Black Eagle to swoop on Greyville Polytrack
Jack Milner
As has become the norm during the winter season in KwaZulu-Natal, raiders from the Western Cape continue to dominate, not only in the feature races but also in the day-to-day events.
That could well be the case again at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday where much of the day’s racing is dominated by Class 4 and Class 5 Handicaps with a couple of Stakes races thrown in.
But the best race on the card comes up in Race 7, a B Stakes over 1200m on the Polytrack.
Of course, a number of the visiting horses are untried on the Polytrack but many of the trainers seem to know which of their runners will be suited to the surface and one of those is Vaughan Marshall.
He sends out Black Eagle and this three-year-old Rafeef gelding does look the runner they will all have to beat. The Hollywood team are just five away from having their 150th winner for the season and Black Eagle could help them reach that milestone.
He has run nine times for three wins, three seconds and a third place and seems to have improved further since having been gelded. He has raced twice since then for a second and a win respectively and there is a possibility Marshall could see him picking up a small feature during the season.
Black Eagle has a win and a second place in his two races at Hollywoodbets Durbanville so he will have no hassles handling the turn and he comes into this race with the benefit of jumping from No 2 draw.
He will be ridden by Sean Veale who has been in the irons on eight occasions, so he knows this grey gelding really well.
His main threat, ironically, could come from a former Marshall inmate in United Nation, who is now with Darryl Moore. This son of One World did nothing in the Western Cape but grew another leg when introduced to the Polytrack.
He has raced on the surface seven times for six wins but the majority were at a much lower level. His lone defeat was against a field of this strength.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 5 Power Of Pearls, 4 Donmagoo, 1 Captain T, 6 Highveld Storm
Race 2: 3 Prins Jaspar, 9 Owner Of Creation, 6 Sail The Horizon, 8 Roy’s Glorious
Race 3: 5 Ubukhwebezana, 1 Infinity Edge, 7 Sohot Sowhat, 4 Back At The George, Perilla
Race 4: 2 Spaarne Rivier, 6 Royal Sword, 7 Tam’s Knight, 10 Notable
Race 5: 7 Victor Rail, 6 Blast Fromthe Past, 4 Bless Me Fred, 1 Rainbow Reward
Race 6: 2 Qhawekazi, 8 Dawn Surprise, 5 Flying Fate, 6 Tequila Sky
Race 7: 2 Black Eagle, 3 United Nation, 1 Position Of Power, 6 Maphaka
Race 8: 1 L’Ultimo, 11 Definitely Yes, 6 Gorgeous Dude, 10 Kali Bwana
BEST BET
Race 1: 5 Power Of Pearls
VALUE BET
Race 8: 1 L’Ultimo
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 3×9
BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 5
Leg 2: 3, 9
Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 7
Leg 4: 2, 6, 7
Leg 5: 4, 6, 7
Leg 6: 2, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R288
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 1, 5, 7
Leg 3: 2, 6
Leg 4: 4, 6, 7
Leg 5: 2, 8
Leg 6: 2, 3
Leg 7: 1, 6, 10, 11
PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 2, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 4, 6, 7
Leg 4: 2, 8
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3
Leg 6: 1, 6, 8, 10, 11
JACKPOT 1
R72
Leg 1: 2, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 4, 6, 7
Leg 3: 2, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3
JACKPOT 2
R120
Leg 1: 1, 4, 6, 7
Leg 2: 2, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3
Leg 4: 1, 6, 8, 10, 11