Trainer Michael Roberts has his yard ticking over nicely and Siberian Winter looks well placed to complete the proverbial hat-trick of wins on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Siberian Winter loves 1400m, she won her last two over the distance. The bay daughter of Rabada had been battling to get the timing right but when she returned from a rest at the end of November, she was a different filly.
Roberts has got her to finish off her races nicely, in her penultimate start where she took a drop to a Class 5 Handicap, she went past her field easily after jumping from a wide gate.
That was on the Polytrack, but she proved that was no fluke as she overcame another wide draw, this time on the grass, to beat a stronger Class 4 field with an assertive finish. Roberts has placed her well again in Race 8, another Class 4 Handicap for fillies and mares over the same course and distance with Rachel Venniker in the irons.
Prom Queen is the other horse that has a big finish, and she too is in form. But her last two wins have come over 1600m, she takes a while to unwind, and Roberts’ filly could have things her own way again.
Fate Of Fortune has won three from his last five. In his penultimate start he was hampered at the jump but recovered to win in an impressive time, the handicapper was impressed and pushed up his merit rating by eight points (4kg).
But he didn’t lie down in his next start as he ran on well to get within 0.80 lengths of Agrado who had been dropping in the handicap and who relished the soft underfoot conditions. Fate Of Fortune looks better than his current handicap mark of 78. Keagan de Melo knows the Alyson Wright trained gelding better now and in Race 5, a C Stakes run over 1000m, from a plum No 2 draw, rates the horse to beat.
Interestingly, the other well drawn horses either have something to find on form or are returning from a break.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Flag Champ, 1 Bourbon's Beast, 7 Hammerhead, 9 Harpa
Race 2: 1 Rollo The Viking, 3 Gimmefabulous, 8 Golden Rule, 4 Wild At War
Race 3: 4 Psyche, 2 Siyabambelela, 3 Spirit Of Shimla, 5 Thought Control
Race 4: 2 Arverni Princess, 1 Call Me Jane, 7 Queen Braganza, 3 Faithful Neo
Race 5: 2 Fate Of Fortune, 6 Tam's Knight, 8 Smorgasbord, 3 Limerick Lace
Race 6: 1 Safe Travel, 5 Numzaan, 6 Eric's Legacy, 12 Green Glow
Race 7: 3 Mountainsofthemoon, 4 Flying Reign Storm, 2 The Ghost, 5 Lilac In Winter
Race 8: 6 Siberian Winter, 4 Happy Fortune, 2 Prom Queen, 10 Blue Poppy
BEST BET
Race 5: 2 Fate Of Fortune
VALUE BET
Race 8: 6 Siberian Winter
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 2x4
BIPOT
R162
Leg 1: 1, 3, 7
Leg 2: 1, 3, 8
Leg 3: 2, 4
Leg 4: 1, 2, 7
Leg 5: 2
Leg 6: 1, 5, 6
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R144
Leg 1: 1, 3
Leg 2: 2, 4
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 2
Leg 5: 1, 5
Leg 6: 2, 3, 4
Leg 7: 2, 4, 6
PICK 6
R720
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4
Leg 2: 1, 2, 7
Leg 3: 2
Leg 4: 1, 5, 6, 12
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 6: 2, 4, 6, 10
JACKPOT 1
R60
Leg 1: 1, 2, 7
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 12
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
JACKPOT 2
R80
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 1, 5, 6, 12
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 4: 2, 4, 6, 10