Smith, Greeff title race neck-and-neck

Jack Milner

We go into Monday’s meeting at Fairview with the trainers’ title race dead even.

After Friday’s meeting, Gavin Smith and Alan Greeff are deadlocked on 113 winners apiece and with just five racemeetings left for the season, it could be a tense few weeks for the two contenders.

Smith could edge back into the lead in Race 1 where he saddles Golden Pacific in this Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1300m on the Polytrack.

Golden Pacific has shown signs of inexperience in most of her starts but she is knocking hard at the door and she can get us off to the best possible start and take out Race 1 over 1300m.

The Gold Standard filly found 1000m on the turf too quick for her in her first two start in the Western Cape.

Golden Pacific did better in her third start. She was once again very green in the early stages and only got going when the race was over and never troubled easy winner Move On Over.

She did finish off that race well but one expected more from her in her most recent outing.

Blinkers were added and they clearly did not suit her.

Once again, she did her best work at the finish but was 0.50 lengths adrift of Youcrackmeup at the line.

The blinkers have been removed and S’manga Khumalo gets his first try on the filly and that should make all the difference this time from pole position draw.

But Greeff has an equally promising hope in Race 6 where he sends out Bonnaroo in this MR 80 Handicap over 1400m for fillies and mares.

Jockey Richard Fourie knows how to get the best out of Bonnaroo and he was aboard her when winning in March and May this year.

Two big penalties for those wins saw her only finish third last time but from a good draw this time around and hopefully a more aggressive ride from the jockey she can bounce back to score.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 6 Golden Pacific, 8 Si Gioca, 4 Elusive Mata, 2 Butterfly Queen

Race 2: 5 Idabelle, 3 Principessa Mia, 6 Ponderosa Pine, 1 Anna Karenina

Race 3: 4 Gold For Africa, 2 Master Of Defense, 3 Mohandas, 6 Twice A Saint

Race 4: 12 Mingshi, 2 Jaspero, 1 Popping Crease, 7 Almighwaar

Race 5: 6 Errols Legacy, 8 Iqembulabesifazane, 7 Meredith Grey, 3 Open Secret

Race 6: 4 Bonnaroo, 5 Flame Flower, 1 Chere For Me, 8 Demigod

Race 7: 5 Transact, 2 Teatro, 7 Slim Jannie, 11 Notorix

Race 8: 10 Picture The Moment, 3 Pashtunwali, 4 Mother Of Pearl, 1 Great Melody

BEST BET

Race 6 No 4 Bonnaroo

VALUE BET

Race 4 No 12 Mingshi

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 6x8

BIPOT

R162

Leg 1: 6, 8

Leg 2: 3, 5, 6

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4

Leg 4: 1, 2, 12

Leg 5: 6, 7, 8

Leg 6: 4

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 3, 5

Leg 2: 2, 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 12

Leg 4: 6, 7, 8

Leg 5: 4

Leg 6: 2, 5

Leg 7: 3, 4, 10

PICK 6

R1600

Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 7, 12

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

Leg 4: 4

Leg 5: 2, 5, 7, 8, 11

Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 10

JACKPOT 1

R100

Leg 1: 1, 2, 7, 12

Leg 2: 1, 3, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 4

Leg 4: 2, 5, 7, 8, 11

JACKPOT 2

R100

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

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 2, 5, 7, 8, 11

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 10