Smith, Kotzen can overcome the superstition

Jack Milner

It is Friday the 13th, so will superstition become a factor at Fairview?

According to experts somewhere between 10% and 13 % of the population actually believe that one needs to be cautious on the day.

It is amazing that even in our modern times most airlines do not have a 13^th row and some hotels avoid having a 13^th floor but when it comes to racing at Fairview, no matter how tough the card might appear, there are certain stabilising factors – and they are Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith, who rarely go away without a winner of two.

Racing is on the Polytrack on Friday and Smith could win Race 5 with Destiny’s Angel. Smith has got significant improvement out of the now five-year-old who looks the runner to beat in this MR 87 Handicap over 1600m.

The Master Of My Fate gelding arrived in Smith's yard a maiden after eight starts but is now a three-time winner.

All three of those wins were on the turf and he is zero from four on the Polytrack, but Destiny’s Angel is in terrific form with two wins and a second in his last three starts.

If allowed the same freedom to make all the running as he has been doing on the turf of late, he will take some catching.

Craig Zackey has a good record on Destiny’s Angel having ridden him three times for two wins and a 1.55-length fourth, and he will be back in the irons for this race.

Hopefully another trainer who can get it done on a tricky card is Sharon Kotzen, who saddles Get It Done in Race 3, a MR 68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1900m.

Kotzen has her runners in fine form, and Get It Done has won two of her last three starts. But as is the case with Destiny’s Angel, both those wins were on the turf and over 1600m and she has only won once from 11 starts on the Polytrack.

But her confidence is running high and with in-form Louie Mxothwa in the irons, this Ideal World mare could carry that strong form onto this alternate surface.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 4 Ruby Claire, 5 Elusive Hunter, 2 Karoo Bokkie, 7 Sierra Sky

Race 2:  2 Take A Mulligan, 5 Crimson Comet, 6 Lennoxtown, 1 Lord Capulet

Race 3:  2 Get It Done, 6 Hugsandhighfives, 1 Light Of Day, 5 Breede Baby

Race 4:  4 Lt Alexander, 3 Guerra, 5 Scampton, 10 Wind Sock

Race 5:  7 Destiny's Angel, 2 Kingdom Of Heaven, 8 El Romiachi, 4 Central City

Race 6:  1 Travel Master, 5 Guarding The Wall, 4 James Fitzjames, 7 Duke Of Orange

Race 7:  10 Strawberry Stinger, 3 Siberian Steel, 1 Donny Tee, 9 Abound

Race 8: 6 Cruzador, 2 Jade's Caberneigh, 1 Thing Called Love, 7 Seattle Ripper

BEST BET

Race 3:  2 Get It Done

VALUE BET

Race 7:  10 Strawberry Stinger

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 2x6

BIPOT

R144

Leg 1: 2, 4, 5

Leg 2: 2, 5

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 10

Leg 5: 2, 7

Leg 6: 1, 4, 5

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 2, 5

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 3, 4, 5

Leg 4: 2, 7

Leg 5: 1, 5

Leg 6: 1, 3, 10

Leg 7: 1, 2, 6

PICK 6

R1200

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 3, 4, 5, 9, 10

Leg 3: 2, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 7

Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 9, 10

Leg 6: 1, 2, 6, 7

JACKPOT 1

R300

Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 9, 10

Leg 2: 2, 7, 8

Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 7

Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 9, 10

JACKPOT 2

R240

Leg 1: 2, 7, 8

Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 7

Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 9, 10

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6, 7