Rainbow Bridge has won 10 of his 22 starts and is confidently expected to extend that successful run in Saturday’s Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m at Greyville.
The Ideal World gelding has been a remarkable asset to his owners, firstly Chris Gerber and currently Michael Rattray, and is the pioneer of a dynasty which includes two other multiple Grade 1 winners in Hawwaam and Golden Ducat.
Eric Sands’ charge will be hoping for some revenge this time, looking to turn the tables on Belgarion and Jet Dark, who beat him in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes and Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate respectively.
He then went on to win the Cape Town Met and demonstrated his current wellbeing with a triumph in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m at Greyville last month.
While he does have a tendency to drop off a little in his second run after a rest, Rainbow Bridge will encounter some runners who have not raced since January. Belgarion missed out on his intended season opener in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting 1900 owing to an abnormal blood count while Jet Dark has not been seen in action since winning the Queen’s Plate.
There is no question that Belgarion’s main mission is a second successive Vodacom Durban July, but Jet Dark comes across as a talented miler and this race must be on his to-do list.
Perhaps a bigger threat to Rainbow Bridge is Cirillo. It Is quite a while since Sean Tarry’s charge has paid a visit to the No 1 box, but he has placed in four of his six starts at Greyville.
Catch Twentytwo won the Grade 2 Dingaans and was a neck second behind Malmoos in the Grade 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas, both over 1600m, and along with Vaughan Marshall-trained Seeking The Stars, who still has to prove he will see out a true-run 1600m, must be considered for Quartets.
Nevertheless, with an extremely competitive card and a Pick 6 carryover of R1-million expected to boost the pool to R5 million, Rainbow Bridge is the most promising banker.
There is also a R250,000 carryover to Jackpot 1 which is likely to produce a pool of R1 million, while the Trifecta pool in Race 6, the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m, will kick off with a R200,000 carryover and is likely to reach R300,000.
That Trifecta could be worth catching as this race for fillies and mares could see some upsets, especially in the places.
The older runners could have the edge over the three-year-olds as they are among the best weighted and have procured the better draws.
Wisteria Walk and Wylie Wench could be best of the older set while Freestate Star and Zarina look the pick of the youngsters.
Three-year-old Zarina was eye catching in the Grade 2 KZN Fillies Guineas when a 2.40-length fourth behind Captain’s Ransom and should enjoy this distance.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 5 Diamond Girl, 8 Ballygood, 7 Backstop, 1 Emerald Isla
Race 2: 3 Quick Star, 1 Ralph The Rascal, 5 Karoo Lark, 7 Mach Four
Race 3: 6 Captain’s Run, 3 Eastern Belle, 9 Kailene, 4 Twice The Trip
Race 4: 1 Conquer The Enemy, 3 Cosmic Highway, 2 Incredibill, 4 Party Time
Race 5: 2 Tree Tumbo, 5 Nexus, 1 Doublemint, 7 Crown Towers
Race 6: 5 Wisteria Walk, 10 Freestate Star, 1 Wylie Wench, 6 Zarina
Race 7: 3 Rainbow Bridge, 5 Cirillo, 9 Catch Twentytwo, 1 Jet Dark
Race 8: 8 Spydas Corner, 6 Speed Machine, 4 Captain Oupie, 3 Slalom Queen
Race 9: 9 Radames, 12 Double Edge, 14 Whispers Of War, 8 Purple Dominance
BEST BET
Race 7 No 3 Rainbow Bridge
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 1 Conquer The Enemy
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 5×8
BIPOT
R324
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5, 7
Leg 2: 3, 6, 9
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5
Leg 5: 1, 5, 10
Leg 6: 3
PACE ACCUMULATOR
R243
Leg 1: 3, 6, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5
Leg 4: 1, 5, 10
Leg 5: 3
Leg 6: 4, 6, 8
Leg 7: 9
PICK 6
R2250
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 7, 10
Leg 4: 3
Leg 5: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 6: 9, 12, 14
JACKPOT 1
R150
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 1, 5, 6, 7, 10
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
JACKPOT 2
R120
Leg 1: 1, 5, 6, 7, 10
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 4: 8, 9, 12, 14
Jack Milner
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