Jack Milner
The Grade 3 Cape Classic (Race 7) headlines the return to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday with the 1400m three-year-old event accompanied by the Listed Southeaster Sprint (Race 6) and Non-Black Type Need For Speed Sprint (Race 2) on a cracking nine-race card.
A stepping-stone to the stallion-making Cape Guineas, former Cape Classic winners to have won the mid-December Grade 1 Classic include 2023 winner, and resident Drakenstein Stud sire, Charles Dickens as well as Tap O' Noth who did the double for Vaughan Marshall in 2017.
The Milnerton-based conditioner has two strings to his bow in this year's renewal, Talk To The Master and All Out For Six, and it is the letter who looks the pick of the pair.
He looked a touch unlucky when touched off in the Grade 3 Langerman over 1500m in June. That was his last race as a two-year-old and he now returns from a 133-day break.
Nevertheless, Marshall has sent out a very positive statement in the Computaform where he has announced his charge is “fit and well” and made the same comment about Lion Rampart who will line up in Race 2, the Need For Speed Sprint over 1000m.
Sean Veale has picked up the ride on both of those runners.
The main, and perhaps only, danger looks to be Justin Snaith-trained Great Plains whose two-year-old form was very decent.
A grey son of Danon Platina, Great Plains won a 1400m Listed race in a promising juvenile campaign that culminated in an eye-catching and creditable fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville in late July.
On that occasion, Great Plains ran on strongly from a hopeless position to finish just 3.25 lengths off the winner, filly VJ's Angel, to whom he conceded a 2.5kg sex allowance.
Grant van Niekerk takes the ride.
Lion Rampart should land the spoils in the Need For Speed Sprint. Lion Rampart improved in four starts with blinkers fitted and wears the headgear on his return. He won only his start over 1000m and should preserve that 100% record over the distance, despite conceding weight to all on his reappearance.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Fencing Captain, 7 Beautiful Winter, 6 Elizabedi Gold, 10 Krim
Race 2: 1 Lion Rampart, 2 Handsome Prince, 4 Luhamba Phambili, 6 Roman Agent
Race 3: 7 Goodnessgraciousme, 11 Tuscan Romance, 5 Ocotillo, 14 Diamond Bomber
Race 4: 4 Green Isle, 3 Among The Clouds, 1 Princess Of Bayeux, 7 Plum Pudding
Race 5: 2 The Grey King, 8 Future Turn, 3 Tyrion Lannister, 6 Aspect, Willie John
Race 6: 10 Icy Blast, 8 Meu Capitano, 6 The Abdicator, 5 Dance Variety
Race 7: 4 All Out For Six, 5 Great Plains, 6 Boundless Energy, 7 Makazole
Race 8: 7 Aristotle, 2 Empire State, 6 Marvel William, 9 Big Unit
Race 9: 3 Icy Lancaster, 7 Dafnes Daughter, 5 The Charleston, 10 Champagne Kisses
BEST BET
Race 2 No 1 Lion Rampart
VALUE BET
Race 6: 10 Icy Blast
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 4x5
BIPOT
R108
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 5, 7, 11
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4
Leg 4: 2, 8
Leg 5: 5, 8, 10
Leg 6: 4, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R288
Leg 1: 7, 11
Leg 2: 3, 4
Leg 3: 2, 8
Leg 4: 5, 8, 10
Leg 5: 4
Leg 6: 2, 6, 7, 9
Leg 7: 3, 5, 7
PICK 6
R1500
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 2, 8
Leg 3: 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Leg 4: 4, 5
Leg 5: 2, 6, 7, 9, 11
Leg 6: 3, 5, 7
JACKPOT 1
R100
Leg 1: 2, 8
Leg 2: 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Leg 3: 4, 5
Leg 4: 2, 6, 7, 9, 11
JACKPOT 2
R150
Leg 1: 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Leg 2: 4, 5
Leg 3: 2, 6, 7, 9, 11
Leg 4: 3, 5, 7
Smith set for good day at Fairview
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