Keagan to command the fleet

Jack Milner

There is no doubt luck aften plays a part in horseracing and there are times when one is on the receiving end and other occasions when one’s luck just runs out.

Anyone who witnessed Fleet Commander’s last race, on 2 November over 1600m on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville, will tell you that short of falling over or ejecting his jockey, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge suffered an overabundance of misfortune.

In that race Fleet Commander bided his time at the rear but as soon as they turned for home, he found himself cruising up to the pack only for the door to be shut by runners on both sides of him.

But the three-year-old son of Captain Of All has a chance to get some justice when he lines up on Wednesday in Race 4, a MR 77 Handicap over the same course and distance. This time Fleet Commander has drawn well, perfectly ensconced in draw No 2, so he should have no excuses in adding a second win to his tally.

A lightly raced gelding, he looks very well weighted and he teams up again with Keagan de Melo.

Kannemeyer’s yard in the Western Cape is in top form and Fleet Commander may not be the only runner from the stable to attract attention.

Lou Lou The Legend won his maiden impressively when trying 1600m on the Polytrack before being given a rest. He jumps from No 11 gate in Race 8, a MR 68 Handicap over 1400m, but he could be anything after a rest in which he was gelded.

He will also not be the first Kannemeyer-trained runner to win when racing fresh and once again, he will have the services of log-leading jockey De Melo to assist him from the saddle.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Corsican, 3 L'Ultimo, 11 Word For Word, 9 Hunters Arrow

Race 2: 1 Sea Of Tears, 7 Little Lady, 2 Dilluh, 6 Mission Rocks

Race 3: 2 Johnny's Hope, 6 Greenbackcurrency, 1 Agamemnon, 3 Book Of Dreams

Race 4: 2 Fleet Commander, 3 Zooberi, 1 Caesura, 5 Bend Theules

Race 5: 4 Rodriguez, 2 Pewter Sky, 5 Al's My Daddy, 9 Ibutho

Race 6: 8 Vision Of Will, 2 Casa Rosada, 10 Magicallee, 9 Candy For My Mommy

Race 7: 5 Toto, 1 Love Bomb, 4 Winter's Destiny, 7 Aisling

Race 8: 11 Lou Lou The Legend, 9 Action Stations, 1 Capetown Affair, 12 Giambattista

BEST BET

Race 1 No 1 Corsican

VALUE BET

Race 4 No 2 Fleet Commander

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 1x3

BIPOT

R96

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 2, 6

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3

Leg 5: 2, 4, 5, 9

Leg 6: 2, 8, 9, 10

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R243

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5

Leg 5: 2, 8, 10

Leg 6: 1, 4, 5

Leg 7: 1, 9, 11

PICK 6

R2048

Leg 1: 2, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 9

Leg 4: 2, 8, 9, 10

Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 7

Leg 6: 1, 9, 11, 12

JACKPOT 1

R256

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 2: 2, 4, 5, 9

Leg 3: 2, 8, 9, 10

Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 7

JACKPOT 2

R256

Leg 1: 2, 4, 5, 9

Leg 2: 2, 8, 9, 10

Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 7

Leg 4: 1, 9, 11, 12