Teflon Man best in sticky sprint

Jack Milner

The Non-Black Type Easter Sprint (Race 7) over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth headlines Wedneday’s card and while it does look quite competitive, it could be worth weighing in with Dean Kannemeyer-trained Teflon Man.

The five-year-old Querari gelding has been competing against a lot strong and drops in class quite significantly in this event. His last three runs have all been pretty, in particular his second place in the Non-Black Type Schweppes Winchester Cup Sprint over this course and distance where he finished a 0.75-length second behind All The Rage.

He was a little unlucky on that occasion as he lost ground at the start, which is normal for him, but was then carried out with 250m to run.

The grey gelding followed that up with a 5.05-length seventh in the Grade 2 Diadem Stakes over 1200m at this course behind Questioning, who came so close to winning the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

Considering Teflon Man lost three lengths at the start, it was a decent performance in a much stronger field than he will meet on this occasion. The average merit rating in is last three starts has been 110, 111 and 116 respectively but this time it is 105.

The jump will be key for him and as long as he does not give his rivals too much start, he should be competitive with Craig Zackey in the irons.

The main threat could come from Demanding Dave, who has won four of his last five starts and only lost the fifth in boardroom after an objection.

They were all over 1000m but the extra 100m should not encumber him in any way.

Sardinia Bay has won four of his last six starts and is very speedy, and at best over 1000m. That does not mean he cannot win over 1100m, and jockey Keagan de Melo will give him every chance of scoring.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 3 Sparkling Star, 8 Peace Garland, 6 Mystic Inferno, 7 In Hot Water

Race 2: 7 Swift Serenity, 1 Iona Castle, 4 Kiera Rose, 3 Scandalize

Race 3: 1 Loving Prague, 2 Sommerstern, 5 Marcus Aurelius, 7 It Is My Time

Race 4: 5 Lark's Song, 2 Pentolina, 1 Her World, 4 Spirit Of Levana

Race 5: 6 Why Not Jackie, 3 Final Call, 7 William's Woman, 1 Meg's Legacy

Race 6: 2 Slash 'N Burn, 4 Du Maurier, 5 Country Time, 6 Heritage Ridge

Race 7: 8 Teflon Man, 9 Demanding Dave, 10 Sardinia Bay, 3 North Point

Race 8: 3 Whirlwind, 4 Peace Of Mind, 6 Hampstead Heath, 9 October Fest

BEST BET

Race 1: 3 Sparking Star

VALUE BET

Race 3: 1 Loving Prague

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1x7

BIPOT

R192

Leg 1: 3

Leg 2: 1, 7

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 7

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 5

Leg 5: 3, 6

Leg 6: 2, 4, 5

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5

Leg 4: 3, 6

Leg 5: 2, 4, 5

Leg 6: 8, 9

Leg 7: 3

PICK 6

R1500

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Leg 3: 3, 6, 7

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 6

Leg 5: 3, 7, 8, 9, 10

Leg 6: 3

JACKPOT 1

R300

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Leg 2: 3, 6, 7

Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 6

Leg 4: 3, 7, 8, 9, 10

JACKPOT 2

R60

Leg 1: 3, 6, 7

Leg 2: 2, 4, 5, 6

Leg 3: 3, 7, 8, 9, 10

Leg 4: 3