Jack Milner racing express!
Thunderflash to strike at Arlington
The recent association between trainer Alan Greeff and jockey "MJ’’ Byleveld seems to be paying dividends and when the combine, they rarely finish out of the money.
On Monday at Arlington they team up with Thunderflash in Race 5, a MR 97 Handicap over 2400m, and should extend their winning streak. The fitting of blinkers has made a difference to this four-year-old gelding, who has scored two wins and two seconds in his last four starts.
Byleveld had his first ride aboard the gelding in a 2800m at Fairview last time Greeff’s charge ran, and Thunderflash looked a winner in the final 100m before Great Heart flew up late to catch him just short of the line. They meet again - and with a 0.5kg advantage and over this distance, Thunderflash should turn the tables.
On the EP Derby form over this course and distance he is marginally held by McIntosh. Just 0.40 lengths separated them and McIntosh is 0.5kg better off. However, that was before Thunderflash was equipped with blinkers.
American Idol finished third to Great Heart and Thunderflash. He is 0.5kg better off with the Greeff inmate and has a 1kg advantage over Jacques Strydom’s runner, so he, too, should be involved in this finish.
With Mark Khan back on the Port Elizabeth circuit aboard Gavin Smith-trained runners, anything he is aboard warrants respect. The decision to keep riding in the Eastern Cape may indicate Khan is keen to reclaim his champion jockey title and if that is the case, he is on the aptly named Man On A Mission.
Smith’s runner gives quite a lot of weight all round but the five-year-old son of London News stays all day and can never be discounted in races of this nature.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Topic Author
