Smith in the right sphere

Jack Milner

Sometimes, in order to win, a horse just has to find the right race.
That looks to be the case in Race 2 at Fairview on Friday, a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1200m on the turf track, where trainer Gavin Smith sends out Red Sphere. This daughter of Ideal World has run twice, finishing fourth on debut, beaten 3.75 lengths by Open Secret, and then third, two lengths behind Rainbow Thief.
While no winners have come from either race, neither winner has raced since, but both look quite decent.
This time Smith could not have found a better race for his charge. She has the best form in the race by a street and looks very hard to oppose in this line-up. One always has to take into account two-year-olds can improve markedly from one race to the next so there could be a “spook” in the fields, but Red Sphere does look worth a bet and is a banker in both the BiPot and Place Accumulator.
Alan Greeff, who is fighting it out with Smith for the Eastern Cape champion trainer’s title, could pull a winner back in Race 3, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m. For All We Know proved in need of her local debut and with the blinkers back on, she could beat some modest rivals.
The most interesting race of the day comes up in Race 6, a Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m, where Santa Therese and Musical Glitch meet again.
There was little between them when they met at this course last August and with the weights unchanged, it should be close.
Santa Therese has been more consistent but Glen Kotzen has a good strike rate at Fairview so Musical Glitch should be right there.

Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 8 Last Storm, 11 Zatara Magic, 7 Kuznetsov, 3 Douglas Devastator
Race 2: 12 Red Sphere, 7 Ladyhawke, 5 Double Destiny, 2 Bavarian Jet
Race 3: 1 For All We Know, 5 Miss Rose, 6 Back To Formentera, 3 Miss United States
Race 4: 8 Verified, 7 Paully, 5 Into The Storm, 2 King Of Luv
Race 5: 8 Flower Of Saigon, 6 Peace In Our World, 2 Ancient Times, 3 Find Me Unafraid
Race 6: 1 Santa Therese, 2 Musical Glitch, 5 Princess Kalisi, 3 Pretty Betty
Race 7: 1 Han Solo, 2 Phoenix, 10 Brass Bell, 11 Coffee Break
Race 8: 5 Winter Assembly, 12 Jean Paul, 13 Soweto Rose, 4 A Kings Return

BEST BET
Race 2 No 12 Red Sphere
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 8 Verified
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 8x11

BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 8, 11
Leg 2: 12
Leg 3: 1, 5, 6
Leg 4: 2, 5, 7, 8
Leg 5: 2, 6, 8
Leg 6: 1, 2

PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R180
Leg 1: 12
Leg 2: 1, 5
Leg 3: 5, 7, 8
Leg 4: 6, 8
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 1, 2, 10
Leg 7: 4, 5, 7, 12, 13

PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5, 6
Leg 2: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8
Leg 3: 2, 6, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2
Leg 5: 1, 2, 10
Leg 6: 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13

JACKPOT 1
R90
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8
Leg 2: 2, 6, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 1, 2, 10

JACKPOT 2
R108
Leg 1: 2, 6, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2
Leg 3: 1, 2, 10
Leg 4: 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13