Kingdundee looks good despite move to poly

Jack Milner

There are some nice races to look forward to at Fairview on Friday but bettors need to take cognisance of the decision to move the meeting from the turf track to the Polytrack.

An announcement was made yesterday that despite no further rainfall over the course, it was found that certain sections of the track are inconsistent. As a result a decision was made to move the meeting to the Polytrack.

The pick of the card is Race 7 – the Fairview Flying Five (Listed) over 1000m – where star sprinter Kingdundee can return to winning ways.

The United States gelding has won four of his seven starts, finishing second on two other occasions. He was narrowly denied last time out by the top-class Fairy Knight over 1200m, but is better judged on his penultimate start, when he was a dominant winner over this course and distance.

Craig Zackey, who has partnered him in all four victories, is back aboard and knows exactly how to get the best out of the Gavin Smith-trained gelding.

The main threat looks to be Mercantour who has had a great start to his Eastern Cape career, finishing a 1.60-length behind Fairy Knight in the Listed East Cape Sprint Cup over 1200m.

Now with Alan Greeff, the five-year-old Var gelding will have Richard Fourie in the irons and should have a positive impact on the outcome of this race.

He has yet to win over 1000m but has placed three times in six starts over the distance.

However, the one concern is that neither Mercantour nor Kingdundee has raced on the Polytrack and that could open up this race somewhat if they fail to handle the surface.

In addition, this trip on the poly is raced around the turn and while Kingdundee, who will be better over this 1000m than the 1200m of their last race, is drawn No 1, Mercantour will jump from the No 9 barrier position.

Greeff will also be out to make his mark and holds a strong hand in Race 4 – the East Cape Oaks (Listed) over 2000m. He sends out two fillies, both of whom arrive on the back of hat-trick wins.

Stable jockey Richard Fourie opts for Lotus Island, who is likely to go off favourite, but her stablemate, First Wish, has done nothing wrong and could push her all the way.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Ready, 4 Priceless Treasure, 6 Sombreuil, 5 Smart Star

Race 2: 1 Barolo, 8 Silvan Mistress, 6 Royal City Girl, 5 Lady Blunt

Race 3: 3 Waheed, 1 Master Forester, 2 Coral Creek, 4 Mister Speaker

Race 4: 1 Lotus Island, 5 Tap Shoes, 2 First Wish, 6 Greenlitealltheway

Race 5: 3 Blossoming Mind, 1 Genteel, 9 Dancing In Winter, 6 Duchess Of Seville

Race 6: 8 William The First, 4 Final Edition, 5 Grandiosa, 11 Prime Venture

Race 7: 1 Kingdundee, 3 Mercantour, 5 Anuschka's World, 6 Cliff Top

Race 8: 6 Champonelle, 5 Captain Tik Tok, 1 Sweet And True, 3 Coastal Path

BEST BET

Race 3 No 3 Waheed

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 8 William The First

BEST SWINGER

Race 7 1x3

BIPOT

R288

Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 6, 8

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 1, 5

Leg 5: 1, 3, 9

Leg 6: 4, 5, 8, 11

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R128

Leg 1: 1, 8

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 1, 5

Leg 4: 1, 3

Leg 5: 4, 5, 8, 11

Leg 6: 1

Leg 7: 1, 3, 5, 6

PICK 6

R1200

Leg 1: 3

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9

Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11

Leg 5: 1, 3

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

JACKPOT 1

R240

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9

Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11

Leg 4: 1, 3

JACKPOT 2

R300

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9

Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11

Leg 3: 1, 3

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6