Jack Milner
Trainer Justin Snaith is sure to bring a strong band of raiders to KwaZulu-Natal for the winter and first out of the blocks will be Roland Garros who will line up in Race 5, the R200,000 March Stakes for three-year-olds over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
With a merit rating of 108, he comes in as the best weighted runner highest rated runner at the meeting, and he should dominate his heat and is one of the best bets on the eight-race programme.
Roland Garros, who was not far off in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas, has a solid record over the trip. He is unbeaten in two tries over 1400m and has also won over 1500m.
Three starts back he finished ahead of All The Rage, a sprinter who is headed for the top, who won twice straight after. In the Guineas Roland Garros was a length behind Star Major who went on to win a Grade 3. Last time out Roland Garros lifted his rating by winning with top weight and Chasingtherainbow who finished in seventh, franked the form recently with a thrilling win.
JP van der Merwe takes the ride.
Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained I’m A Fireball, another son of the champion sire, however, is only 0.5kg, and having broken the course record at the Vaal over 1450m from the front last time, looks the one Roland Garros will have to peg back.
Callan Murray rides
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 6 Anushka, 9 Japura, 3 Mekong, 4 Liz Hurley
Race 2: 2 Global Trend, 3 Durban Diamond, 5 Silent World, 1 Ode To The Sea
Race 3: 4 Psyche, 1 Skipper O’Malley, 6 Skyline Bell, 8 Can We Start
Race 4: 1 JP’s Palace, 8 Industrialstrength, 12 Tyrconnell, 5 Mister Nibbles
Race 5: 5 Roland Garros, 1 I’m A Fireball, 4 Gotta Go Eddie, 2 Kanaal Skater
Race 6: 7 Flying Reign Storm, 5 Littleblackgem, 11 Radu, 1 Roy’s Grace
Race 7: 1 Licence To Thrill, 6 Vihaan’s Web, 7 Fortress Of Fire, 4 Future Flo
Race 8: 1 Queen Braganza, 5 Dawn Surprise, 4 Shimmering, 9 Sugarbush
BEST BET
Race 5: 5 Roland Garros
VALUE BET
Race 7: 1 Licence To Thrill
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 2×3
BIPOT
R120
Leg 1: 3, 6, 9
Leg 2: 2, 3
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 1, 5, 8, 12
Leg 5: 5
Leg 6: 1, 4, 5, 7, 11
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 3, 4
Leg 2: 4
Leg 3: 1, 8, 12
Leg 4: 5
Leg 5: 5, 7, 11
Leg 6: 1, 6, 7
Leg 7: 1, 4, 5, 9
PICK 6
R1050
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 1, 5, 7, 8, 12
Leg 3: 5
Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 7, 11
Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9
JACKPOT 1
R150
Leg 1: 1, 5, 7, 8, 12
Leg 2: 5
Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 7, 11
Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10
JACKPOT 2
R210
Leg 1: 5
Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 7, 11
Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9
This article was originally published on TAB and is reposted here with permission.
