Menagerie stands out on the poly

Jack Milner

Racing is on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday and as is so often the case with a midweek meeting, winners do not look easy to find.

Generally, I am not a fan of maidens who keep running second because they often go off at very short prices and more often than not still find something to beat them.

However, there are times when one of those runners does look to have found the right race and that appears to be the case with Menagerie who lines up in Race 3, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m.

For a start, this two-year-old daughter of Rafeef has only raced twice, finishing second on both occasions. The two runs were at Hollywoodbets Scottsville over 1200m and 1100m respectively, and was beaten just 0.40 lengths on debut after losing two lengths at the start and then 0.30 lengths in her following race.

Most importantly, her last run was in the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes where she was touched off by Justin Snaith-trained Querari Dancer.

Trained by Stuart Ferrie, Menagerie is out of Variety, which makes her a half-sister to the likes of five-time winner Smorgasbord, nine-time winner Afraad, as well as Barry’s Boy and Hodgepodge, who will be in action in Races 4 and 5 respectively.

She will be taking on some well-worn older maidens, but she does have by some way the most scope for improvement in this field, and we are starting to see two-year-olds winning in open company.

While she is obviously an unknown factor on the Polytrack and will be racing around the turn for the first time, she does have the benefit of jumping from No 2 draw and having Sean Veale in the irons.

It could turn out to be a great day for the family if her two half-siblings Barry’s Boy and Hodgepodge can win their races.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Bison Warrior, 8 Kiki U Beauty, 5 The Swan Song, 2 Asheef

Race 2: 5 Liz Hurley, 6 Sei Bella, 7 Floral Kingdom, 10 Lady Jerome

Race 3: 2 Menagerie, 3 Legal Tango, 7 Dancing Party, 1 Boogy

Race 4: 4 Ka Chow, 7 Barry’s Boy, 8 Donmagoo, 2 Highveld Storm

Race 5: 3 Arctic Fury, 5 Zena Rose, 8 Fine Wine, 2 Hodgepodge

Race 6: 7 Act Of Grace, 2 Happy Fortune, 3 Flying Fate, 8 Izibulo

Race 7: 1 Axis Power, 2 Sugarbush, 3 Cappellino, 8 Sun In My Pocket

Race 8: 8 Catch A Penny, 2 Military Command, 1 Mojo Man, 5 Mighty Zambezi

BEST BET

Race 3: 2 Menagerie

VALUE BET

Race 5: 3 Arctic Fury

BEST SWINGER

Race 8 2×8

BIPOT

R288

Leg 1: 1, 8

Leg 2: 5, 6, 7

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 4, 7, 8

Leg 5: 2, 3, 5, 8

Leg 6: 2, 3, 7, 10

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 5, 6

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 4, 5, 8

Leg 4: 3, 5, 8

Leg 5: 2, 3, 7

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3

Leg 7: 2, 8

PICK 6

R1080

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 4, 7, 8

Leg 3: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

Leg 6: 2, 8

JACKPOT 1

R450

Leg 2: 4, 7, 8

Leg 3: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

JACKPOT 2

R300

Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

Leg 6: 2, 8