Expert - Jack Milner

Veteran journalist Jack Milner has been involved in horseracing since 1972. From then on he followed the sport closely so in 2006 when he was offered the position with Phumelela Gaming & Leisure as Managing Editor of their Publishing Department, he jumped at the chance. He is also instrumental in sending tips and previews to international customers who subscribe to South African racing. Milner is known to be an astute studier of form who reads a race very well. He is one of the leading tipsters in the country where he has a big following. He has attended international events such as the English Derby and Oaks, Royal Ascot and the Melbourne Cup.

Expert Column for Greyville 2000 Day (S1) (Jack Milner)

S1-1 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup

HERO QUEST comes into this G3 race over 2,400m unbeaten in three runs at Greyville Racecourse. His last run, which was over this course and distance and he won it with ease, beating HYAKU by 2.75 lengths. The two will meet again and the latter is now 10lbs better off from last start which should put them quite close together. However, HERO QUEST, who is trained by Brett Crawford, won with plenty in hand and one can expect the 5YO gelding to be too good once again.

Justin Snaith saddles three horses who have lots of ability and are all guaranteed to see out the distance. Best of the three could be STRATHDON who will be ridden by Grant van Niekerk. The 4YO son of SILVANO did not have a great first run at Greyville when he contested the G2 Greyville 1900 two weeks back. However, it was his first run in more than five months and he must have been in need of the outing.

MADE TO CONQUER, who will be ridden by in-form Richard Fourie, comes into this race having won his last three races. He has yet to race at this course but based on his running style he should be suited by this turning track with a 400m run-in.

A good outsider who could be included in exotic bet types is SILVER DE LANGE. He ran third in last start won by HERO QUEST and is expected to improve as he was having his first run on a right-handed track. He will be ridden by Muzi Yeni, arguably the best lightweight jockey in the country right now, who has brought home a number of G1 winners recently.


SELECTIONS: 6. HERO QUEST, 7. HYAKU, 3. STRATHDON, 4. MADE TO CONQUER & 11. SILVER DE LANGE


S1-2 Woolavington 2000

OH SUSANNA looks to be the standout bet on the card and there will be a number of very disappointed punters if she were to lose. This Australian-bred 3YO daughter of STREET CRY has only raced eight times and already she has won two G1 races. She scored a facile victory in the G1 Paddock Stakes over 1,800m at Kenilworth in January and then followed that up with an impressive 0.5-length win over LAST WINTER in the G1 The Met over 2,000m at the same venue, where she took on, and beat, the best horses in the country.

The only concern is that OH SUSANNA was due to make her return to racing in the G2 contest over 1,600m at Greyville but had a slight setback and had to be withdrawn. Trainer Justin Snaith has assured the public his charge is fine and that makes her hard to beat. She is by far the best weighted runner and had this been a handicap the balance of the runners would have to give her between 10lbs to 36lbs and as it is, they will meet her at level weights.

One filly who has not raced against OH SUSANNA and looks to be getting better with each run is CHARIOT OF GOLD. She won the Listed Oaks Trial over 2,000m at Turffontein and then ran a 2-length third in the G2 S A Oaks over 2,450m where she only faded late. She is getting better with each run and comes from the stable of champion trainer Sean Tarry.

FIORELLA caused a surprise in the G2 contest when she flew up late to snare SNOWDANCE, another of Snaith’s star fillies. She could be even better over this distance and she has won on the course. Muzi Yeni takes the ride.

LADY IN BLACK was considered one of the best 2YO fillies in the country last season but has not really produced her best form since winning the G1 Thekwini Stakes at Greyville last year. She does love the course, having won two features at Greyville, and that should be in her favour.

ELUSIVE HEART has not finished far behind LADY IN BLACK and FIORELLA and trainer Glen Kotzen said they were going to try different tactics in this race and ride her from off the pace. That could help her see out the distance.


SELECTIONS: 1. OH SUSANNA, 9. CHARIOT OF GOLD, 3. FIORELLA, 2. LADY IN BLACK & 4. ELUSIVE HEART


S1-3 Greyville 2000

Justin Snaith has yet another feature race favourite in DO IT AGAIN. He is very highly rated by both the stable and jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe who will be riding him again but after two wins and a close up third in the G2 Selangor Cup, he faltered badly in the G1 Cape Guineas and finished ninth. However, DO IT AGAIN ran on well in the G1 Cape Derby over 2,000m at Kenilworth to run second, and in his first run at Greyville swept past all the other contenders to win the G2 contest. He will be better over this distance and is the horse to beat.

However, he will face a strong challenge from Johannesburg-based SURCHARGE, who is unquestionably a massive runner if he takes to the track. Remarkably, this five-time winner contested all three legs of the SA Triple Crown at Turffontein and ran second in all of them. Sadly, he landed wide draws in all three events and that proved costly. For once he is drawn well in barrier 5 and has the class to beat this field.

PACK LEADER ran third in the G1 Cape Derby and was strongly fancied by trainer Glen Kotzen to win the G2 Greyville 1900. He came down with a mystery illness that went away as quickly as it came and Kotzen has decided to take his chances in this race.

WHITE RIVER is another runner highly rated by his stable but has only flattered to deceive. Brett Crawford’s charge has run some decent races but is not consistent. He ran second in the G1 Cape Guineas but was unplaced in the G1 Cape Derby and looks well held by DO IT AGAIN based on their run in the G2 contest at Greyville in which WHITE RIVER was beaten 2.75 lengths.

MAJESTIC MAMBO won his first three races in ease and was being hailed as the next superstar of South African racing. He was strongly touted to win the SA Triple Crown but failed in the first leg the G2 Gauteng Guineas which his trainer, Paul Peter, felt was too short. In the second leg the G1 S A Classic he was switched out and began unwinding what many pundits felt was a winning run but he was cut off and fell, dropping jockey Anthony Delpech in the process. Delpech has not ridden since. He did not appear to see out 2,450m in the third leg the G1 S A Derby but he does have the ability to win this event at his best. He does tend to get too far back and that could work against him at Greyville with its 400m run-in.


SELECTIONS: 1. DO IT AGAIN, 4. SURCHARGE, 6. PACK LEADER, 5. WHITE RIVER & 9. MAJESTIC MAMBO

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