It could be a Fairy tale Nursery for Greeff

Jack Milner

When attempting to study form in juvenile races, one has to accept that they can make massive improvement from race to race. In addition, that improvement comes at different rates for each horse.

That is something bettors will have to face in Race 7 at Fairview on Friday, the Listed East Cape Nursery over 1200m. Eight runners are carded to go to post and one can make a winning case for most of the horses.

Before last Friday it was safe to think Sharon Kotzen-trained War Launch set the standard for the colts this year as he looked good when winning on debut over 1000m, beating Vision Of Wonder by a short head in January. That form was strongly franked when Vision Of Wonder followed up with a facile win over stable companion Watch Tower who subsequently won easily last Monday.

War Launch took a trip to Cape Town and was not disgraced when finishing fourth in a decent field.

Gavin Smith-trained Global Force ran 3.85 lengths behind Vision Of Wonder when they both made their debuts in December and next time out was touched off by Alan Greeff-trained filly Summer Odyssey over 1000m.

In his third start Global Force beat Watch Tower by 0.75 lengths with Fairy Knight, on debut, back in third, two lengths off the winner on the Polytrack.

But possibly the key race is the next run where War Launch met Greeff-trained Fairy Knight over 1000m on 24 March.

War Launch was sent out favourite but Fairy Knight was well supported to beat him. While War Launch looked to be travelling best of all, once Fairy Knight got into full stride, he burst through to win going away by 2.25 lengths.

Stepping up to 1200m should suit him and with jockey Richard Fourie up looks the runner to beat.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Amazing Colours, 6 Joy And Peace, 3 Fire Glow, 5 Jambo Sana

Race 2: 1 Woodland Ridge, 15 Principessa Mia, 2 Siberian Fox, 18 The Winter Lake

Race 3: 1 Popping Crease, 6 Joe Harman, 7 Belle's First Wave, 2 Lord Nelson

Race 4: 1 Jaspero, 2 Bold Strike, 3 Honest Quest, 7 Cape Bouquet

Race 5: 5 Esther, 4 Glass Shoes, 3 Rainbow Thief, 1 Rhythm Of The Rain

Race 6: 2 Monashada, 3 Meet At The George, 4 Stolen Kiss, 1 Red Berry

Race 7: 4 Fairy Knight, 7 War Launch, 6 Vision Of Wonder, 5 Global Force

Race 8: 2 Track Commander, 7 Fiery Duke, 9 Picture The Moment, 1 Pedro

BEST BET

Race 3 No 1 Popping Crease

VALUE BET

Race 8 No 2 Track Commander

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 1x6

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 1, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 15, 18

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3

Leg 5: 3, 4, 5

Leg 6: 2, 3, 4

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 2, 15

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 4, 5

Leg 5: 2, 3

Leg 6: 4, 6, 7

Leg 7: 2, 7, 9

PICK 6

R960

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4

Leg 5: 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 6: 1, 2, 6, 7, 9

JACKPOT 1

R192

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4

Leg 4: 4, 5, 6, 7

JACKPOT 2

R240

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4

Leg 3: 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6, 7, 9