Jack Milner: On Monday Flying Peter tries 1600m for the first time and it could be the move that will see him pay his first visit to the winner’s enclosure.
Trainer Dean Kannemeyer’s charge has raced five times and has not performed badly in any of his races. Most of his runs have been over 1200m but his best performance to date has been his penultimate start in which he ran over 1400m.
On that occasion he finished second, beaten just 1.20 lengths behind Burning Wings, producing the fastest 400m finish in the process. Kannemeyer brought the son of Var back to 1200m last time but raced him on the Polytrack. He did not run badly, but he could only manage fourth place, 1.55 lengths behind Mexican Catdance.
Today he runs in Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1600m on the Polytrack and this could just be what the doctor ordered.
Interestingly, Flying Peter is a half-brother to Popova who has won twice, both times over a “mile”.
Once again, bettors are faced with a very tricky card and Flying Peter could be the best banker on the day.
He is drawn at No 7, which is not bad over this distance, and has Keagan de Melo, who has returned from Cape Town, back in the irons.
Jack Milner’s selection
Race 1: 2 Vinodh’s Boy, 5 Que Es Var, 10 Duchessofcornwall, 8 Lord Caro
Race 2: 3 Wave Crest, 7 Two For Tea, 1 Spicy Hot, 11 Polynieces