Polytrack to benefit Cliff Top

Jack Milner

Cliff Top was expected to have a bright future after winning the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m at Kenilworth in only his second start.

That form line has turned out to be extremely potent as four runners from nine runners came out to win their next starts. Behind him that day were We’re Jamming and Cousin Casey so expectations for the Cliff Top were high.

However, last season’s East Cape Champion Two-Year-Old has been a disappointment as a three-year-old so far. Alan Greeff’s charge has only managed one more victory but the son of Canford Cliffs, who was gelded at the end of his two-year-old career, has been his own worst enemy as he tends to give start to his opponents, not a good tactic for a sprinter.

But he made a promising debut on the Polytrack last time and could bounce back to winning form by taking out Race 3 on the Fairview Polytrack on Friday.

Yet to win this season in four starts, three of them when Richard Fourie was aboard, has probably led to some of his supporters being very wary this time, but there was a lot to like about his last run when an unlucky third behind What A Winner, only 0.35 lengths behind after being slowly away.

This race is a lot weaker and from draw No 4 he does look hard to beat.

There is form with Phedra that suggests Civil Rights will be his danger. Civil Rights twice chased home Phedra before beating that rival by a short head, while Cliff Top did find Phedra a bit too good in his comeback run.

However, Fourie will surely be looking for a change of fortune aboard Cliff Top this time and the three-year-old can get Pick 6 punters off to a winning start.

BEST BET

Race 3 No 4 Cliff Top

VALUE BET

Race 4 No 8 Stay The Course

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 5x7

BIPOT

R288

Leg 1: 2, 3, 7, 10

Leg 2: 5, 7

Leg 3: 4

Leg 4: 1, 4, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg 6: 1, 5, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 5, 7

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 1, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3

Leg 5: 1, 5, 7

Leg 6: 1, 2, 8

Leg 7: 1, 13

PICK 6

R960

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 1, 4, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg 4: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 8

Leg 6: 1, 9, 11, 13

JACKPOT 1

R240

Leg 1: 1, 4, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 8

JACKPOT 2

R320

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg 2: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 8

Leg 4: 1, 9, 11, 13