then there are those who managed to delay their suspensions until the start of the new season and others who just take this quieter period to take their families on holiday.
So, with Richard Fourie, Grant van Niekerk and Keagan de Melo all out of action at Kenilworth today, it gives Aldo Domeyer the chance to get out of the blocks speedily this season.
Fourie piloted Futura colt Future Swing to a fast-finishing third on debut from a wide draw at Durbanville. Justin Snaith's charge would have come since and should open his account in Race 1 over 1200m with Domeyer now in the irons.
For Swinger and Exacta purposes, include Brett Crawford's runner Bardolino under Louis Mxothwa.
Snaith's decision to fit Speed Machine with blinkers in his last start proved a masterstroke, as he skated clear at the finish to win a 1400m Hybrid Stakes by more than six lengths with Domeyer not needing to move a muscle aboard the son of Legislate.
Unsurprisingly, both the headgear and Domeyer are retained in Race 5 when Speed Machine reappears in a similar contest over 1600m.
Speed Machine has yet to race beyond 1400m but, given the degree of improvement he made in the blinkers and the manner of that impressive last-start success, he can be confidently backed to follow up and provide Domeyer and Snaith with a jockey-trainer double.
Another last-start winner from that yard to follow is highly rated Pacific Green, who has got her career back on track since returning from a rest. She scored on debut then fluffed her lines next time out which prompted connections to allow her time off to grow and strengthen.
That decision has, seemingly, paid off. The daughter of Gimmethegreenlight made a pleasing comeback when fourth in open company over 1100m before bouncing back to winning ways over 1000m last time out.
She returns to the course and distance of that success in Race 8 and it should pay to follow her progress on her three-year-old bow.
Gimme's Lassie (Race 2) is another of Domeyer's rides with strong winning credentials and should deliver the goods for her supporters.
However, best bet on the card is one that has had Cheyne aboard for her first four starts and now, sadly for the amiable jockey, looks ready to win when she lines up in Race 4, a race ironically named the Farewell Greg Cheyne Maiden Plate over 1600m.
Hopefully he will be on course to watch Metar finally shed her maiden tag, but this time with Mxothwa in the irons.
Brett Crawford’s charge looked desperately unlucky last time when going down 0.50 lengths to Beneath The Moon as she lost ground at the start and then had to switch at a crucial stage but took off late, producing the fastest last 400m for the third successive time.
The daughter of Soft Falling Rain is still leaning what racing is all about but once the penny drops, she looks a runner to follow.
In this field, she should be too good for her rivals.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 5 Future Swing, 4 Bardolino, 7 Release Me, 1 Castle Time
Race 2: 5 Gimme's Lassie, 4 Allende, 10 What Now My Gal, 1 Touch Of Grace
Race 3: 5 Teatro, 2 Run Rudolph Run, 1 Donder Storm, 6 Quatermain
Race 4: 1 Metar, 3 Princess Louisa, 2 Senhora Victoria, 7 Entitled
Race 5: 1 Speed Machine, 3 Rockin' Ringo, 5 Somerset Maugham, 7 Aeneas
Race 6: 3 Alfred's Girl, 5 Love Is A Rose, 4 Rewrite The Stars, 2 Zippy Over
Race 7: 5 All About Al, 2 Irish Morning, 6 Barney Mcgrew, 1 Captain Tatters
Race 8: 5 Pacific Green, 2 Different Face, 6 Philosophise, 3 What A State
BEST BET
Race 4 No 1 Metar
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 3 Alfred’s Girl
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 2x5
BIPOT
R72
Leg 1: 4, 5
Leg 2: 5
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 1, 3, 5
Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R72
Leg 1: 5
Leg 2: 2, 5
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5
Leg 5: 3, 4, 5
Leg 6: 2, 5
Leg 7: 2, 5
PICK 6
R1200
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 7
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 5: 2, 5, 6
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
JACKPOT 1
R60
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 7
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 4: 2, 5, 6
JACKPOT 2
R300
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5, 7
Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 2, 5, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6