Jack Milner
With the dust of the Hollywood Durban July now starting to settle, racing in KwaZulu-Natal gets back to more mundane racing at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday.
Bettors should be able to get off to a fair start with Opera Fan in Race 1 and Next Of Kin in Race 3.
Opera Fan has now run well at three different tracks. The Paul Matchett-trained youngster should have won her local debut on the Polytrack after making the trip from the Highveld to KwaZulu-Natal last time but had things go wrong. She was also only beaten 0.40-lengths courtesy of a clever ride from Calvin Habib who kept Mrsglittersparkles going in front over 1400m.
Habib now rides the daughter of underrated stallion Horizon in a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1600m and from gate No 1 the pair could lead a largely inexperienced field to the end.
The biggest threats are Cassandra, who was most disappointing in her Polytrack debut, as well as improving Omnia.
Race 3 is a Maiden Plate over 1200m and unless there is a decent unraced horse, it should be a match race between Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Next Of Kin and Sean Tarry’s charge Xenophon.
Next Of Kin was friendless in the betting market on debut, drifting out to 14-1 after opening at 15-2 in a race over this course and distance
Unfortunately, they bumped Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimmie Rules who was super impressive on debut. He is a full brother to top sprinter Gimme A Prince and Durban July champion The Real Prince.
Next Of Kin was second best, but this form line could be a good one and he must rate as the best bet on the day.
Xenophon was beaten as odds-on favourite over 1400m but the drop in distance should suit and that could suit the son of Vercingetorix with Gavin Lerena up.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Opera Fan, 6 Cassandra, 5 Omnia, 4 Gathering Winter
Race 2: 4 Master Spy, 10 Bruh, 2 French War Lord, 9 Lunar Descent
Race 3: 4 Next Of Kin, 10 Xenophon, 1 Kanaal Skater, 8 Cardinal Chief
Race 4: 9 Celestial Diamond, 16 Lucienne, 5 Trail Runner, 6 Aurelian
Race 5: 5 World Of Royalty, 1 El Capitan, 9 Queen Of The Air, 8 Limelight Legend
Race 6: 3 Hodgepodge, 9 Another Dream, 10 Elembee, 6 Ideal Gift
Race 7: 6 Lock And Key, 2 Royal Invitation, 5 Tirpitz, 3 View Of The World
Race 8: 4 Major Tommie, 10 Rafa's Boy, 2 In The Bag, 9 Smorgasbord
BEST BET
Race 7: 6 Lock And Key
VALUE BET
Race 8: 4 Major Tommie
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 2x4
BIPOT
R162
Leg 1: 1, 3, 9
Leg 2: 4
Leg 3: 4, 5, 6
Leg 4: 3, 4
Leg 5: 1, 5, 7
Leg 6: 2, 3, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R144
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 3, 4
Leg 4: 1, 5, 7
Leg 5: 2, 3
Leg 6: 1
Leg 7: 2, 3, 4, 7
PICK 6
R720
Leg 1: 4, 10
Leg 2: 5, 9, 16
Leg 3: 1, 5, 8, 9
Leg 4: 3, 5, 6, 9, 10
Leg 5: 6
Leg 6: 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12
JACKPOT 1
R100
Leg 1: 5, 6, 9, 15, 16
Leg 2: 1, 5, 8, 9
Leg 3: 3, 5, 6, 9, 10
Leg 4: 6
JACKPOT 2
R120
Leg 1: 1, 5, 8, 9
Leg 2: 3, 5, 6, 9, 10
Leg 3: 6
Leg 4: 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12