The start of Champions Season is still a couple of weeks away but trainers are slowly slipping their horses into top gear in the warm-up programme.
There are three Listed features carded for Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
In the Listed World Sports Betting Sledgehammer visiting trainer Vaughan Marshall opened his KZN winter season account with San Pedro last Monday and saddles confirmed stayer Senso Unico in a tricky affair. The gelding does appear to be better over more ground but has not been far behind useful stayers in the Cape and with a trip from the Cape under his girth, he could race fresh over this shorter trip.
Sean Tarry saddles Indlamu who has been running well over shorter on the Highveld. He has a handy galloping weight and he should be close-up again. Glen Kotzen has a strong hand in the race but Lord William could prove the pick. He found some market support in the Kings Cup and was beaten just over a length by the vastly improved Cape Eagle. When Corne Spies raids from the Highveld it is best to take note. Prophet has patchy form and has been sprinting of late. He does have a touch of class and is one to watch in the betting.
The World Sports Betting Scarlet Lady is not an easy race. Tarry is starting to hunt the Champions Season features and sends out Sister Light who has been close-up in good Highveld company of late. She is seldom far back and stays the trip well. Hollywood Bound was close up in a Highveld feature last run and has her third run after a short break for Gareth van Zyl. Duncan Howells sends out Aquae Sulis. The strapping mare has a handy galloping weight and was a touch unlucky last run. She has done well over course and distance. Wendy Whitehead has done wonders with the mare Macara who is seldom far back and won well on this course last time out. She does meet stronger here but is more than capable.
In the World Sports Betting Highland Night Cup El Rey Viene has a touch of class and Duncan Howells steps him up to this trip for the first time but Howells knows how to get them fit and the trip should not be a problem. Rex Union comes off some useful Cape staying form. He was close-up last run and should run a big race for Dean Kannemeyer. Twice Golden is something of a course and distance specialist and should be in the firing line for Garth Puller while stable companion Queue Wing surprised over a sprint last time out but his better form has been over ground. He is one to watch in the betting.
The first two races have some well-bred and expensive yearling purchases lining up for the first time but experience is always worth a length or two.
There are many debutantes in the first but of those that have run African Beat is the stand-out. She has improved with each outing and was a close-up second to winners last time out. Experience should hold her in good stead. Stable companion Lady Lacewing was only a length behind African Folklore when last they met and she has improved of late so can upset. Of the first timers, Mauritania has a classy pedigree and Galaxy Rose comes from a very much in form yard.
There are also many first timers in the second so the betting should be your best guide. However, Bitcoin Baby was well fancied on debut but bumped a couple of first timers that where highly thought of. She made a cracking debut and rates the one to beat. Jockey bookings suggest that stable companion Baby Love is the stable elect but the stable comment doesn’t give much away. “Nice filly” was the comment. Bomber Girl made a smart debut and comes from a very much in form yard while the first timer Accumulate will look to be giving Stuart Ferrie a first winner as a fully licenced trainer.
