Mac Hardy hard to beat

It’s strange to see a son of Vercingetorix having his first start as a four-year-old as the stallion’s juveniles are not only generally precocious but many go on to win prestigious two-year-old awards.

Among those are Grade 1 winners Vernichey, Ambiorix and more recently Cousin Casey.

Mac Hardy is not one of those. He has missed out on his two-and three-year-old time as a competitor but may have had his fair share of problems which is probably why he debuted on the Polytrack in September.

He is well related, being a half-brother to Grade 2-placed sprinter Pleasedtomeetyou, and there was evidence of talent on his debut when he started to gain at the wire before finishing second, beaten just under a length.

Speedy Moon Harvest was not far behind, but the latter was having his third career start and as such also had race fitness on his side.

Mac Hardy should be hard to beat when he runs in Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1200m on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday.

Robert Khathi gets the ride for trainer Andre Nel.

It could be wise to couple Mac Hardy with Stealth Attack in a win double as the latter also looks well placed in her heat. Another well related sort, Stealth Attack is a half-sister to Bingwa who recently captured the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile for the second successive year.

Stealth Attack does appear in need of at least 1400m, but she is getting the hang of things fast and should really dominate the field she meets in Race 3, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m.

Another improving sort who should get the job done is hat-trick seeking Diani who takes his place in Race 5, a MR 64 Handicap over 1400m. The leading light for the Dennis Bosch yard went up only two merit rated points for scraping home last time and yet runs in a MR 64 Handicap. Really, he looks the type who will be competitive in MR 80s or even higher.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Hunters Arrow, 3 Ice Kingdom, 6 Asaruludu, 2 Mask On

Race 2: 6 Mac Hardy, 1 Moon Harvest, 5 Path To Freedom, 7 Wallace Sword

Race 3: 3 Stealth Attack, 7 Honey Land, 4 Miss Dora, 1 Whispering Green

Race 4: 7 Double Silver, 2 Raptor Island, 4 Ultimate Jewel, 1 Royal Point

Race 5: 2 Diani, 7 General Hancock, 5 Get Carter, 3 Head Gardener

Race 6: 7 Capetown Affair, 5 Movie Magic, 4 Agressivo, 1 Fiery Duke

Race 7: 6 Metallic Gold, 2 Stanley Park, 8 Justaguything, 1 Purple Operator

Race 8: 3 Winter Journey, 8 Princess Tea, 6 Corner Crusade, 5 Casa Rosada

BEST BET

Race 5 No 2 Diani

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 7 Capetown Affair

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 3x7

BIPOT

R120

Leg 1: 3, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 6

Leg 3: 3, 7

Leg 4: 2, 7

Leg 5: 2

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R192

Leg 1: 1, 6

Leg 2: 3, 7

Leg 3: 7

Leg 4: 2

Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 7

Leg 6: 1, 2, 6, 8

Leg 7: 2, 3, 8

PICK 6

R1440

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 7

Leg 2: 2, 7

Leg 3: 2

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

Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8

JACKPOT 1

R72

Leg 1: 2, 7

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8

JACKPOT 2

R180

Leg 1: 2

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

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8