Jack Milner
The idiom that it never rains but it pours could be applied to this year’s Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge.
The three-legged competition, over 1200m, 1400m and 1600m on the Polytrack at Fairview, is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and for the first eight years it was not won.
There were some horses who came away with two of the three legs but until last year no runner had been able to pick up the R250,000 bonus for winning all three legs.
Then finally, Glen Kotzen managed to pull it off in 2024 when King Regent scooped the pool, picking up R375,000 for winning all three legs as well as the R250,000 bonus. Denis Schwarz was the jockey in all three legs.
This year trainer Alan Greeff, who has had the most spectacular 18 months, has a chance of doing it again when Mercantour lines up in Race 5 on Friday over 1600m.
The Var gelding picked up a narrow first-leg win over 1200m in August and followed up with a game victory over 1400m in the second leg in September. S’manga Khumalo was aboard him in the first leg, while Richard Fourie took the reins last time out.
The step up to 1600m is a question mark, as Greeff’s charge has not won in three attempts over this distance on turf. Mercantour, however, has impressed since being switched to the Polytrack, winning four of his six starts on the surface and finishing third in the other two.
Fourie has won on him three of the five times he has ridden the six-year-old gelding.
Interestingly, Mercantour is not the best-weighted runner for this leg – that honour goes to Bingwa, from rival trainer Gavin Smith’s yard. This talented eight-year-old has not been at his best since winning on turf in March, but he has won on this surface and his rivals will be well advised not to give him a soft lead.
Brendan James has won his last two races and was impressive both times. The addition of blinkers and a return to the Polytrack appear to have reignited his enthusiasm for racing, and he can be a serious threat again – though this is a tougher field.
Greeff has carded four more runners in the race and Mr Fox looks the best of them. The Canford Cliffs gelding has shown flashes of class in some of his wins and is clearly at his best over this particular course and distance.
Strathclyde, Wecangoallnight, and The Africa House all have ability but will need to find a few lengths to win this race.
Another race sure to catch punters’ attention is Race 7, a Graduation Plate over 1400m. Two runners, Guy Gibson and the filly Vulcanite, stand out at the weights.
Guy Gibson appears to be ducking his stable companion Mercantour by not contesting the Poly Challenge, as he was narrowly beaten by that rival and might well have turned the tables over the 1600m trip. However, at the weights, Vulcanite could pose a major threat.
The Erupt filly would meet him at level weights if this were a handicap but receives 4kg in this. She has campaigned in strong company this year without success, but a switch to the Polytrack and a change of trainer could bring out her best.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 6 Mio Destino, 8 Timeline, 1 Warofdynamite, 2 Bahamian Beat
Race 2: 2 Pibe De Oro, 5 Grey Warrior, 3 Prolific Star, 10 Nuclear Power
Race 3: 6 Green Isle, 1 Family Power, 7 Ginger Delight, 9 Flower Festival
Race 4: 1 Wishes And Dreams, 3 East Coast Girl, 2 Haze And Smoke, 10 Colorama
Race 5: 2 Mercantour, 1 Bingwa, 3 Brenden James, 5 Mr Fox
Race 6: 9 Three Cheers, 7 One Religion, 10 Richardthefearless, 2 Red William
Race 7: 1 Guy Gibson, 6 French Flame, 8 Vulcanite, 5 Above The Horizon
Race 8: 2 Cherry Oh Baby, 1 King Viserys, 13 King Rahul, 7 King's Sailor
BEST BET
Race 7: 1 Guy Gibson
VALUE BET
Race 6: 9 Three Cheers
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 1x6
BIPOT
R192
Leg 1: 1, 2, 6, 8
Leg 2: 2, 3, 5
Leg 3: 1, 6
Leg 4: 1, 3
Leg 5: 2
Leg 6: 2, 7, 9, 10
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R192
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5
Leg 2: 1, 6
Leg 3: 1, 3
Leg 4: 2
Leg 5: 2, 7, 9, 10
Leg 6: 1
Leg 7: 1, 2, 7, 13
PICK 6
R720
Leg 1: 1, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 2, 5, 7, 9, 10
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 13
JACKPOT 1
R40
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 2, 5, 7, 9, 10
Leg 5: 1
JACKPOT 2
R60
Leg 1: 1, 2
Leg 2: 2, 5, 7, 9, 10
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 13