Jack Milner
In the past, the Winter Series was a form of Triple Crown and Triple Tiara only open to three-year-olds.
It was won by the likes of Pocket Power and Katak but it did lose some of the gloss because the better Cape horses were presumably in KwaZulu-Natal for the winter season.
In fact, Marinaresco, who won the first two legs of the series, did not contest the final leg as his connections were looking for bigger pickings in Durban.
As a result, the Winter Series has been opened to runners of all ages and that has resulted in some interesting races at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.
The first legs of the Winter Series are the Listed World Sports Betting Sweet Chestnut Stakes over 1400m for fillies and mares and the Grade 3 World Sports Betting Variety Club Mile.
To add more interest to the meeting, the Grade 3 Champagne Stakes over 1200m will also be run.
All three races are run at base weights plus penalties, and it is Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Marina who comes up as the best weighted runner in the Sweet Chestnut Stakes. However, 1400m is a touch on the short side for this daughter of Silvano and no doubt this race is just a prep for a bigger event coming up.
However, this looks the perfect opportunity for Brett Crawford-trained Happy Chance to pick up some Black Type. She finished a 3.55-length fifth behind stablemate Make It Snappy in the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas and made a promising comeback run, finishing a 2.05-length third over 1200m.
She was beaten 3.05 lengths by Ciao Bella in the Guineas but is now 3kg better off and that will bring them close together. Louie Mxothwa takes the ride.
Justin Snaith-trained Ciao Bella looks the main danger. Her comeback run was in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes over 1600m where she was beaten seven lengths by Desert Miracle.
She gets a tongue-tie for the first time and has Richard Fourie up.
The Variety Club Mile is a particularly interesting race in which Snaith had six of the nine runners carded, although Silver Darling has been scratched, and they should dominate the outcome.
There was a lot to like about the manner of Pacaya’s last win as he came flying from the back of the field to snare Quasiforsure on the line.
However, he was a touch lucky as the rider of the runner-up thought he had the race won and stopped riding, only to get caught. Nevertheless, Pacaya did run well over the course and distance and can improve further this time with Grant van Niekerk.
Snaith also has three-year-old Without Chance, who finished third in the Grade 1 Cape Derby behind Say It Again and Charles Dickens. He might well enjoy the drop back to 1600m.
Others to consider are WSB Cape Met third Pomp And Power as well as Gem King, who won the first two legs of the Winter Series last year.
Perhaps the best bet of the day comes up in the Champagne Stakes where Grade 2 Diadem Stakes winner over this course and distance, Bereave, lines up once again. He meets a number of runners he faced last time and in most cases is actually better weighted so should confirm the form.
Gavin Lerena rode the Adam Marcus-trained runner last time and he will be back aboard on this occasion.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Ticket To Vegas, 10 Windrunner, 3 See You In A Bit, 14 Glawari
Race 2: 4 Kyomai, 7 Lord Fyfield, 3 Zil Moris, 11 Avignon
Race 3: 5 Future Turn, 7 Future Swing, 1 Sugar Mountain, 12 Montien
Race 4: 1 Bardolino, 2 Intimidator, 3 Thunder Master, 7 Gimme More Time
Race 5: 9 Happy Chance, 2 Kwinta's Light, 4 Ciao Bella, 10 Marina
Race 6: 5 Bereave, 2 Going Up, 4 Rio Querari, 3 Mr Cobbs
Race 7: 5 Pacaya, 3 Without Question, 1 Pomp And Power, 8 Gem King
Race 8: 6 Touch Of Grace, 7 Spywing, 1 Miss Marguerite, 11 Where's The Party
BEST BET
Race 6 No 5 Bereave
VALUE BET
Race 3 No 5 Future Turn
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 5x7
BIPOT
R108
Leg 1: 1, 3, 10
Leg 2: 3, 4, 7
Leg 3: 5, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2
Leg 5: 2, 4, 9
Leg 6: 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 3, 4, 7
Leg 2: 5, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 2, 9
Leg 5: 5
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5
Leg 7: 1, 6, 7
PICK 6
R1920
Leg 1: 1, 5, 7, 12
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 3: 2, 4, 9, 10
Leg 4: 5
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8
Leg 6: 1, 6, 7, 11, 13
JACKPOT 1
R96
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 2: 2, 4, 9, 10
Leg 3: 5
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8
JACKPOT 2
R120
Leg 1: 2, 4, 9, 10
Leg 2: 5
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 6, 7, 11, 13