Jack Milner
Gem King will be looking to become the fourth winner of the Winter Series when he lines up in the Grade 3 World Sports Betting Pocket Power Stakes over 2400m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Trainer Piet Steyn knows what it takes to win the Winter Series. He did it two years ago with Katak and will be hoping Gem King add his name to the list of champions and claim the R200,000 bonus that goes with it.
So far only Pocket Power, African Night Sky and Katak have won all three legs but Gem King sports a good-luck charm. He races in the blue, white and pink colours of Marsh Shirtliff, the same colours carried by both Katak and Pocket Power.
The Master Of My Fate gelding won the Grade 3 Variety Club Mile under Bernard Fayd’Herbe and then overcame a weight disadvantage to claim Leg 2, the Grade 3 Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m when ridden by Richard Fourie, who is back in the irons for the final leg.
He faces just six opponents and should prove too strong. The only concern is the distance, but he won the other legs going away from the opposition so 2400m should not be beyond him.
Winchester Mansion was the runner-up in the Legal Eagle Stakes and Brett Crawford’s charge looks likely to reprise that role once again.
The Listed World Sports Betting River Jetez Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 2400m looks far more competitive, and in the case of the fillies, there will not be any bonus paid out this year.
Fourie could make it a feature-race double when he rides Master Of My Fate filly Peut Etre Moi, having partnered her to a close-up third in the 1800m Stormsvlei Stakes, Leg 2 of the fillies’ Series.
On that occasion she finished hot on the heels of winner Maria Querol and runner-up Fleeting, who both renew rivalry.
Provided they are as effective over the extra 600m, there should be little between the trio again.
Young Love won the first leg, the 1600m Sweet Chestnut Stakes, but skipped the second. She makes her reappearance after a nine-week break and warrants the utmost respect.
This card is made up of six feature races, two Grade 3 events and four Listed races, and the whole meeting is sponsored by World Sports Betting.
The other Grade 3 race is The Langerman for two-year-olds over 1500m, and the scratching of unbeaten Charles Dickens has made this race a lot tougher. At My Command is the other two-time winner in teh field and showed a lot of guts to beat stablemate Port Louis last time.
Port Louis battled with the turn last time and should benefit from that experience and they could fight it out again.
Ciao Bella may have disappointed last time but she was outpaced early on and seemed to find 1200m too short. Snaith’s charge, a daughter of brilliant Bela-Bela, can get her career back on track with a victory in Race 2, the Irridescence Stakes, also over 1500m.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 5 Beerenberg, 6 Bullitt, 1 Castle Time, 3 Boisterous Buddy
Race 2: 4 Ciao Bella, 3 Camille Claudel, 1 Bonika, 7 Miss Marguerite
Race 3: 1 At My Command, 6 Port Louis, 8 Tothemoonandback, 5 Marvel William
Race 4: 1 Rain In Newmarket, 2 Veronica Mars, 5 Silver Sabre, 4 Do Angels Cry
Race 5: 4 Whoa Whoa Whoa, 1 Kitty Cat Chat, 6 Walk Of Fame, 8 Going Up
Race 6: 5 Peut Etre Moi, 2 Young Love, 4 Fleeting, 1 Maria Querol
Race 7: 1 Gem King, 2 Winchester Mansion, 4 Top Quality, 3 Baratheon
Race 8: 5 Double Charge, 1 Resonate, 2 Speed Machine, 7 Barney Mcgrew
Race 9: 5 Global Avenue, 4 Air Of Royalty, 1 Senhora Victoria, 9 Love Is A Rose
BEST BET
Race 7 No 1 Gem King
VALUE BET
Race 9 No 5 Global Avenue
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 5x6
BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 3, 4
Leg 2: 1, 6, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 1, 4, 6
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 5
Leg 6: 1
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 1, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2
Leg 3: 1, 4, 6
Leg 4: 2, 4, 5
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 1, 2, 5
Leg 7: 1, 4, 5
PICK 6
R1500
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5
Leg 2: 1, 4, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9
JACKPOT 1
R75
Leg 1: 1, 4, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
JACKPOT 2
R125
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9