Jack Milner: Racing on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville has thrown up its fair share of upsets recently so it makes sense to find a runner who will provide some value to bettors.
Origami, who contests Race 5 on Monday, could just be that runner.
The Lezeanne Forbes-trained gelding contests a MR 86 Handicap over 1900m and his return to the Polytrack is one of the factors that makes him an attractive bet.
He has raced three times on the surface for a win and a second place, the runner-up spot coming over this distance. A slow pace in his lone unplaced run on the Polytrack was probably his undoing as he likes to come from well off the pace and the slow-run race would not have suited his cause.
His last two races were back on the turf, and although he has run well enough on that surface, the four-year-old son of What A Winter appears to have a preference for this synthetic surface.
He was considered good enough to contest the Grade 3 Durban July Consolation race over 2200m but blew his chances at the start when losing two lengths. He still did well to finish just 4.15 lengths behind Shango.
Warren Kennedy rode him for the first time on that occasion and he is back aboard for this race. He will no doubt be delighted his mount will jump from No 1 draw.
Kennedy has not lost ground at the start as he has flashed into the lead from the jump in an attempt to regain the champion jockeys’ title, and at the time of writing, has already ridden 36 winners, putting him some 16 victories ahead of S’manga Khumalo and 20 in front of defending champion Lyle Hewitson.
Both Kennedy and Hewitson demonstrated their riding prowess at Turffontein on Saturday with well-constructed trebles.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 4 Cape Princess, 2 Princess Sabrina, 5 Ladies Day, 3 Ballygood
Race 2: 5 Sparkling Flame, 4 Natasha Rostov, 6 Blazing Astute, 7 Mia’s Gold
Race 3: 1 Port Adelaide, 5 Space Oddity, 6 Countess Cartier, 7 Maxine Du Monde
Race 4: 8 Top Me Up Holly, 2 You Deserve It, 5 Rise, 4 Flying First Class
Race 5: 1 Origami, 2 Blue Planet, 5 Sea Master, 4 Ontopoftheworld
Race 6: 4 Peanut Butter, 5 Reckless Love, 2 Tombola, 9 Hot Money
Race 7: 3 Ice Imperial, 1 Birdwatcher, 10 Star Choice, 6 Royal Kitty
Race 8: 4 Great Guy, 5 Jonathan, 9 Seventh Song, 8 What A Blast
BEST BET
Race 4 No 8 Top Me Up Holly
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 1 Origami
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 2×4
BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 2, 4
Leg 2: 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 7
Leg 4: 8
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 5
Leg 6: 2, 4, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 4, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1, 5, 6
Leg 3: 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5
Leg 5: 4, 5
Leg 6: 1, 3
Leg 7: 4, 5, 9
PICK 6
R1600
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 5
Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 6, 9
Leg 5: 1, 3, 6, 10
Leg 6: 4, 5, 8, 9
JACKPOT 1
R80
Leg 1: 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5
Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 6, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6, 10
JACKPOT 2
R320
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5
Leg 2: 2, 4, 5, 6, 9
Leg 3: 1, 3, 6, 10
Leg 4: 4, 5, 8, 9