Jack Milner
With a number of leading jockeys in the Cape either serving out suspensions or taking a holiday Keagan de Melo and Louis Mxothwa look the riders to follow at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Both have picked up rides for some top stables and should come away from the meeting with a at least couple of winners apiece.
De Melo arguably had arguably picked up the best two rides on the card with Future Turn in Race 4 and Gimme’s Lassie in Race 8 but the latter was scratched on Saturday morning.
Future Turn runs in a Maiden Plate over 1600m and he is fully expected to get among the winning ranks at his fifth start.
This three-year-old Futura colt, trained by Justin Snaith, has finished second in both starts beyond 1200m – over 1600m and 1500m respectively – appears to be getting stronger with every run. In both of those races he has been beaten less than a length and last time was just run out of it in a close duel by Canford Lights, going down 0.30 lengths.
Mxothwa has picked up the ride for Snaith on Royal Aussie in Race 6, MR 79 Handicap over 1400m. This three-year-old colt shed his maiden tag over the track and trip 10 weeks ago.
This promising son of Royal Mo had finished second in his first two starts over 1200m then relished the extra 200m in his third start, beating a decent field on that occasion by a comfortable 2.25 lengths - and the form of that race has held up well since.
The level of competition Royal Aussie faces on his handicap debut is, admittedly, significantly stronger but Snaith's charge is open to any amount of improvement in just his fourth start under an in-form rider who should coax the best out of him.
This is undoubtedly one of the more competitive races on the card and it could be worth including a number of runners in some of the exotics.
Dance Variety is another lightly raced three-year old and this Adam Marcus-trained Var colt produced a flying finish over 1200m last time to end up a 0.95-length third to Benjamin. Based on the manner in which he took off, Dance Variety should relish the step up to 1400m, especially with De Melo in the irons.
Progressive Faire Advantage, another last-start winner over the course and distance, should keep his younger adversary honest. He beat Gaudis Masterpiece and Path Of Choice in a similar contest last time and those rivals should once again make their presence felt on 1.5kg better terms.
It could be very close between those three for the minor placings.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 7 Gimme More Time, 8 Selukwe, 9 Fallo Ancora, 10 Short Sharp Shock
Race 2: 5 Hunting Trip, 4 Gold Poker Game, 2 Hear My Voice, 8 Rafeef's Choice
Race 3: 6 Doubling Up, 2 Teatro, 3 Bullitt, 5 Contiguous
Race 4: 4 Future Turn, 1 Masterful Guy, 2 Naushon, 6 Allez Moris
Race 5: 3 Global Movement, 2 Global Forests, 5 Nothingelsematters, 1 Double Duet
Race 6: 5 Royal Aussie, 7 Dance Variety, 3 Path Of Choice, 1 Gaudis Masterpiece
Race 7: 11 Ciollum's Delight, 3 Kimball O'Hara, 4 Ragnar Lothbrok, 8 Magnetic Dime
Race 8: 10 Twice The Flo, 1 Fly Better, 8 Ola Bombshell, 9 Turkish Kelim
BEST BET
Race 4 No 4 Future Turn
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 11 Ciollum’s Delight
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 2x6
BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 7, 8, 9, 10
Leg 2: 2, 4, 5
Leg 3: 2, 6
Leg 4: 4
Leg 5: 2, 3, 5
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 2, 4, 5
Leg 2: 2, 6
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5
Leg 5: 3, 5, 7
Leg 6: 3, 4, 11
Leg 7: 1, 10
PICK 6
R1400
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 6
Leg 2: 4
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 5: 1, 3, 4, 8, 11
Leg 6: 1, 10
JACKPOT 1
R175
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 8, 11
JACKPOT 2
R350
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 8, 11
Leg 4: 1, 10