Jack Milner
Piere Strydom is travelling around the country in search of the seven more winners he needs to take his career total to 5,500.
Today he will return to his old hunting ground, Port Elizabeth, where he has been carded for six rides, two of them for Justin Snaith.
However, this will be turning into a sort of “busman’s holiday” for him as they had already planned a short vacation to Cape St Francis.
“Justin asked me if I would ride Nexus at Fairview and as we were heading in that direction, I agreed,” said Strydom yesterday.
Looking at the record of this seven-year-old gelding it comes as no surprise Snaith would be keen for Strydom to take the ride in Race 7, the Listed Memorial Mile, on the turf. He has been aboard twice and won on him twice, including the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m at Kenilworth in December 2020, and then again in June at Hollywoodbets Greyville, which was Strydom’s first ride back after being off for a year with an eye problem.
Those were Nexus’ only wins over that 18-month period.
He comes into the race as the second-best weighted runner, the top contender being Christopher Robin who has been badly off form recently.
“It’s a good opportunity for Nexus to pick up another win because he would have to meet far stronger opposition in Cape Town.
“He must be a big runner,” added Strydom.
His other ride for Snaith is Rain In Newmarket in Race 6, the Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes over 1600m. This is not a handicap, so she does come into the race well handicapped, the other runner being Alan Greeff-trained Santa Therese.
“It does appear to be a two-horse race, so she must be a runner,” said Strydom.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 7 Dream Scape, 6 Spring Fever, 2 Klaserie, 1 Back To Formentera
Race 2: 3 Mansooriya, 5 Golden Grace, 4 St Patrick's Day, 2 Eshraaq
Race 3: 1 Mon Tresor, 4 Girl Scout, 6 Sugarberry, 3 Mi Mi Apple Pie
Race 4: 13 Suryavarman, 2 Absolu Noir, 1 Global Mark, 4 Goom Goom
Race 5: 8 Jack And Ginger, 2 American Landing, 3 Basetsana, 5 Almighwaar
Race 6: 1 Santa Therese, 2 Rain In Newmarket, 4 Integrity, 3 Princess Kalisi
Race 7: 5 Nexus, 8 My Bestie, 1 Marmara Sea, 6 Grazinginthegrass
Race 8: 9 My Ami Beach, 1 Narcos, 11 Ledell's Echo, 8, Knave Of Diamonds
BEST BET
Race 1 No 7 Dream Scape
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 13 Suryavarman
BEST SWINGER
Race 6 1x2
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 7
Leg 2: 3, 4, 5
Leg 3: 1, 4, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4
Leg 5: 2, 3, 5, 8
Leg 6: 1, 2
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 3, 5
Leg 2: 1, 4
Leg 3: 1, 2, 13
Leg 4: 2, 3, 8
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 5, 8
Leg 7: 1, 9, 11
PICK 6
R2400
Leg 1: 1, 4, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 13
Leg 3: 2, 3, 5, 8, 10
Leg 4: 1, 2
Leg 5: 1, 5, 6, 8
Leg 6: 1, 8, 9, 11, 12
JACKPOT 1
R160
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 13
Leg 2: 2, 3, 5, 8, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 1, 5, 6, 8
JACKPOT 2
R320
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 8, 10
Leg 2: 1, 2
Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 8
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12