Greeff duo looks hard to oppose

There are two runners who pose a big challenge.

As is so often the case in Port Elizabeth, horses trained by Alan Greeff top the betting boards in many of today’s races on the Polytrack at Fairview.

There are two runners, in particular, who look hard to beat and an All To Come with TAB could prove rewarding. They are Soul Train in Race 1 and Ontenderhooks in Race 6.

When Soul Train made his debut last month over 1000m on the Polytrack, he was rumoured to be unbeatable and as a result went off a very short 17-20 favourite. Although prominent for much of the journey, he found Brazil Nut tough to crack and went down 2.75 lengths.

That is often the problem with backing a first-timer as one never knows if the horse will bring its track work to the racecourse.

There were excuses for this son of Soft Falling Rain as he was cut into during the running. But it is worth noting a tongue tie will be fitted for this race. This time he will run over 1200m, which is around the turn, but he is nicely drawn at No 2. Teaque Gould takes the ride once again.

Ontenderhooks lines up in a Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 2000m, and comes into this race as by far the best handicapped runner. This five-year-old daughter of Dynasty is at least 5kg better off with the rest of her opposition as she takes quite a large drop in class.

The form matches that weight advantage. Seeking Wisdom, who has a win over American Landing in her last start, finished 2.25 lengths behind Ontenderhooks when they were both beaten by Meryl, and Greeff’s charge is now 7.5kg better off.

Fools Garden was beaten 3.25 lengths by Ontenderhooks and is now a massive 14kg worse off. All the collateral form gives a massive advantage to Greeff’s runner.

The only runner who could trouble her could be Pretty Ballerina, who has only had one race since joining Tara Laing’s stable in Port Elizabeth. She was beaten 3.50 lengths by Magic Mary in that race and could have room for improvement.

Her only run on the Polytrack was at Greyville in January last year. She did not perform badly, finishing a 2.05-length fifth behind O’ Keeffe in a FM 82 Handicap over 1800m.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 8 Soul Train, 5 Rose A Veldt, 4 Private Initiative, 1 Forest Of Green Race 2: 3 Colorado Springs, 2 Cherry Creek, 1 Cape Jubilee, 4 Gift Of Peace Race 3: 9 Royal Splurge, 1 Mount Everest, 8 Gimme Express, 2 Up Early Race 4: 2 Luke's Legacy, 5 Edo Furin, 1 Ghalyoon, 7 Billi Ann

Race 5: 2 The Silva Fox, 3 Blackbeard, 4 Crystal Stream, 8 At The Opera Race 6: 6 Ontenderhooks (best Win bet), 7 Pretty Ballerina, 3 Epic Storm, 2 Seeking Wisdom

Race 7: 4 Natural Jade (best Win/ Place bet), 1 Tiger Star, 3 Perfect Pathway, 5 Yodalicious

Race 8: 6 Gail Force, 12 Precious Jewel, 8 Quakeshake, 3 Her Eminence