Highveld trainers for early strike in KZN

Jack Milner

Highveld-based trainers Clinton Binda and Johan Janse van Vuuren make their way to Durban on Monday for what look to be easy pickings on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Van Vuuren has a runner in the first two races, both of which will be ridden by Keagan de Melo, but while Brosnan is expected to contest the finish, Race 1 could go to Binda’s lone runner, Fish Eagle.

While both are untried on the Polytrack, Brosnan will also be going over 1200m for the first time so that is another factor to deal with.

Fish Eagle was strongly fancied to win a competitive 1160m event at Turffontein after finishing runner-up in his two previous starts but jumped slowly and was found to be coughing. Nevertheless, he made good progress to run fourth behind Cornwall, beaten 3.55 lengths.

Fish Eagle’s form could be a touch stronger than Brosnan’s who is less exposed, having only run three times.

The handicapper also rates Fish Eagle a touch better as he races off a merit rating of 74 versus Brosnan’s 72.

Van Vuuren, however, should taste success with his second runner, Sky Velocity, who looks hard to beat in Race 2, a Conditional Maiden over 1600m.

Sky Velocity is only the second-best weighted runner with Glen Kotzen-trained Fields Of Green, who has mainly been racing in Cape Town, marginally holding the top spot.

In a field of fillies, Fields Of Green is 0.5kg better handicapped than her rival but she tends to come from off the pace while Sky Velocity races close up, which is often an advantage on the Polytrack, a surface on which both racing for the first time.

However, Sky Velocity will jump from pole position so that should give De Melo a good opportunity to get her well placed.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 7 Fish Eagle, 3 Brosnan, 4 Cotton Ron, 5 Magwinya

Race 2: 1 Sky Velocity, 4 Fields Of Green, 6 Queen Jackson, 3 Lady Is A Champ

Race 3: 4 Mr Pigalle, 1 Dowser, 6 Maxiumus, 2 Grimaldi

Race 4: 5 Lucretius, 2 Zakho, 10 Barbatti, 1 American Dream

Race 5: 4 Fashionigma, 2 Bay Breeze, 9 You Deserve It, 10 Reckless Love

Race 6: 6 Hatta, 3 Royal Kitty, 2 Birdwatcher, 4 She's Not Easy

Race 7: 1 Quiz Master, 2 Preemptive Strike, 4 Leslies Pathtofame, 9 Agressivo

BEST BET

Race 2 No 1 Sky Velocity

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 4 Fashionigma

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 3x7

BIPOT

R300

Leg 1: 3, 7

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 4

Leg 4: 2, 5, 10

Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10

Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 6, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R162

Leg 1: 7

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 4

Leg 4: 2, 5, 10

Leg 5: 2, 4, 9

Leg 6: 2, 3, 6

Leg 7: 1, 2, 4

PICK 6

R1200

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 4, 6

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 10

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10

Leg 5: 2, 3, 6, 7

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4

JACKPOT 1

R300

Leg 1: 1, 4, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 10

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10

Leg 4: 2, 3, 6, 7

JACKPOT 2

R400

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 10

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10

Leg 3: 2, 3, 6, 7

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4