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Jack Milner: Race 6 at Scottsville on Sunday is the Fever Tree Stakes (Non-Black Type) over 1500m and the outcome is likely to depend on whether Pearl Of Asia will see out the distance.
Last year’s Grade 1 Mercury Sprint champion is by far the best weighted horse but has only once won beyond 1200m, and that was over 1400m on the Greyville Polytrack in a rather weak field.
In his favour is that he does like the course, having won three times at Scottsville in five starts, and is by far the class horse of the race. Craig Zackey takes the ride for the first time on the Robbie Hill-trained runner.
Once one looks beyond him it is very open with the likes of Socrates, Shampompo Shampizi, Capoeira and Solid Gold looking the main contenders.
Vercingetorix progeny usually don’t take long to win their maidens and Eddie The Mover, who showed good promise at Greyville, rates the best bet on the card. He met a highly regarded individual in Ode To The Ocean who had already had a racecourse experience and should go one better in Race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m.
Follow the betting closely as there are first-timers to watch out for.
Princess Tea will be a likely banker for most in Race 7, a MR 69 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m. The diminutive filly has won two of her last three and doesn’t look like stopping in this one as she looks capable of beating better.
Punters may be put off by her second placing in her run at this venue with wins only at Greyville, but she was given too patient a ride and allowed others to swamp her in the sprint for home. Current rider Jason Gates is unbeaten in two starts aboard her.
Jack Milner’s selection
Race 1: 8 Eddie The Mover, 3 Boundless Bash, 7 Ndabezitha, 4 Vihaan’s Grey
Race 2: 8 Senor Garcia, 5 Red Sole, 4 Uncle George, 1 Great Ecstasy
Race 3: 2 Allaroundtheworld, 4 Imilenzeyokududuma, 3 Belle’s First Wave, 1 Spy Master
Race 4: 3 One Too Many, 4 Blaze Of Silk, 7 Sir Pom, 1 Edgartown
Race 5: 3 Burning Wings, 6 Giacomo Puccini, 1 Aqua Bolt, 2 Antigonus
Race 6: 7 Pearl Of Asia, 6 Socrates, 8 Full Blast, 3 Shampompo Shampizi
Race 7: 8 Princess Tea, 2 And We Danced, 12 Grue Of Ice, 1 Crazy Blues
Race 8: 5 Miss Gibson, 4 Beckoning Beauty, 9 Snow Tune, 8 Bay Breeze
Race 7 No 8 Princess Tea
VALUE BET
Race 5 No 3 Burning Wings
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 5×8
BIPOT
R243
Leg 1: 3, 7, 8
Leg 2: 8
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4
Leg 4: 3, 4, 6
Leg 5: 1, 3, 6
Leg 6: 6, 7, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R288
Leg 1: 8
Leg 2: 2, 4, 6
Leg 3: 3, 4
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 6
Leg 5: 3, 6, 7, 8
Leg 6: 8
Leg 7: 4, 5, 9
PICK 6
R1200
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4
Leg 2: 3, 4, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 6, 10
Leg 4: 3, 6, 7, 8, 11
Leg 5: 8
Leg 6: 4, 5, 8, 9
JACKPOT 1
R100
Leg 1: 3, 4, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 6, 10
Leg 3: 3, 6, 7, 8, 11
Leg 4: 8
JACKPOT 2
R100
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 6, 10
Leg 2: 3, 6, 7, 8, 11
Leg 3: 8
Leg 4: 4, 5, 8, 9
Picture: PEARL OF ASIA (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
