Jack Milner
Lyle Hewitson makes a return to South African racing today after a successful season in Hong Kong in which he managed to ride 50 winners and that resulted in him finishing in fifth place on the jockey log.
When he rides at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday it will be as a married man as he and long-time partner Hannah tied the knot in Cape Town over the weekend.
Before he left, Hewitson was the frontline jockey for trainer Sean Tarry and it comes as no surprise that he has picked up a number of rides for the yard at this meeting and Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Tarry has eight runners carded but the scratching of Sister Light has reduced that to seven. They are divided among Hewitson (4), Kabelo Matsunyane (2) and S’manga Khumalo (1) and that was because he had three runners in the main race, the Listed Off To Stud Stakes (Race 7) over 1600m before Sister Light was taken out.
That scratching has paved the way for Magical Flight, Khumalo’s mount, who will be having her third run after a layoff and is coming off a win last time. Although against weaker company she is clearly fit to tackle this sort of field. However, she is drawn No 9.
Emerald Princess is the not only the best weighted runner but has the benefit of having won her only race at this course, and has Hewitson up.
The only concern is that while she has placed over 1600m, she has yet to win a race over the distance.
Southern Cape, trained by Paul Lafferty, also looks a lively contender as she is the second best weighted runner and has a good record at this course. Keagan de Melo rides.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 6 Plinian, 8 Ment To Fly, 4 Benni In The Area, 2 Seattle Ripper
Race 2: 5 Mountainsofthemoon, 10 Freedom Square, 8 Madame Pompadour, 4 Mythical Tune
Race 3: 5 Ideal Act, 2 Celestial City, 1 Prince Of Taranto, 4 Kitchakal
Race 4: 7 Philispiel, 4 Quest For The Best, 1 Question Of Faith, 5 The Gliding Fish
Race 5: 1 Twice The Storm, 13 Neitherherenorther, 15 Tribute To You, 16 Wylie Riley
Race 6: 3 Royal Guide, 1 National Star, 2 Captain Rocket, 9 Camora
Race 7: 4 Queen Of Shadows, 5 Southern Cape, 7 Emerald Princess, 9 Magical Flight
Race 8: 4 El Rey Viene, 1 News Stream, 5 Captain Who, 2 Warrior Bling
BEST BET
Race 1 No 6 Plinian
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 7 Philispiel
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 6x8
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 5, 8, 10
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5
Leg 4: 1, 4, 7
Leg 5: 1, 13, 15, 16
Leg 6: 1, 3
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 5, 10
Leg 2: 2, 5
Leg 3: 1, 4, 7
Leg 4: 1, 13, 15
Leg 5: 1, 3
Leg 6: 4, 5, 7
Leg 7: 4
PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5
Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 1, 7, 13, 15, 16
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3
Leg 5: 4, 5, 7
Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 5
JACKPOT 1
R180
Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 1, 7, 13, 15, 16
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3
Leg 4: 4, 5, 7
JACKPOT 2
R180
Leg 1: 1, 7, 13, 15, 16
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3
Leg 3: 4, 5, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 5