Jack Milner
There is little doubt Main Defender is one of the best three-year-old colts in the country. He has raced seven times for six wins and his lone defeat coming in the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes for two-year-olds over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville where he went down 2.40 lengths to Sandringham Summit.
No disgrace in that, especially as Sandringham Summit could lay claims to being the best of his sex and age group in the land.
Main Defender did manage to take his revenge over the David Nieuwenhuizen-trained runner in one of the best races seen in South Africa for quite some time.
It seems that trainer Tony Peter is quite happy to leave his charge to race in races up to 1400m right now because the Parthfork gelding does have exceptional speed.
So, he lines up on Thursday in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m at Turffontein on the Inside track where he will be looking to uphold his clean sheet as a three-year-old.
While he has been at his best in his races around 1400m, he did win on debut over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
He has had one run at this course which was his first run of the new season and that was in the Grade 2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m. On that occasion he thrashed Thunderstruck by 6.50-lengths.
One might argue that Main Defender only had 50.5kg on his back that day while he will carry 58kg on this occasion, but he could not have been more impressive. He also had the race won a long way from home so this drop in trip should not be an issue.
His last run was in the Grade 3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m on the Standside track where he beat Barbaresco comfortably.
The runner-up franked that for last Saturday when he won a MR 96 Handicap over 1600m without raising a sweat.
Ironically, he is not the best weighted runner in this event, with the top three positions going to the three fillies in the race as usual owing to their 2.5kg weight allowance.
Probably a bigger concern is his draw this time as Main Defender will jump from barrier No
11 of the 12 runners. However, he does have the gate speed to overcome that obstacle and should prove too good for his rivals.
Jockey Calvin Habib was aboard the Pathfork-gelding when he beat Barbaresco last time out and will reprise that role again on this occasion.
Melech could provide the biggest opposition but he may be better over a little further.
An interesting runner is Mike de Kock-trained Mujbar, who has been racing in the UK and France. He has not raced since September 2022 but he does have decent sprinting form in Europe so it would be wise to keep an eye on the betting.
Craig Zackey rides but puts up 1.5kg overweight.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Jumping Analia, 2 Out The Mist, 6 Eve's Apple, 4 Together Again
Race 2: 9 Kissing Machine, 3 Higgledy Piggledy, 2 Play With Fire, 8 A Month Of Sundays
Race 3: 2 Rossore Finale, 3 Officer In Command, 1 No Place Like Home, 5 Master Tik Tok
Race 4: 5 Kadizora, 4 Agamemnon, 3 Karoo Gold, 1 Taxhaven
Race 5: 2 Viva Brazil, 3 Player, 1 Global Impact, 5 King's Express
Race 6: 3 Alabama Anna, 1 Duenna, 6 Little Miz Swagger, 5 Just Be Nice
Race 7: 2 Main Defender, 3 Melech, 10 Swing Upon A Star, 8 Mujbar
Race 8: 4 Linkin Navigator, 5 Var Park, 3 Dontshootthebarman, 2 Dr Faustus
BEST BET
Race 7 No 2 Main Defender
VALUE BET
Race 3 No 2 Rossore Finale
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 3x9
BIPOT
R243
Leg 1: 2, 3, 6
Leg 2: 9
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3
Leg 4: 3, 4, 5
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3
Leg 6: 1, 3, 6
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R108
Leg 1: 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3
Leg 3: 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 2, 3
Leg 5: 1, 3
Leg 6: 2
Leg 7: 3, 4, 5
PICK 6
R1600
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 6
Leg 5: 2
Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 5
JACKPOT 1
R80
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 6
Leg 4: 2
JACKPOT 2
R80
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 6
Leg 3: 2
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5