Whispering Death to find the right blend

Jack Milner

On paper, Race 4 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday, a Conditions plate over 1800m, looks to be one-way traffic.

According to the race conditions, Mocha Blend should be a stand-out bet. After all, she is at least 7.5kg better off with any of her rivals and will have no issue with the distance.

However, she is being prepared by trainer Frank Robinson for the defence of her Betway Summer Cup title and that Grade 1 race over 2000m at TAB Turffontein on the Standside track takes place on Saturday 28 November and the five-year-old daughter of Ideal World might not be at close to her peak.

Of course, that won’t stop her winning and as she is the best weighted runner, she is unlikely to incur a penalty for the R6-million race.

She won the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m at this course on 26 July and was then given a break. She made her return over 1400m on 2 October and proved no match for Quickstepgal. She clearly found the distance too short, but interestingly she was checked by the course vet after the race who found nothing obvious.

She was only beaten 3.30 lengths so it was by no means a disastrous performance.

Nevertheless, she might still be in need of this run so there could be better value in race, and that may lie with Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Whispering Death.

The four-year-old son of Danon Platina was highly regarded as a two-year-old and demonstrated that potential when winning his second and third races with ease. He beat Chronicle King by 2.25 lengths when shedding his maiden tag and that runner then went on to win the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and finish third behind Jan van Goyen in the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes.

However, Whispering Death then lost his form and has performed moderately since. However, there was a lot to like about his last start when finishing a 1.30-length fourth behind Scarlet Macaw, despite losing ground at the start.

If he has begun to regain his best form after a rest, racing off a handy 53.5kg galloping weight and jumping from gate No 1, could see him upset all calculations.

Keagan de Melo rides but will have to put up 0.5kg overweight though.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Samuel Bellamy, 2 Elsham, 14 Casino Royale, 9 Emerald Visionary

Race 2: 5 Le Concierge, 9 Flight Twenty One, 3 Trip To Venus, 8 Catch That Kid

Race 3: 9 In A Timely Manner, 5 Ariovistus, 4 Blue Steel, 1 Claw

Race 4: 1 Whispering Death, 5 Mocha Blend, 8 Magic Verse, 4 Field Marshal

Race 5: 3 Last Ovation, 12 Tobacconist, 11 Bombers In The Sky, 5 Song To The Moon

Race 6: 2 Global Movement, 1 Master Silvano, 12 Hearts On Fire, 13 Poursomesugaronme

Race 7: 1 Sovereign Gem, 2 Champagne Mac, 10 Prophet, 8 Trafalgar Square

Race 8: 9 One Flight, 1 Rushing Chimes, 7 Blindfire, 2 Scandalize

Race 9: 2 Edward Rye, 11 The Swan Song, 8 Who Blinked, 7 Major League

 

BEST BET

Race 1: 5 Samuel Bellamy,

VALUE BET

Race 4: 1 Whispering Death

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 5×9

 

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 5, 9

Leg 2: 5, 9

Leg 3: 1, 5, 8

Leg 4: 3, 11, 12

Leg 5: 1, 2, 12

Leg 6: 1, 2

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 9

Leg 2: 1, 5

Leg 3: 3, 12

Leg 4: 1, 2, 12

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 1, 7, 9

Leg 7: 2, 8, 11

 

PICK 6

R1600

Leg 1: 1, 5

Leg 2: 3, 4, 5, 11, 12

Leg 3: 1, 2, 12, 13

Leg 4: 1, 2

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

Leg 6: 2, 7, 8, 11

 

JACKPOT 1

R200

Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 11, 12

Leg 2: 1, 2, 12, 13

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 2, 7, 8, 9

 

JACKPOT 2

R160

Leg 1: 1, 2, 12, 13

Leg 2: 1, 2

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

Leg 4: 2, 7, 8, 11