South Africa Horse Racing Previews: SCOTTSVILLE@2023.02.05
Scottsville, 05.02.2023, Race 1, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R80.000, 12:45GMT+2
Race Summary: This won’t take much winning so any market support for newcomers PAINTED EARTH and FUNKY GIRL will need to be taken seriously. CAN’T CATCH ME has shown improvement in recent starts and with further progress should be competitive. ROYAL OASIS is a long-time maiden but has consistent form to her name and ought to be involved again. VARIETY FAIR fits a similar profile and finished 2nd in her only start over this trip, so should make her presence felt too. PRETTY ANALIA and likely improver WHAT A PIDDY could complete the minors.
Selections:
#10 Can’T Catch Me, #11 Royal Oasis, #4 Variety Fair, #2 Pretty Analia
Scottsville, 05.02.2023, Race 2, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R80.000, 13:20GMT+2
Race Summary: SUPER FAST and OSHAKATI make most appeal having found one better in recent starts over shorter. Both could have more to offer going this trip for the first time, though preference is for the former who has done all his racing on the turf whereas the latter has shown his best form on the Polytrack. Stablemates FINE ADMIRAL and OLYMPIC STANDARD have earning potential but a bigger threat to the principals is likely to come from DOIN’ TIME who showed improvement last time out and ought to make further progress. GIANTS CASTLE and POWER STAR are capable of playing minor roles.
Selections:
#2 Super Fast, #6 Oshakati, #7 Doin’ Time, #1 Fine Admiral
Scottsville, 05.02.2023, Race 3, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R80.000, 13:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Hard to back any of these with a degree of confidence but it could pay to follow I’VE GOT WINGS who reverts to the turf after producing an improved effort on the Polytrack last time when trying this trip for the first time. GELSOMINA has a bit to find on that form but is 1kg better off so should have a say in the finish. GUTEN TAG is closely matched with that rival on the form of their meeting behind Cataleya Summer but will need to bounce back following a disappointing effort behind those rivals recently. MADAME ZABRE could make her presence felt if confirming the improvement shown last time.
Selections:
#4 I’Ve Got Wings, #6 Gelsomina, #3 Guten Tag, #7 Madame Zabre
Scottsville, 05.02.2023, Race 4, Gallops, 2400m, Turf, R80.000, 14:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Wide open. IF YOU SAY SO has run well up to 2000m and could have more to offer over the extra. LA DREAMER stays well and arrives in good form so ought to play a leading role. Both fillies get weight from their male rivals, though the latter will benefit from a further 1.5kg off her back. JOHNNY’S HOPE has improved with racing and over ground, and is likely to improve going this distance after a pleasing comeback run over shorter. Highveld raider TIME TO MEDITATE sports blinkers and a tongue-tie for the first time, which could bring about improvement, so is best kept safe. Others also capable.
Selections:
#6 La Dreamer, #9 Johnny’s Hope, #5 If You Say So, #12 Triton
Scottsville, 05.02.2023, Race 5, Gallops, 1750m, Turf, R80.000, 15:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Many with chances in an open contest. COLUMBIA ROAD was beaten by ESCAPOLOGIST before winning last time. Both are open to further improvement but will need to do so to be competitive on handicap debut. RASPBERRY BERET blows hot and cold but isn’t one to rely on. BLAZING KISS caught the eye in a similar contest last time and from a favourable draw is likely to play a leading role. Both SPLASH OF GREEN and CONCHITA try further now having been dropped in the ratings and could make their presence felt. CATALEYA SUMMER and FASHIONIGMA are consistent and likely to have a say back on the turf. Tricky!
Selections:
#4 Blazing Kiss, #11 Cataleya Summer, #10 Conchita, #14 Fashionigma
Scottsville, 05.02.2023, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R80.000, 15:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. IDEAL ACT faces a stiff task under top weight from the widest draw but arrives boasting good form at this level over shorter distances and, on the evidence of his recent starts on the Polytrack, the extra 200m switching back to the turf may well be to his liking. BOUNDLESS BASH has raised his game wearing cheekpieces and is course-and-distance suited, so should give another competitive account of himself. CAESURA and NEWS STREAM are honest, versatile and consistent hard-knockers who won’t be far off the action. IRON WILL, JUAN CARLOS and SEA MASTER can make their presence felt too.
Selections:
#9 Ideal Act, #4 Boundless Bash, #7 Sea Master, #2 Caesura
Scottsville, 05.02.2023, Race 7, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R80.000, 16:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. COUNT MARSH is distance suited and in good form but will need to reproduce that on the turf to be competitive. IBUTHO and MAJESTIC WARRIOR are better than their disappointing recent efforts suggest and could have a say if bouncing back to earlier form. DIANI rattled off a hat-trick over this trip prior to a break and could have more to offer on his return, though need to improve to be competitive as he jumps in class. ACTION TIME won his maiden over this trip and runs his best raced in blinkers, so could get in on the action too.
Selections:
#3 Count Marsh, #1 Ibutho, #5 Diani, #2 Majestic Warrior
Scottsville, 05.02.2023, Race 8, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R80.000, 16:45GMT+2
Race Summary: Both DIAMOND GIRL and ANTICO AMORE have not been seen since running at the same Polytrack meeting back in September, so their fitness will have to be taken on trust. The former is a course-and-distance winner who held her own in stronger races prior to the layoff. She also runs well fresh so it wouldn’t surprise to see her make a winning comeback. FLYING THE STAR behind VISION OF WILL and OUR EMILY in a recent meeting over 1000m on the all-weather surface but will strip fitter and is fancied to turn the tables switching back to the turf. LOOKING HOT is another with earning potential.
Selections:
#1 Diamond Girl, #3 Flying The Star, #8 Antico Amore, #9 Our Emily
Best Win: #2 SUPER FAST
Best Value Bet: #6 LA DREAMER
Best Longshot: #6 LA DREAMER
