Jack Milner
It is Algoa Cup day at Fairview on Friday and once again a host of trainers from the Western Cape are raiding in full force.
This R350,000 Listed race over 2000m is the “Durban July” of Port Elizabeth and has once again attracted a decent field.
It somehow develops into a grudge match between the local and visiting trainers and at the moment it is the latter who hold sway. In fact, one has to go back to 2009 to find the last time a Port Elizabeth-based trainer won the race and that was Jacques Strydom with Surfin’ USA, ridden by brother, Piere.
Right now, the statistics are not on their side and with all of Glen Kotzen, Justin Snaith, Candice Bass-Robinson, Andre Nel and Brett Crawford having runners, their chances look slim once again.
Of the five visiting trainers it is Kotzen who has really come out with all guns blazing as he has four runners – Crimson King, Chollima, Follow The Star and Han Solo.
His yard is currently overflowing with success and one could make a case for all of his runners. However, Han Solo could be the right one this time. He is a winner without a penalty as he put his head down at the right time in his last race at Kenilworth to beat Somerset Maugham by a short head but the glory was taken away from him in boardroom.
That was his first attempt at 2000m and he seemed to handle it well, other than the fact that he shifted round in the closing stages which cost him the race.
However, the Master Of My Fate gelding did produce the fastest 400m to finish so should have no issue repeating that performance – hopefully without the hanging in the latter stages.
Calvin Habib rode him last time and he would surely love to redress what happened last time.
Han Solo has already proven himself at the track as he won a race over 1400m at Fairview in June.
The local challenge is headed up by Gavin Smith who has five runners and the best of these could be Never Ending Rain with S’manga Khumalo up.
However, while pundits often look to Smith and Alan Greeff as the two trainers to bring home the “local bacon”, so to speak, there is a new kid on the block in the form of Kelly Mitchley.
With seven winners from just 40 runners since starting training in June, she could not have asked for a better start to her training career and it could get even better if she could pull off the Algoa Cup at her first attempt.
Mitchley sends out Mount Anderson who last time made a winning debut at Fairview. Expected to need the first run at this centre, the Vercingetorix gelding still proved up to the task by beating some in-form runners.
He meets most of those rivals again and at the higher weight will make that task tougher, but he should have tightened up from that outing.
However, Never Ending Rain, who finished a 1.25-length third, is 4kg better off and should reverse the placings.
Kotzen also has Chollima who was impressive when winning in the East Cape Derby the last time he was seen at this course, but he has struggled in his two outings since. However, if fit and well Chollima should be right there.
There are plenty of others who would not be surprise winners.
Snaith does not raid as often as before so we must take note of Thefutureisbright. This gelding was not far behind Han Solo last time out and this race may have been his target all along.
Bass-Robinson has her yard in top form and although Arctic Drift does not have any form that suggests he will see out the distance, he might pop up in a place.
Smith-trained Khaya's Hope has impressed the further he has gone and although in Race 6, Racehorse Owners Association Stakes (Listed) over 1 600m, he faces his toughest test to date, he could pull it off.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 8 Burning Moon, 10 Kilmonivaig, 4 Emily's Spirit, 5 Flowers Of Nike
Race 2: 2 Phedra, 4 Civil Rights, 6 Stolen Kiss, 3 Sound Check
Race 3: 8 Perfection, 7 Green Mandarin, 1 Copernicus, 4 Foot Soldier
Race 4: 3 And We Danced, 6 Belle Of Belize, 1 Fromheretoeternity, 8 Dame Of Flames
Race 5: 2 Adios Amigos, 11 Moon Game, 9 Bold Resolve, 5 Keep It Secret
Race 6: 1 Khaya's Hope, 3 Iconic Destination, 5 Allez Moris, 2 Grinkov
Race 7: 10 Han Solo, 7 Never Ending Rain, 1 Mount Anderson, 5 Chollima
Race 8: 10 Cliff Top, 3 Cruise Control, 1Whatever Next, 9 Paris Rix
Race 9: 6 Cracklin' Rose, 1 Federal Reserve, 8 Globetonic, 14 Picture The Moment
BEST BET
Race 4 No 3 And We Danced
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 10 Han Solo
BEST SWINGER
Race 8 3x10
BIPOT
R300
Leg 1: 2, 4
Leg 2: 7, 8
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 9, 11
Leg 5: 1, 3, 5
Leg 6: 1, 2, 5, 7, 10
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R288
Leg 1: 7, 8
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 2, 9, 11
Leg 4: 1, 3
Leg 5: 1, 5, 7, 10
Leg 6: 3, 10
Leg 7: 1, 6, 8
PICK 6
R1600
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 9, 11
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Leg 5: 3, 10
Leg 6: 1, 3, 6, 8, 14
JACKPOT 1
R320
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 9, 11
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Leg 4: 3, 10
JACKPOT 2
R320
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Leg 3: 3, 10
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6, 8, 14