United Nation to shoulder many hopes and dreams

Danie Toerien

It's always nerve-wracking to have a banker in the last leg of a Pick 6.

At Hollywoodbets Greyville on Tuesday, United Nation will probably be shouldering the hopes and dreams of many a punter when he lines up in the lucky last, a C Stakes race over 1000m.

This gelded son of One World, however, looks the best bet on the card and is hard to oppose.

Since moving to the yard of trainer Darryl Moore, United Nation is unbeaten in three runs on the Greyville polytrack. The hat-trick of wins has resulted in a 15-point increase in merit rating, but despite now upped to a mark of 79, his hot streak should continue.

For today's outing, Moore has engaged apprentice jockey Mxolisi Mbuto to do the steering, and his 2.5kg claim will definitely contribute to United Nation's chances of success.

Mbuto was in the irons when United Nation won the first of his three successive runs, after which he made way for jockey Ant Mgudlwa. Now back aboard the four-year-old, racegoers can expect another front-running attempt as this racing tactic has paid dividends for connections.

In Race 7, a Class 5 Handicap over 1 200m and the penultimate leg of the Pick 6, Ilha Da Orange could upset the proverbial apple-cart.

Kumaran Naidoo's charge is much better than her last two outings suggest, but it must be noted that she had valid excuses for those below-par efforts. In her penultimate she was reportedly not striding out, while last time out she was bumped twice at the start and was left at the back of the field from the word go.

This five-year-old daughter of Duke Of Marmalade has an uncanny ability to bounce back to form at the drop of a hat, though, and is expected to do just that today.

She too will enjoy a weight advantage today as Naidoo has tasked 4kg claiming apprentice jockey Savanna Valjalo with the ride.

Valjalo steered 75-1 long shot Play With The Wind to victory at Turffontein on Sunday to take his tally of winnerts to 12, having also scored three times as a work rider.

SELECTIONS:

Race 1: 1 Quincy Town, 4 Gorgeous Bomb, 6 Xiphos, 3 Levitator

Race 2: 4 Sun In My Pocket, 7 Malshana Mou, 3 Berrington Blew, 5 Winter Blessing

Race 3: 4 Captain's Dynasty, 7 Kali Bwana, 1 Black Platina, 8 Mysterious Erik

Race 4: 8 El Rey Viene, 4 Eventidor, 1 Green Glow, 3 Run To Rio

Race 5: 2 Sail To The Moon, 3 Gorgeous Dude, 10 Winter Waves, 7 Circle Of Grace

Race 6: 2 One Path, 9 Happy Fortune, 1 Spinmyangelsspin, 7 She's A Machine

Race 7: 3 Ilha Da Orange, 7 Beautiful Rania, 8 Quentasia, 2 Time In Paris

Race 8: 5 United Nation, 9 Rainbow Reward, 2 Chara Sands, 8 Mfethu