Greaterix gets the green light at Vaal

Jack Milner

Greaterix will have the opportunity to redeem his reputation when he lines up in the Grade 3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes for three-year-olds over 1400m at the Vaal on Monday.

The Mike de Kock-trained runner was all the rage to win the Grade 2 Dingaans over 1600m on the same track. The son of Vercingetorix went off a 77-100 favourite but found filly Quid Pro Quo far too good on the day. In fact, in the closing stages Greaterix was even passed by Fire Attack and was beaten five lengths in the end.

I know it is very easy to sit in the stands and criticise the jockey but there is a school of thought that although Greaterix is a natural front runner, Kabelo Matsunyane went too fast on the colt, and he had nothing left in the tank.

De Kock put Piere Strydom on the grey this time but unfortunately, he is likely to be out of action for the next few weeks and Muzi Yeni. Who has a high regard for this colt, has picked up the ride.

This race is the perfect opportunity for Greaterix to show his true and the fact that it is over 1400m will be strongly in his favour.

Fire Attack is also in the race but he will be 2kg worse off and could battle to confirm the Dingaans form. He will be ridden by Diego de Gouveia who replaces injured Calvin Habib. Another key runner is best-weighted Cosmic Speed who had an excellent comeback win over 1160m last night. He has Craig Zackey in the irons and has to be respected.

Vulcanite is by far the best-weighted runner in the Grade 3 Mother Russia Stakes, and she is another who looks hard to beat. Paul Matchett’s charge has been very impressive in her last two wins and is another good ride for Zackey.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 9 Futurenaire, 1 Kwagga Blitz, 5 Spy Story, 8 Copper Cliff, 4 Paul Revere

Race 2: 10 Green Street, 9 Golden Alexia, 8 Gimme A Storm, 2 Pretty Precious

Race 3: 5 Roaming Spirit, 10 Gerbera, 7 The Mightiest, 6 Asiah's Tiara

Race 4: 10 Mountain High, 2 Spirito Selvaggio, 1 Chieftain's Shield, 3 Mystic Vision

Race 5: 4 Red Maple, 1 Zeus, 2 Crimson King, 3 Second Base

Race 6: 1 Texas Red, 2 Pomodoro's Jet, 8 Storm Brasco, 9 Truth

Race 7: 1 Vulcanite, 4 Salenio Peninsula, 3 Miss Lia, 7 Cocomelon

Race 8: 3 Greaterix, 2 Fire Attack, 1 Cosmic Speed, 6 Musical Score

Race 9: 8 Virgin River, 6 Big Boy Bruce, 3 Longsword, 9 Beamonesque

BEST BET

Race 8: 3 Greaterix

VALUE BET

Race 6: 1 Texas Red

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 2x10

BIPOT

R128

Leg 1: 2, 8, 9, 10

Leg 2: 5

Leg 3: 2, 10

Leg 4: 1, 4

Leg 5: 1, 2, 8, 9

Leg 6: 1, 4

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R96

Leg 1: 5

Leg 2: 2, 10

Leg 3: 1, 4

Leg 4: 1, 2, 8

Leg 5: 1, 4

Leg 6: 3

Leg 7: 3, 6, 8, 9

PICK 6

R560

Leg 1: 2, 10

Leg 2: 1, 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 8, 9, 11

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 7

Leg 5: 3

Leg 6: 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12

JACKPOT 1

R40

Leg 1: 1, 4

Leg 2: 1, 2, 8, 9, 11

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 7

Leg 4: 3

JACKPOT 2

R140

Leg 1: 1, 2, 8, 9, 11

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 7

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12