Jack Milner
With rain falling all around the country, local racing fans must be going through withdrawal symptoms as in the past eight days, we have only had 2.50 meetings (two in KZN and the rain-interrupted meeting at Fairview on Friday).
Racing is at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday and at this time of the year we will safely navigate all eight races without any interrupting meteorological elements.
One of the best races on the day is undoubtedly the last (Race 8) where Noble City, a half-brother to Grade 1 Golden Horse winner Battle Force, will be out to show his maiden win on debut when hardly breaking a sweat was no fluke.
He has big shoes to fill but he could not have won more easily and there has since been two subsequent easy winners from that form line. Kebonalesedi and Rosh Kedesh (also a leading contender earlier in the card) were beaten three lengths and 4.75-lengths into second and third respectively. Both have since exited the maidens without a fuss and look certain to raise their game further.
It augurs well for Peter Muscutt-trained Noble City, who runs in a strong MR 80 Handicap over the same 1200m course.
Richard Fourie rode the Noble Tune gelding to victory on debut and will be back aboard for this race.
He will be tested though, and there is one runner in particular who could be on the same path as him. Australian-import Veldskoen, while racing late as a four-year-old, won his second start easily and he has the benefit of having had a hard handicap race since. He raced in a 15-strong field where he drew badly in gate No 11 and yet finished fourth, only 0.70-lengths back at the wire.
His last run was disappointing but that might have been some ill-effects of his second run after a layoff.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 13 Unconquerable Lady, 14 Double Grand Slam, 8 Red Palace, 15 Glawari
Race 2: 9 Enemy Territory, 5 Ponte Vecchio, 7 Hundredfifthavenue, 8 Zygi
Race 3: 5 Virginia Sweet, 8 Machete Man, 1 Rockie Reef, 4 Mister Monocle
Race 4: 7 Marshall Field, 9 Madison Blues, 1 Elegant Noble, 8 Autumn Moon
Race 5: 1 Innamorare, 4 Montien, 3 The Futurist, 2 Faire Advantage
Race 6: 7 Time Flies, 8 Metar, 5 Betty Boop, 3 Fleeting
Race 7: 5 Rosh Kedesh, 4 Future Turn, 2 Bardolino, 7 Intimidator
Race 8: 3 Noble City, 5 Veldskoen, 7 Swift Action, 4 Fort Red
BEST BET
Race 2 No 9 Enemy Territory
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 7 Marshall Field
BEST SWINGER
Race 8 3x5
BIPOT
R256
Leg 1: 8, 13, 14, 15
Leg 2: 9
Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 8
Leg 4: 1, 7, 8, 9
Leg 5: 1, 4
Leg 6: 7, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 9
Leg 2: 1, 5, 8
Leg 3: 1, 7, 9
Leg 4: 1, 4
Leg 5: 5, 7, 8
Leg 6: 4, 5
Leg 7: 3, 5
PICK 6
R1600
Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 3, 7, 8, 9
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 4: 3, 5, 7, 8
Leg 5: 4, 5
Leg 6: 3, 5
JACKPOT 1
R160
Leg 1: 1, 3, 7, 8, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 3: 3, 5, 7, 8
Leg 4: 4, 5
JACKPOT 2
R64
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 2: 3, 5, 7, 8
Leg 3: 4, 5
Leg 4: 3, 5