Kannemeyer to shine in dress rehearsal

The best sprinters in South Africa are starting their preparations ahead of Speed Day at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on 31 May, and the eight-race meeting on Sunday at the same track is the perfect dress rehearsal.

Four high-class feature races on Sunday should give bettors a good indication of who to follow come the big day.

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer goes into the weekend meeting with some hot prospects.

In Race 4, a Listed Handicap over 1100m, he sends out five-time winner Teflon Man, who looks to be back on the up after a recent gelding operation.

The grey son of Querari was eye catching in his 1100m comeback when the fastest finisher behind Gem King and subsequent impressive Grade 3 Champagne Stakes winner Tenango. He was beaten only 0.80-lengths at the wire.

Teflon Man has also franked the form by winning last time out over 1200m on his return to KwaZulu-Natal when easily holding off hard knockers African Skyline and Mr Master Starter.

Due to the small winning margin he has gone up only two merit rating points. As such he could be well in at the weights with a rating of just 104 in the Listed In Full Flight Handicap.

It is interesting that Kannemeyer bypassed giving his juvenile filly Keukenhof a run in the Western Cape during the season and she will instead line up in Race 5.

He gave her a bit of time to mature, only jumping her out the gates in the first week of this month, but she was impressive. It is not easy to win at first time out at Scottsville and it was also a day where the going came up quite soft. This must be borne in mind when looking at her adequate winning time.

Keukenhof is meeting much better second time out in the Strelitzia Stakes (Grade 3) over 1100m.

Justin Snaith’s filly Wild Wild Green, who brings good Western Cape form into the fray, looks to be the horse she has to fear most. The daughter of Gimmethegreenlight won her first two starts and was third in the Grade 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery thereafter.

She has the experience and having drawn in gate one could make it tough, however Keukenhof, who is related to SA Classic winner Confederate, could be the one with more scope.

Like Teflon Man, Keukenhof is to be ridden by log leading rider Craig Zackey.

Race 6, the Tote Godolphin Barb Stakes (Grade 3), could be dominated by Peter Muscutt’s Military Command. The Fire Away colt has not been matched for speed over 1000 and 1200m at Kenilworth and the 1100m at Scottsville is likely to suit the fleetfooted individual.

Including I’m A Fireball in all bets is also suggested. By Vercingetorix, he is a beautifully bred colt who never showed signs of weakening when chasing down more experienced Captain’s Pride.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Captain's Pride, 9 Malshana Mou, 5 Star In Motion, 8 Scorpio

Race 2: 1 Wings Of Josephine, 6 Rugger Lover, 4 Vision To Achieve, 2 Hurricane Cat

Race 3: 9 Phil The Fluter, 12 Brightsunnyday, 3 Danube, 1 Tee Dog

Race 4: 8 Teflon Man, 7 Fastnet Filly, 5 Outlaw King, 14 Roman Agent

Race 5: 4 Keukenhof, 1 Wild Wild Green, 2 Winter Belle, 6 Quickstepgal

Race 6: 5 Military Command, 1 I'm A Fireball, 3 Malmesbury Missile, 2 Fortress Of Fire

Race 7: 4 Roccapina, 5 Mai Sensation, 10 Symphony In White, 12 Gimmie's Countess

Race 8: 2 Bristol Hercules, 10 Imposing, 13 Rich Folks Hoax, 14 Tyrconnell

BEST BET

Race 1: 1 Captain's Pride

VALUE BET

Race 8: 2 Bristol Hercules

BEST SWINGER

Race 6 1x5

BIPOT                                

R96

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 4, 6

Leg 3: 9, 12

Leg 4: 1, 5, 7, 8

Leg 5: 1, 4

Leg 6: 1, 5

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R288

Leg 1: 1, 4, 6

Leg 2: 9, 12

Leg 3: 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 4

Leg 5: 1, 5

Leg 6: 4, 5

Leg 7: 2, 10, 14

PICK 6

R1350

Leg 1: 3, 9, 12

Leg 2: 1, 5, 7, 8, 14

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4

Leg 4: 1, 5

Leg 5: 4, 5, 8, 10, 12

Leg 6: 2, 10, 14

JACKPOT 1

R150

Leg 1: 1, 5, 7, 8, 14

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4

Leg 3: 1, 5

Leg 4: 4, 5, 8, 10, 12

JACKPOT 2

R90

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4

Leg 2: 1, 5

Leg 3: 4, 5, 8, 10, 12

Leg 4: 2, 10, 14