Jack Milner: Punters may have a mountain to climb in Race 6 at Greyville on Sunday.
Matterhorn tries 2400m for the first time but based on his manner of running and his breeding, the distance should prove no problem for Alyson Wright’s charge.
This son of Marchfield has only raced six times for three wins and two places with his lone unplaced outing coming on the Polytrack after a longer than six-month layoff.
He seems to have taken a while to mature but currently, the four-year-gelding is in outstanding form.
He previously narrowly won, and was later narrowly beaten, in two runs over 1600m but since put over further he has been most impressive.
He returned from another six-month stint off the track in September over 2000m at Greyville in yielding going in a MR 97 Handicap, and easily beat Jack Of Hearts by 1.50 lengths. He took a slight drop in class the next time in a MR 86 Handicap over 1900m and with 60kg on his back, notched up a second successive victory, beating Brilliant Disguise by 1.20 lengths.
On Sunday he jumps in distance to 2400m in a MR 96 Handicap, but in his current form, coupled with Lyle Hewitson back in the irons, Matterhorn is firmly expected to make it three in a row.
Looking at his breeding, his half-brother, New Fort, did win over this distance.
The scratching of stable companion Flichity By Farr, who stood out as his main danger, paves the way for Matterhorn who is selected as the best bet on quite a tricky card.
There are four Apprentice Handicaps the card, two of them finishing off the meeting, which does not make life easy for bettors, but a useful rule-of-thumb tool is to go with the better apprentices. They often do well in races like these.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 12 Umzinduzi, 7 Vihzoe’s Magic, 10 Backstop, 11 An Old Sweet Song
Race 2: 5 Theydon’Tknowme, 13 Long Day’s Journey, 2 Alma Mater, 6 Uplifted
Race 3: 5 Jays Dancer, 7 Bernie’s Dream, 11 Trumps Express, 10 Red Hot Night
Race 4: 6 Gotitall, 2 Chewbaca, 11 Gontravelin, 8 Do Re Mi
Race 5: 10 Mighty Smart, 3 Final Occasion, 1 Lasata, 4 Yukta’s Dance
Race 6: 3 Matterhorn, 2 Flichity By Farr, 1 Anse Lazio, 7 Wealthy
Race 7: 3 Backpacker, 4 African Sunrise, 5 Special Blend, 6 Bayview Express
Race 8: 5 Florence, 6 Silver Dazzle, 1 Sweetscentedgreen, 3 Retail Therapy
Race 9: 4 Leslie Shadowliner, 12 Constantine, 6 Fives Wild, 3 Roy’s Magic
BEST BET
Race 6 No 3 Matterhorn
VALUE BET
Race 2 No 5 Theydon’tknowme
BEST SWINGER
Race 4 2×6
BIPOT
R108
Leg 1: 2, 5, 6
Leg 2: 5, 7
Leg 3: 2, 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 10
Leg 5: 3
Leg 6: 3, 4, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R384
Leg 1: 5, 7
Leg 2: 2, 6
Leg 3: 1, 3, 10
Leg 4: 3
Leg 5: 3, 4
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 6
Leg 7: 3, 4, 5, 6
PICK 6
R1440
Leg 1: 2, 6, 11
Leg 2: 1, 3, 10, 15, 16
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 6
Leg 6: 3, 4, 6, 11, 12, 13
JACKPOT 1
R96
Leg 1: 1, 3, 10, 15, 16
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 6
JACKPOT 2
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 6
Leg 4: 3, 4, 6, 11, 12, 13