Kotzen’s King to rule in Poly Challenge

Jack Milner

The 2024 Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge kicks off at Fairview on Friday with the running of Leg 1 over 1200m.

The Poly Challenge is open to all horses and comprises three legs over different distances on the Polytrack. Leg 2 over 1400m will be run on Friday 27 September, with the final leg, over 1600m, on Friday 18 October.

A bonus of R250,000 will be paid to the connections of any horse that wins all three legs while there will be a consolation bonus of R50,000 will be paid in this challenge to the best performer in the Challenge with two provisos; the horse must participate in all 3 legs and must have won at least one leg.

Points allocation for Consolation are as follows: 1st 10, 2nd 6, 3rd 4, 4th 3, 5th 2 and 6th 1 point.

Glen Kotzen will be bringing a runner to contest the first leg, and King Regent looks capable of winning all three events. The five-year-old son of Dynasty has won four times, twice over 1200m and twice over 1250m. However, he has also placed twice over 1600m and that could put him in the reckoning.

One of those came in in the 2023 East Cape Guineas in which he ran third after losing ground at the start and having to be eased 150m from home.

King Regent came back from an almost eight-month break to finish a 0.90-length third to We’re Jamming on 3 August at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. That was a much stronger race than this and he should be good enough to take care of the opposition he will meet in Race 7.

Denis Schwarz takes the ride and has the benefit of jumping from barrier No 4.

Alan Greeff has had a wonderful start to the season and his runners cannot be ignored in a race of this nature. Sean Veale has deputised for champion jockey Richard Fourie who is having a well-deserved rest following his record-breaking season.

He will be back at Fairview on Tuesday but in the meantime, Veale has been an incredible substitute and has not let the side down at all.

Greeff and Veale team up with six-year-old mare Miss Greenlight who has run well since moving to the Eastern Cape in March. She has won her only race over the course and distance and could provide the biggest threat to King Regent.

Passchendaele is unbeaten in her two starts at the course so she has to be a factor, although both those victories were against her own sex and in weaker company. S’manga Khumalo takes the ride on the Kelly Mitchley-trained runner.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 4 Ice Cap, 2 Best Intentions, 8 Fantasy Girl, 1 Rain Bird

Race 2: 1 Coral Creek, 3 Golden Gallant, 8 Stormstride, 4 King's Sailor

Race 3: 1 Gocekwithlove, 3 Montelena, 7 Red Sash, 2 Essential

Race 4: 3 Gimme's Lassie, 6 Abound, 2 Executor, 1 Aadehya

Race 5: 1 Bethel, 3 Lady Crusade, 4 William The First, 2 Notorix

Race 6: 5 Treasure Hunt, 1 Valerias Dream, 4 Concerto, 2 Cabaret

Race 7: 1 King Regent, 9 Miss Greenlight, 10 Passchendaele, 2 Prince Of Fire

Race 8: 1 Fateful Day, 3 Golden Link, 9 My Bestie, 4 El Romiachi

BEST BET

Race 4 No 3 Gimme's Lassie

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 5 Treasure Hunt

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1x3

BIPOT

R144

Leg 1: 2, 4

Leg 2: 1, 3

Leg 3: 1, 3, 7

Leg 4: 3

Leg 5: 1, 3, 4

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 5

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R162

Leg 1: 1, 3

Leg 2: 1, 3, 7

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4

Leg 5: 1, 4, 5

Leg 6: 1

Leg 7: 1, 3, 9

PICK 6

R500

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7

Leg 2: 3

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

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 9, 10

JACKPOT 1

R25

Leg 1: 3

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

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9

Leg 4: 1

JACKPOT 2

R125

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

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 9, 10