Jack Milner
Trainer Michael Roberts has been a regular in the winner’s enclosure in recent weeks and yet one of his star three-year-olds, See It Again, is yet to shed his maiden tag. But it could all change on the turf track at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
The son of Twice Over is a three-parts brother to dual Durban July champion Do It Again and was in need of his debut experience when beaten a length by Captain Casey. The latter is headed for big things but might have been a bit lucky See It Again, who went off at 20-1, probably was not ready.
However, See It Again was costly in his second start when playing up badly. In fact, rider Rachel Venniker couldn’t get her foot into the irons and had to play catch up in the early stages of that race. He nevertheless produced the fastest final 400m to finish a 1.25-length fourth behind Cheeky Laddie.
Both those runs were over 1200m at Scottsville but he will step up to 1400m in Race 2 at Greyville, a Maiden Plate for three-year-olds over 1400m.
He meets some runners who have improvement to come but none with his kind of profile. There is no question the step up to 1400m will suit and barring a highly talented first-timer, See It Again will prove very hard to beat.
Venniker retains the ride.
Rockie Reef is one of those fillies who is equally comfortable on both turf and Polytrack and is quite highly regarded by trainer Peter Muscutt.
The four-year-old daughter of Jackson has run nine times for three wins and three places and appears to be getting better as she matures. She ended off last season well with two successive victories and came back well from a rest last time when running on strongly over 1400m on the Polytrack to finish a 0.70-length third behind Winter’s Destiny.
She should get back on a winning track in Race 4 on Sunday, a MR 77 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m.
She has excellent potential and there is little doubt her connections will be looking for Black Type in the near future.
A few years back Dennis Drier yard had a fearsome reputation as the local yard that could fend off the might from the bigger centres. And the wait might be over as Drier is set to take a string down to the Western Cape for the recently rejuvenated fare on offer in that province.
His last Grade 1 winner, Tempting Fate, seems to have regained best form and last week we saw improving youngster Broadway Girl capture the Beach Beauty Mile. Beach Beauty was one of the greats trained by Drier and it was so apt that Broadway Girl could win the race named in her honour.
Fellow three-year-old filly Reefway, it can be argued, was even more eye catching when she won her maiden a little less than a month ago and she could be too good against the field she meets on handicap debut in Race 7 – a MR 69 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 6 Menelaus, 10 Ice Kingdom, 2 Path To Freedom, 5 La Voleuse
Race 2: 6 See It Again, 5 Hunters Arrow, 3 Insightful, 10 Non Giocare
Race 3: 7 Afropolitan, 6 Rock Fall, 4 Mythical Tune, 8 Dawn Mission
Race 4: 7 Rockie Reef, 5 Maria Corolina, 6 Mel's Princess, 4 You Deserve It
Race 5: 7 Blue Eyes, 5 Calvino, 6 Hampton Court, 8 Pacific Winter
Race 6: 3 Go Man Go, 6 Knight Warrior, 5 Dandolo, 1 Grappler
Race 7: 8 Reefway, 9 Quanabi, 1 Fabulous, 4 Kitten's Adventure
Race 8: 5 Fiery Duke, 10 Lake Como, 9 Bristolbeaufighter, 12 Pedro
BEST BET
Race 2 No 6 See It Again
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 7 Blue Eyes
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 5x6
BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 6
Leg 3: 4, 6, 7
Leg 4: 5, 6, 7
Leg 5: 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 6
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 5, 7
Leg 4: 5, 6, 7
Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 6
Leg 6: 8
Leg 7: 5, 9, 10
PICK 6
R1875
Leg 1: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 5, 6, 7
Leg 3: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8
Leg 5: 8
Leg 6: 5, 9, 10, 12, 14
JACKPOT 1
R75
Leg 1: 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8
Leg 4: 8
JACKPOT 2
R125
Leg 1: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8
Leg 3: 8
Leg 4: 5, 9, 10, 12, 14