Visiting Milnerton-based trainer Vaughan Marshall has had a good start to South Africa’s Champions Season and he can add a further two feathers to his cap at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
He has two lively runners in the second and third events which could help punters fatten their wallets for the more difficult handicaps at the back end of the card.
In the second he sends out the gelded son of Erupt, Icy Blast who is the only winner in the race and has come good in blinkers. Marshall’s runner rates the one to beat. Sorting out the form of the balance is tricky but Let The Flag Fly was never in the hunt against winners last start when trying further from a bad draw. He has shown up well on this course. Goosebumps took on a competitive maiden field last start and was not far back. He meets weaker here and has a money chance.
Marshall saddles Finonacci in the third who arrived in KZN off some fair Cape form which saw him start favourite in his local debut. He finished close-up in third but more was obviously expected of him and he tries first time blinkers. Mike Miller sends out Ninety Nine Heros who raced green in the soft when making his debut in feature company. Watch for solid improvement. Nelson Bay has the widest draw to overcome but improved nicely over course and distance when touched off for third when taking on winners. Glen Kotzen holds a strong hand and has pitted two fillies against males in Foreshore who improved nicely second time out on this course and has a claiming apprentice up, and Winter Frolic who raced green from a wide draw on debut and can make the required improvement with Keagan de Melo aboard. He also saddles Aberdeen who made a promising local debut but has a deep draw to contend with.
The first is something of a puzzle. African Beat has not missed a cheque in her five starts and has been a close-up second at her last two. There are a number of well-bred first timers in the race but Mike Miller’s charge could get it right this time around. Jane’s Vision started a long odds on debut but caught the eye when staying on from a wide draw. Michael Roberts is never one to rush his two-year-olds and this filly should come on lengths from that effort. Bomber Girl took on feature company in the soft last time out after two promising efforts. She should do much better here. Duncan Howells sends out Mia’s Athena who has started favourite in both starts. She took on males last time and only weakened late so can make amends. The betting should be your best guide here.
Doug Campbell, who saddled the 1000th winner of his career recently, sends out Power Star in the first leg of the Pick 6. The gelding has made good improvement in blinkers and goes well this trip. He gets 1.5kg relief from the saddle courtesy of Rachel Venniker and that could be enough to see him out of the maidens. Trusova made a smart debut at long odds when taking on winners over course and distance. He does take on older runners but obviously has ability and is up against some modest opposition. Flaming Drum was a beaten short-priced favourite last time out and looks well held by Power Star on that showing. But it was a below par performance and he can do better.
Mythical Tune is limited but she is a hard knocker. She takes on modest company in the fifth and can finally get it right although there are a number of possible improvers in the line-up. Two-year-old Bosnay made good improvement second timeout for Darryl Moore and Theappleofmyeye raced green on debut but comes from a very much in form stable. St Cloud has been lightly raced but did show marked improvement last time out and is one to keep an eye on in the betting.
Sean Tarry saddles one runner in October Fair in the sixth who comes off a comfortable Highveld win over the distance. Keagan de Melo stays with the ride which is a point in her favour. Lucky Miss is always game and was not far back in a tough sprint last time out, a distance short of her best. She will much prefer this trip and from a good draw must have a strong chance. Alphabetty has a touch of class and was not far back against some useful opposition in the Cape. She goes well this trip but may just need the outing. Fabulous has not been far back on the poly at her last two but her two wins have come on the turf in lessor company but she has a handy weight and will be a strong contender.
The seventh is an open handicap but Aurora Storm has his third run after a break and should strip at his peak. Peter Muscutt’s runner has shown up well in both starts since returning from the Cape and from a good draw he should have every chance. Radicchio is a recent maiden winner but the form has worked out well and he enjoyed the extra ground of his last start and the extra furlong here should be right up his alley. The striking grey Professor Snape gives Marshall a chance of a third winner on the afternoon. The grey may just have needed his first local outing and although he looks held by Aurora Storm on that showing, he is likely to improve and can turn the tables. Release Me was the ham in the sandwich between Aurora Storm and Professor Snape and is another that comes strongly into the picture.
Garth Puller’s runner Masterbling was well supported in the market on debut and obliged with the minimum of fuss. He took on a strong field over two furlongs further second time out and was a close-up fourth. Back over a sprint with a light weight he should be competitive. Gimme A Rainbow did not have the best of luck in the running last time out and prior to that he was touched off over course and distance. Return To Russia is an interesting runner. He has not been out for nearly 12 months so his fitness will need to be taken on trust. However, he did contest a Gr1 at his second start. Patronage seems best in blinkers, winning over course and distance two starts back and they have not been declared. Watch for any late declarations.
Gareth van Zyl could round off the meeting with La Pura Vida who has been in good form over course and distance in this class. She gets a claiming apprentice up and should be in the firing line. Diamond Girl was not far back in feature company last start and her last win was on this course. She has a handy weight to help her chances. These two could fight out what is a difficult handicap.
