Jack Milner
One year ago trainer Alan Greeff could not have conceived how the next 12 months would play out for him.
Sure, he had some decent horses at Eastern Cape level and must have been making a healthy living. But then he received a trio of two-year-old fillies to train and they have changed his life.
Anotherdanceforme, Direct Hit and Golden Palm came away with top-flight victories all over et country and catapulted Greeff into a different league. It saw him finish second on the national trainers’ log behind Justin Snaith.
But while the fillies dominated affairs, it kind pushed the achievements of My Best Shot into the background because all of his wins were at Fairview.
Sure, his efforts were good enough to get him into the Hollywoodbets Durban July but things did not work out for him.
On Friday at Fairview, the Fire Away gelding will get his chance to shine when he lines up in the Listed Betway Algoa Cup over 2000m on the turf. Jockey Richard Fourie has been a major contributor to Greeff’s success and also to that of My Best Shot.
The four-year-old has won 11 of his 19 starts, with Fourie accounting for 10 of those wins from 17 rides. He indicated he was back to his best with an impressive 2.25-length win over stable companion Global Alley over 1800m at Fairview last month.
This distance poses no problem, and he has won his only start over this particular course and distance. The only concern is that he will be giving weight away to all his rivals but he should be up to the task.
Glen Kotzen-trained Holding Thumbs is back for a second crack at the Algoa Cup and one can’t help thinking that any chance he had last year was blown when rain forced the meeting to be moved to the Polytrack.
He would probably prefer a little further but he does stand out as the main threat to My Best Shot along with Justin Snaith-trained Ardabil who is 7.5kg better off with Greeff’s charge on their Derby run for a 5.25-length defeat
Also, don’t forget there is a Pick 6 carryover to the meeting of R500,000 with a likely pool of R2.5 million so there is huge interest for bettors.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 11 Clouds Clearing, 9 Seafarer, 7 Grey Warrior, 3 Bomber Bay
Race 2: 4 Royal City Girl, 1 Silva City, 2 East Coast Girl, 3 Silvan Mistress
Race 3: 8 Heavenly Mafia, 10 Lotus Silk, 3 Am Still Winning, 1 Desert Cloud
Race 4: 2 Kingdundee, 5 Roman Agent, 1 Cruise Control, 3 Anuschka's World
Race 5: 6 Sports Fan, 1 Danish Dynamite, 2 Alesia's Love, 7 Smashing
Race 6: 4 Commanding, 2 Das Gute, 1 El Capitan, 5 Thunder Master
Race 7: 1 My Best Shot, 8 Ardabil, 6 Zatara Magic, 3 Holding Thumbs
Race 8: 9 Rock Of Futura, 10 Golden Angel, 7 Golden Grey, 8 Cheerful Charlie B
BEST BET
Race 4: 2 Kingdundee
VALUE BET
Race 8: 9 Rock Of Futura
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 1x4
BIPOT
R270
Leg 1: 7, 9, 11
Leg 2: 1, 4
Leg 3: 3, 8, 10
Leg 4: 2
Leg 5: 1, 2, 6
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R144
Leg 1: 1, 4
Leg 2: 3, 8, 10
Leg 3: 2
Leg 4: 1, 6
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 5
Leg 6: 1
Leg 7: 7, 9, 10
PICK 6
R1536
Leg 1: 1, 3, 8, 10
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 1, 2, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10
Leg 5: 1, 3, 6, 8
Leg 6: 7, 8, 9, 10
JACKPOT 1
R96
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 1, 2, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6, 8
JACKPOT 2
R384
Leg 1: 1, 2, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10
Leg 3: 1, 3, 6, 8
Leg 4: 7, 8, 9, 10