Native Ruler to finish his July warm-up in style
Jack Milner
There are still a few horses on the cusp of earning a place in the R10-million Hollywoodbets Durban July on 4 July and they still have an outside chance in Saturday’s Grade 3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
The runners most likely to benefit from a victory in this race are Shoot The Rapids, Holding Thumbs, Enflame and Tenpenny all of whom have not made the top 20 on the latest log. Topping the list is Holding Thumbs, who may have needed his last run.
He is a solid stayer who must have a win to come at this course. Shoot The Rapids stays well and finished runner-up in his last two. He has a win at this venue and is weighted to go close. Enflame has only won at Turffontein but he impressed as a top stayer, winning two features in a row easily, and may pass his test at this track, even if returning from a break. Tenpenny has been one of the most progressive horses of the season, rising from a 90 merit rating to 105 with four wins from 1600m to 2500m.
However, the winner could very well come from one of the runners who has already booked his place in the Durban July field, and that is Justin Snaith-trained Native Ruler.
The four-year-old son of Vercingetorix finished fifth behind See It Again in the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met and he is currently lying in 10th spot on the recent log which should guarantee him a place in the July should he want it.
Interestingly, Keagan de Melo has already been indicated as Native Ruler’s jockey in that and he will get a chance to test his choice in this race.
Native Ruler was rested after the Met and made his reappearance in the Greyville 1900 where he was caught late to finish fifth beaten 1.95 lengths by Isivivane.
He clearly needed that outing and having cleared away the cobwebs now looks ready to pick up a feature-race victory
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 7 Kid From The South, 4 Lenoxx, 3 Deonarie, 1 Tenareef
Race 2: 4 Sweet Green, 10 Queraristinyferari, 11 Pacific Mood, 1 Sweet Cherry
Race 3: 6 Zagreb, 3 Ubuntu Of Peace, 7 Barry’s Boy, 1 Donmagoo
Race 4: 5 Bangladesh, 3 Chicarito, 11 Definitely Yes, 6 Red Bomber
Race 5: 3 Gimmefabulous, 4 Mohave Prince, 7 Tyrconnell, 10 Aversator
Race 6: 9 Day Two, 11 Gold Gold Baby, 10 Zena Rose, 1 Vihaan’s Bomb
Race 7: 2 Native Ruler, 4 Shoot The Rapids, 7 Enflame, 5 Holding Thumbs
Race 8: 7 Circumbendibus, 8 Future Variety, 9 African Pride, 6 Cats Pajamas
Race 9: 8 Warrior Royale, 3 Miss World, 6 Blazing Fury, 13 Military CommandBEST BET
BEST BET
Race 3: 6 Zagreb
VALUE BET
Race 6: 9 Day Two
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 4×10
BIPOT
R96
Leg 1: 4, 10
Leg 2: 6
Leg 3: 5
Leg 4: 3, 4, 7, 10
Leg 5: 1, 9, 10, 11
Leg 6: 2, 4, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R243
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 5
Leg 3: 3, 4, 7
Leg 4: 9, 10, 11
Leg 5: 2, 4, 7
Leg 6: 7, 8, 9
Leg 7: 3, 6, 8
PICK 6
R1440
Leg 1: 5
Leg 2: 3, 4, 7
Leg 3: 1, 9, 10, 11
Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 5: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 6: 3, 6, 8, 13
JACKPOT 1
R360
Leg 1: 3, 4, 7
Leg 2: 1, 9, 10, 11
Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 4: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
JACKPOT 2
R480
Leg 1: 1, 9, 10, 11
Leg 2: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 3: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 4: 3, 6, 8, 13