Legend to await the green light this time

Jack Milner

Racing in Gqeberha has a busy week as we follow last Friday’s Fairview turf meeting which saw the running of the WSB East Cape Derby and Dahlia Plate. On Monday we have a meeting on the Polytrack and on Friday a third meeting in eight days, also on the Polytrack.

The standout bet on today’s card looks to be Greenlight Legend, who lines up in Race 4, a Classified Stakes over 1600m.

Greenlight Legend was at the centre of a storm of controversy last time she was due to run as she backed out of the stalls just as the starter gave the signal to go, prompting him to declare a false start. Some riders attempted to pull up their mounts, but most completed the race – only for the result to be declared null and void.

Heavily backed to win that day, Greenlight Legend remains strongly fancied to complete her hat-trick following two eye-catching victories on turf. This well-bred daughter of Gimmethegreenlight was still a maiden after nine starts before joining master trainer Alan Greeff in the Eastern Cape.

She scored a narrow victory on her local debut, but the small margin did not reflect her superiority, as she was eased down late. She followed that with an even easier win in a MR 66 Handicap for fillies and mares over the same course and distance, scoring by two lengths, and again eased late.

She now tackles the Fairview Polytrack for the first time, but a third-place finish at Hollywoodbets Greyville Polytrack suggests she should handle the surface without any issue. Jockey Richard Fourie, who rode her in both local wins, retains the ride.

In Race 1, Fourie partners Silvan Mistress, a filly who is knocking on the door of a maiden win. However, she may have to settle for second best behind Gavin Smith’s Barolo. That Master Of My Fate filly has been unlucky not to win yet and is expected to go one better this time.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Barolo, 8 Silvan Mistress, 5 Golden Croc, 3 Dream Team

Race 2: 8 Clever Candy, 2 World Soprano, 1 Grand Allegro, 3 Brooksider

Race 3: 1 Mr Fox, 10 Preserve Forever, 2 Cheerful Charlie B, 3 Bomber Bay

Race 4: 6 Greenlight Legend, 1 Lanciafiamme, 7 Bosnay, 2 Four Jacks

Race 5: 2 Dressedtothenines, 4 Sweet Julia, 4 Mediteraneangoddes, 7 Thing Called Love

Race 6: 2 King's Ransom, 5 Masked Vigilante, 9 Swiss Walt, 4 Dubai Hills,

Race 7: 3 Champonelle, 2 Chili Bomb, 7 Charlie Malone, 9 Globetonic

Race 8: 5 Flight Display, 3 Far Reaching, 6 Get It Done, 1 Call To Glory

BEST BET

Race 4: 6 Greenlight Legend

VALUE BET

Race 5: 2 Dressedtothenines

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 6x7

BIPOT                          

R216

Leg 1: 1, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 10

Leg 4: 6

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 7

Leg 6: 2, 5, 9

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 2, 8

Leg 2: 1, 10

Leg 3: 6

Leg 4: 2, 4, 7

Leg 5: 2, 5, 9

Leg 6: 2, 3, 7

Leg 7: 3, 5

PICK 6

R1920

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7, 10

Leg 2: 6

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 7

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 5: 2, 3, 7, 9

Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 6

JACKPOT 1

R96

Leg 1: 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 7

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 4: 2, 3, 7, 9

JACKPOT 2

R384

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 3: 2, 3, 7, 9

Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 6