Jack Milner
KwaZulu-Natal has been drenched by record-breaking rainfall over the past few days.
As of Friday morning, the penetrometer reading at Hollywoodbets Scottsville was 32, some areas high as 35.
With overcast conditions the chances of the track drying up sufficiently for Sunday’s race meeting is remote and with further forecast of showers on Sunday, Gold Circle took an early decision to move the race meeting scheduled to the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf track. Where the penetrometer reading was 29.
An 8m rail will be used (field size restricted to 12 runners). The false rail will be removed for Monday’s race meeting.
Distance changes: Race 4 now 1800m, Races 5 and 6 now 2000m.
Race times remain as carded.
With no real stand-out runners on form throughout the eight-race programme, coupled with the change of venue, bettors can expect competitive racing.
The move to Greyville has also resulted in a number of withdrawals and two runners have been pulled out of Race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, leaving a field of six.
None of the raced runners really stands out on form but, of course, these youngsters can show massive improvement from one run to the next.
However, there are some positive comments coming from trainer Stuart Ferrie with regards to his runner, She’s A Machine. “Nice filly, showing good work,” is his comment do she could be the runner to follow in the opening race of the day.
But the best bet on the card looks to be Nightingales Sing in Race 5, a Maiden Plate over 2000m.
This well-bred daughter of Lancaster Bomber has only had two runs, both over 1600m, and finished fourth and third respectively.
Her debut run was on the Polytrack at Greyville and the second on the turf at Scottsville so the change of course will not hold any fears for the Gareth van Zyl-trained filly.
Nightingales Sing should be ideally suited to the extra 400m and is expected to shed her maiden without too much fuss.
Ant Mgudlwa takes the ride.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 8 She's A Machine, 6 Act Of Genius, 5 Gold Rush Kid, 7 Havana Moon
Race 2: 8 Chez Mimi, 5 Patants Heir, 6 Tothestarsandback, 2 Canford Queen
Race 3: 1 Imperial Power, 7 Gorgeous Guy, 2 Global Entity, 9 Cannatonic
Race 4: 1 African Dusk, 2 Jazz Festival, 7 Release Me, 4 Papa C
Race 5: 7 Nightingales Sing, 8 Style Icon, 2 Accumulate, 6 Rainbow Of Roses
Race 6: 6 Manic Monday, 4 Khanyisa Indlela, 7 Billy Of Tea, 2 Riccardo
Race 7: 5 Kupholiwe, 7 Neitherherenorther, 6 The Gliding Fish, 10 Super Fast
Race 8: 10 Kitten's Adventure, 12 Aspoestertjie, 2 Spirited Flight, 4 Harley's Fate
BEST BET
Race 5 No 7 Nightingales Sing
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 1 African Dusk
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 7x8
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 5, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 7
Leg 5: 7
Leg 6: 4, 6, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 5, 8
Leg 2: 1, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 7
Leg 4: 7
Leg 5: 4, 6
Leg 6: 5, 6, 7
Leg 7: 2, 10, 12
PICK 6
R1800
Leg 1: 1, 2, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 7
Leg 4: 2, 4, 6, 7
Leg 5: 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11
Leg 6: 2, 4, 7, 10, 12
JACKPOT 1
R120
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 7
Leg 3: 2, 4, 6, 7
Leg 4: 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11
JACKPOT 2
R120
Leg 1: 7
Leg 2: 2, 4, 6, 7
Leg 3: 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11
Leg 4: 2, 4, 7, 10, 12