By Mark van Deventer
Trainer Paul Reeves struck with 125/1 long shot debutant, Garden of Eden and 12/1 mare, I’m The Buzz on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Durbanville to do some damage to unsuspecting bookies for small stakes, and he will try maintaining that hot hand at Tuesday’s meeting out in the northern suburbs. He also saddled Heritage Ridge at 33/1 and 5/1 Das Gute into the placings over the weekend, so clearly has his Milnerton string firing right now.
These recent successes add confidence to the claims of OZARK in Race 5, a Class 5 over 1800m. It also helps that his angling mate and record-breaking jock, Richard Fourie, is booked for the ride.
OZARK has only been raised 3 points for a last start score at this track when he was much the best. But for being badly held up and only bursting through late, the Oratorio gelding would have beaten re-opposing, Golden Grey more decisively.
Given even luck he should be able to frank that form and again see off TOTHEMOONANDBACK and NAUSHON, while the mare STATE CAPITOL could find it difficult to concede Reeve’s runner 1.5kgs.
Justin Snaith is understandably bemoaning the string of seconds he is enduring at present. Going into Saturday’s program he’d saddled 12 seconds from the last 30 sent out, and though Champagne Kisses justified a strong market move to shed her Maiden tag, Jet to the Sun added to Snaith’s unwelcome “seconditis” list when pipped by Glee Club.
He will be hoping that SAIL THE SEAS gets into the coveted no. 1 box after Race 8. The Vercingetorix colt shows good ability and should strip fitter after running out of gas behind Big Unit at his first start after a break.
Spirited market support last time suggests his morning work hints at smart potential, and he should get a smooth commute from gate 3 under Fourie in this 1400m Class 4.
SAIL THE SEAS may have most to fear from CARRIACOU who dashed through a 22.8 second come home sectional behind Aspect a month ago. Eric Sand’s horses are starting to run really well again – while CARRIACOU was given way too much to do on that occasion, with a more judicious steer he can trouble Snaith’s entry.
Snaith also sends out ultra game but poorly drawn FUTURE TURN, LIGHTNING GLOW who has won half his six starts, and pacemaker NEVADA KING in Race 6 – a Class 3 over a mile. This is a closely matched field where the marginal pick is Brett Crawford’s INFRARED who is better than his bare record of a solitary win from nine starts suggests.
After a string of close placings when being outrun close to the line, he must add more punch to his finish to win it, but should get a favourable set up with all the pace out wider. His only win came third run after a rest, so he sports the right form pattern and appeals as an each way play.
Deep closer, FIBONACCI and the erratic but talented PAS DE NOM lock horns again, with the consistent TYRION LANNISTER and hat-tricker, GREEN MANDARIN, still others for exotic consideration in Race 6.
Crawford can open the meet with MIRACULOUS. The Rafeef filly languished at the back of the field from draw 13/14 on debut for much of the journey, but what happened in the closing 400m was significant. Despite greenness and being held up, she zipped through that sectional in 22.8 seconds.
Crawford’s horses typically come on big time at their second starts and with natural improvement she can make up a couple of lengths to run down BACK AT THE GEORGE and GOODNESSGRACIOUSME. The usual cautionary applies though with a market watch advised on the six firsters before striking any bets in Race 1.
