Jack Milner
We’re Jamming showed his class very early in his career, running three consecutive seconds and then winning his first race when taking out the Grade 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
Transfering to the Justin Snaith yard, the son of Duke Of Marmalade has gone on to win two more races since then, both features and both over 1200m at Kenilworth.
He is unbeaten over the course and distance and with that sort of record he looks a worthwhile bet in Sunday’s Grade 2 Cape Merchants, over his favourite track and trip.
This three-year-old gelding ended up as the leading Western Cape two-year-old last season and has shown that he retains all of his ability at three. He was gelded ahead of his sophomore year and returned from a well-deserved break to take his place in the Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1400m.
Snaith’s charge, however, didn’t enjoy being stretched out over that trip for the first time and bounced right back to his best form reverting to 1200m last time out in the Listed Sophomore Sprint, which he won comfortably by 0.75-lengths, despite conceding weight to all his rivals under 60kg.
We're Jamming earned a five-point penalty for that impressive last-start success but makes his peak outing in the Cape Merchants under just 52kg with Grant van Niekerk now booked to ride.
But, in a full field of 19 runners there are dangers aplenty, including South Easter Sprint winner Resonate and Bantry Bay Stakes scorer Surjay, as well as Gimme A Prince and returning Zapatillas.
On paper We’re Jamming is marginally (1kg) out at the weights, but he has just 52kg on his back and that will make him very hard to catch.
Champion Warrior looked a star when winning second time at Durbanville and was all the rage to win again at Kenilworth last time. But the race was not run to suit and he disappointed when only managing to finish a 3.30-length sixth behind Runaway Song.
That performance is best forgotten and the three-year-old son of Twice Over is expected to set the record straight in Race 3, a MR 87 Handicap over 1400m.
He will be reunited with Louis Mxothwa this time and has the benefit of jumping from No 1 draw.
Snaith holds a strong hand in Race 8, a MR 82 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m, with last-start winner Pacific Green preferred ahead of stable companion Distinction. The former swept past her rivals to win a similar contest over 1100m going away and on that evidence, she should follow up with the extra 100m expected to be to her liking.
Talented Vivacious Spirit from the Johan Janse van Vuuren yard makes her Western Cape debut in Race 8 and she could split the two stablemates.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 5 War Empress, 3 Go Like Flo, 7 Ygritte, 11 Chililabombwe
Race 2: 4 Charlie Croker, 11 Stratospheric, 3 Aspect, 1 Master Josh
Race 3: 1 Champion Warrior, 4 Hammies Hero, 9 Narina Trogon, 2 Tout A Fait
Race 4: 3 Look For Hounds, 6 Silver Falcon, 2 Silvano's Dasher, 8 Quasiforsure
Race 5: 4 Thunder Master, 7 Professor Snape, 9 San Quintin, 8 Mucho Dinero
Race 6: 9 Without Question, 10 Street Art, 7 Tothemoonandback, 3 Global Ally
Race 7: 8 We're Jamming, 20 Surjay, 7 Resonate, 6 Gimme A Prince
Race 8: 6 Pacific Green, 10 Vivacious Spirit, 11 Distinction, 1 Live My Life
BEST BET
Race 3 No 1 Champion Warrior
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 3 Look For Hounds
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 3x5
BIPOT
R192
Leg 1: 3, 5
Leg 2: 3, 4, 11
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 2, 3, 6, 8
Leg 5: 4, 7, 8, 9
Leg 6: 9, 10
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 2, 3, 6
Leg 4: 4, 7, 9
Leg 5: 9, 10
Leg 6: 7, 8, 20
Leg 7: 6, 10
PICK 6
R1080
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 2, 3, 6, 8
Leg 3: 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 4: 7, 9, 10
Leg 5: 6, 7, 8, 17, 19, 20
Leg 6: 6, 10, 11
JACKPOT 1
R360
Leg 1: 2, 3, 6, 8
Leg 2: 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 3: 7, 9, 10
Leg 4: 6, 7, 8, 17, 19, 20
JACKPOT 2
R270
Leg 1: 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 2: 7, 9, 10
Leg 3: 6, 7, 8, 17, 19, 20
Leg 4: 6, 10, 11