Mercantour to get back on track

Trainer Alan Greeff will be seeking some revenge after rival trainer Dean Smith toppled his Polytrack champion in the first leg of the Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Polytrack Challenge over 1200m, and Mercantour looks likely to do the job for him.

Mercantour only found crack sprinter Cruise Control too quick on the day in that opening leg and from a good draw, should take out Race 7 over 1400m on the Polytrack on Friday.

The Var gelding has won 13 races and is seven from 10 on this surface. He is also three from four over this course and distance.

Regular rider Richard Fourie is not riding at this meeting, and Kabelo Matsunyane gets his first ride aboard him.

Although Mercantour is giving weight away to all his rivals, he is still well handicapped under the race conditions.

Smith has his runners in fine form, and he will be hopeful of beating that rival yet again.

He sends out the decent four-year-old All Systems Go.

This Gimmethegreenlight gelding is unbeaten in two starts on the Polytrack, and both of those wins were full of merit.

Whether beating Ventura Boulevard last time out, trained by Greeff, is good enough form to challenge Mercantour remains to be seen.

Jockey Craig Zackey has a good record on All Systems Go and will make his rival at least work hard for victory.

Greeff has some back-up in the form of Guy Gibson and Mr Fox, and neither can be totally dismissed.

Guy Gibson is not an easy horse to win with but will be course and distance suited.

Mr Fox showed talent earlier in his career but does not show it consistently.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Ain’t No Sunshine, 6 Green Point, 3 Pretty Boy, 2 Alesian Beau

Race 2: 7 Among The Willows, 8 TP Thunderchild, 9 Tipsy, 1 Stone Of Scone

Race 3: 1 King Viserys, 7 Alado’s Pride, 4 Disruptive, 3 Show Off

Race 4: 6 Saboteur, 2 Rock Me Mama, 4 Qondanekukhanyeni, 10 Chroniclesofnania

Race 5: 5 Hospices De Beaune, 9 Silent Trigger, 3 Real War, 8 Cheerful Charlie B

Race 6: 8 Rush Green, 6 Blame It On Me, 2 Stokesy, 5 Susurrando

Race 7: 1 Mercantour, 2 All Systems Go, 3 Guy Gibson, 5 Black Egret

Race 8: 10 Diamond Maker, 5 Travel Master, 1 Kwagga Blitz, 2 Rhythm

 

BEST BET

Race 3: 1 King Viserys

VALUE BET

Race 8: 10 Diamond Maker

BEST SWINGER

Race 7 1×2

 

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 3, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 7, 8, 9

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 2, 6

Leg 5: 3, 5, 9

Leg 6: 2, 6, 8

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R108

Leg 1: 7, 8, 9

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 2, 6

Leg 4: 5, 9

Leg 5: 2, 6, 8

Leg 6: 1

Leg 7: 1, 5, 10

 

PICK 6

R600

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 2, 4, 6

Leg 3: 3, 5, 6, 8, 9

Leg 4: 2, 5, 6, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 1, 2, 5, 9, 10

 

JACKPOT 1

R120

Leg 1: 2, 4, 6

Leg 2: 3, 5, 6, 8, 9

Leg 3: 2, 5, 6, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2

 

JACKPOT 2

R200

Leg 1: 3, 5, 6, 8, 9

Leg 2: 2, 5, 6, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 9, 10