Van Zyl set for a good day

If last weekend is anything to go by then trainer Gareth van Zyl should enjoy another successful day at the races at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

His returning runners, Grande Orrechie and Wiccan Warrior, thumped their respective fields even though their recent form didn’t appear outstanding. It showed how strong the Western Cape form is versus the local form.

He has three with Western Cape form that will be attract interest on Sunday. First of them, Golden Peace, has that come-on look. He showed fair potential on debut over 1200m and should relish the step up to 1400m in Race 2, a Maiden Plate.

In Race 4, a MR 92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m, both Desert Rose and Magical Java look to have big claims but it is the former with Ant Mgudlwa up who appears the stable elect. Two winners came out of her last race where she ran second.

Trade War is an interesting runner in Race 7, a MR 74 Handicap over 1000m. His form had been disappointing for a while but a few runs back he did something that caught the attention.

He overcame the widest gate in a sprint which is not easy at this track where all races are run around the turn, and won, but more importantly it was the way he got the job done, never appearing flustered.

He reproduced a similar run (from another wide gate) next time but was denied in a close finish by talented but unsound Mount Greylock. In retrospect, when looking at his form it could be that all he was looking for was sprints around a turn, like at this venue.

Last time out he needed his comeback run at Hollywoodbets Scottsville which is a straight track and now back at Greyville he has scored a prominent barrier – so all in all he could be a solid betting proposition.

Reckless Love must confuse her followers. She has produced some cracking finishes too late to get in the money only to run indifferently thereafter when coming in for support at decent odds and this has gone on for a while.
But she came out to destroy her field last time even though her merit rating has stuck at the same mark of 55 for many months and it begs the question, what has changed?

Perhaps trainer Wendy Whitehead altered something in her routine but what is significant is that Sean Veale rode her for the first time, and it could be that he was able to get the best out of her.

Mel’s Princess has beaten her, is better weighted and drawn well so she could confirm but it can be argued that Reckless Love, with Veale in the saddle, may only now be on the up.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 6 Warrior Of Royalty, 2 Question Of Faith, 5 Railroad, 8 Ubisika

Race 2: 3 Golden Peace, 1 Majestic Reign, 2 Power Star, 9 Sir Cedric

Race 3: 4 Dontstopmenow, 3 Gimme Gorgeous, 7 Johnny's Hope, 11 La Dreamer

Race 4: 4 Desert Rose, 7 Woodland Retreat, 3 Lucky Miss, 1 Meet At The George

Race 5: 7 Smorgasbord, 4 Val D'Orcia, 11 Pearl Of Asia, 10 Vaseem

Race 6: 2 Calulo, 1 Naarah, 9 Russian Doll, 6 Addiena

Race 7: 3 Trade War, 2 Slim Jannie, 10 Philispiel, 9 Gimme A Rainbow

Race 8: 10 Reckless Love, 9 Blazing Kiss, 2 Mel's Princess, 7 Chelsea Flower

BEST BET

Race 3 No 4 Dontstopmenow

VALUE BET

Race 8 No 10 Reckless Love

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 3x4

BIPOT

R135

Leg 1: 2, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3

Leg 3: 4

Leg 4: 4

Leg 5: 2, 4, 7, 10, 11

Leg 6: 1, 2, 9

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R360

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 4

Leg 4: 2, 4, 7, 10, 11

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 2, 3, 10

Leg 7: 2, 7, 9, 10

PICK 6

R500

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 2, 4, 7, 10, 11

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6, 9

Leg 5: 2, 3, 8, 9, 10

Leg 6: 1, 2, 7, 9, 10

JACKPOT 1

R100

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 2, 4, 7, 10, 11

Leg 3: 1, 2, 6, 9

Leg 4: 2, 3, 8, 9, 10

JACKPOT 2

R500

Leg 1: 2, 4, 7, 10, 11

Leg 2: 1, 2, 6, 9

Leg 3: 2, 3, 8, 9, 10

Leg 4: 1, 2, 7, 9, 10