Keagan, Kannemeyer to strike in KZN

Jack Milner

Jockey Keagan de Melo is back in South Africa, seemingly having a busman’s holiday before returning to Hong Kong for the start of the new season on 8 September.

He once again joins forces with trainer Dean Kannemeyer and they should have a good day on the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday.

Top of the list should be Industrialstrength in Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1600m. The son of Gimmethegreenlight turned four at the beginning of the month and has only had one race, over 1200m at this course on 11 May. Drawn No 11 of 13 runners he did not prove an easy ride, proving stubborn to load and then losing ground at the start.

However, Industrialstrength took off late to finish second, beaten 1.90 lengths by The Specialist. He will no doubt relish the extra distance this time and looks the best bet on the card.

Few pundits who watched Lucrative win on debut at Hollywoodbets Scottsville would not have been blown away by the manner of that success.

It was her first race, she was at the back of the field and looked to be going nowhere when she suddenly took off, mowed down the opposition and went on to win by 1.50 lengths, despite returning with a scalp wound on her right hind leg.

The daughter of Vercingetorix looks useful and she could follow up in Race 8, a MR 78 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m.

She is nicely drawn at No 4 and although this will be around the turn and Lucrative should be able to make it two wins from two starts.

The only concern is that Terminal Velocity, who finished in fourth in that race, failed to place in her next start which was on the Polytrack but she was reported to have raced green around the turn.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 10 Lizwile Ilali, 9 Panthera Uncia, 5 Warrior Royale, 11 Magic Maverick

Race 2: 8 Industrialstrength, 1 El Capitan, 4 National Award, 6 The Octagon

Race 3: 4 State Secret, 3 Care Forgot, 2 Green Valkyrie, 7 Spring Kiss

Race 4: 3 El Dante, 2 Nocturnal Flight, 4 Birthright, 6 Lucky Dollar

Race 5: 8 Escape Artist, 6 Woodland Glade, 5 Escapologist, 7 Hot Strike

Race 6: 8 Spelling Bee, 11 The Shepherd, 5 Command Pilot, 4 Shampompo Shampizi

Race 7: 6 Kalahari Roller, 7 Rafa's Boy, 12 Rosh Kedesh, 13 Beamonesque

Race 8: 4 Lucrative, 11 Grey Fantacy, 9 Rugger Lover, 8 Emerald Green

BEST BET

Race 2: 8 Industrialstrength

VALUE BET

Race 7: 6 Kalahari Roller

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 2x3

BIPOT

R288

Leg 1: 5, 9, 10, 11

Leg 2: 8

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4

Leg 4: 2, 3

Leg 5: 5, 6, 8

Leg 6: 4, 5, 8, 11

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 8

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 5, 6, 8

Leg 5: 5, 8, 11

Leg 6: 6, 7, 12, 13

Leg 7: 4, 11

PICK 6

R1536

Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 7

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4

Leg 3: 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 4, 5, 8, 11

Leg 5: 6, 7, 12, 13

Leg 6: 4, 7, 11

JACKPOT 1

R192

Leg 1: 2, 3, 4

Leg 2: 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 4, 5, 8, 11

Leg 4: 6, 7, 12, 13

JACKPOT 2

R128

Leg 1: 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 2: 4, 5, 8, 11

Leg 3: 6, 7, 12, 13

Leg 4: 4, 7, 11