Hooves can finally strike gold

Jack Milner

One has to go back to May 2019 to find the last time Hooves Of Gold paid a visit to the winner’s enclosure. However, it was not for the want of trying.

In his 23 runs since, the six-year-old Vercingetorix gelding has placed 14 times of which eight were as runner-up.

Hopefully the Wendy Whitehead-trained runner can finally find a change of fortune when he lines up in Race 7, a MR 76 Handicap over 1200m on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday.

The problem with consistently running into the places is that it does not give the handicappers much incentive to drop the merit rating and so Hooves Of Gold has been stuck on a rating of 78 for his last six runs.

However, he ran in stronger company last time and by finishing fifth in that MR 88 Handicap over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, his merit rating has been reduced by one point to 77.

Whitehead has also engaged useful apprentice Donald Geerthsen to ride Hooves Of Troy so that will take a further 2.5kg off his back.

The gelding has taken on stronger than he will meet on this occasion so hopefully the stars will align for him, and he can record the third victory of his career, and his first in 1216 days.

The obvious dangers appears to be Life Goes On from the Clinton Binda yard. The five-year-old Querari gelding has taken a liking to the Polytrack and has a record of three wins and three places from 13 runs. But significantly, over 1200m on the surface that record improves to two wins, a second and a fourth from four outings.

His finished a 0.80-length second behind Grey Ocean last time out and should improve in his third run after a rest.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 7 Moon Harvest, 2 Lou Lou The Legend, 3 Mac Hardy, 5 Anotherdayinafrica

Race 2: 2 Johnny's Hope, 5 Political Party, 7 Power Star, 3 Cherokee Trail

Race 3: 7 Aerial View, 4 You Deserve It, 2 Green Sleeves, 5 Winter Melody

Race 4: 1 Eventidor, 4 Lucretius, 10 Secret Giver, 5 Thunder Masala

Race 5: 2 Ethiopian Queen, 4 Beckoning Beauty, 6 Sting Ray, 3 Maquette

Race 6: 2 Trafalgar Square, 1 Phinda Mzala, 5 Hampton Court, 9 Valiente

Race 7: 5 Hooves Of Troy, 4 Life Goes On, 6 Justaguything, 8 Mr Henley

Race 8: 1 Count Marsh, 2 Get Carter, 4 Global Secret, 9 Higher Purpose

BEST BET

Race 2 No 2 Johnny’s Hope

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 5 Hooves Of Gold

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 2x5

BIPOT

R288

Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 7

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 4: 1, 4, 10

Leg 5: 2, 4

Leg 6: 1, 2, 5

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 2, 4, 7

Leg 3: 1, 4

Leg 4: 2, 4

Leg 5: 1, 2, 5

Leg 6: 4, 5, 6

Leg 7: 1, 2

PICK 6

R1500

Leg 1: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 1, 4, 10

Leg 3: 2, 4

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 6, 9

Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 6, 8

Leg 6: 1, 2

JACKPOT 1

R150

Leg 1: 1, 4, 10

Leg 2: 2, 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6, 9

Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 6, 8

JACKPOT 2

R100

Leg 1: 2, 4

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6, 9

Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 6, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2