Pioneer Spirit on the up

PUBLISHED: 14 July 2015

Pioneer Spirit (Nkosi Hlophe)

There is a low key meeting at Scottsville on Wednesday and punters will be hoping for some more good form results after a generally favourable meeting at this venue on Sunday.

The first race on the card over 1200m will  attract plenty of interest for parade ring watchers around the country as swimming icon Chad Le Clos will be there to see the debut run of his Toreador colt, the Paul Lafferty-trained Unbelievable Chad, who is described as a “very nice horse who should run very well.” However, the horse who could prove hard to beat will be the Dennis Drier-trained Imperial Stride colt Swakopmund, who finished second over course and distance on debut and the form looks strong.

The Mike de Kock-trained Australian-bred first-timer Kinaan is by world leading sire Galileo, so will be of interest, and Chestnut’s Champ and Omega Onslaught are the other first-timers who make some appeal. Of those to have run Vinicio could make more improvement.

Pioneer Spirit (Nkosi Hlophe)

Pioneer Spirit (Nkosi Hlophe)

The highest rated race of the day is the seventh race, a MR 78 Handicap over 1950m. The three-year-old gelding Pioneer Spirit is well drawn with Anthony Delpech up and being by Go Deputy he will now be improving rapidly, so he could be the one to beat despite carrying topweight. Worship Dancer, a good looking and improving gelding by Tiger Dance, will relish the further step up in trip on pedigree, but he does have a tricky draw of six in the nine horse field. Sovereign Reign ran on from near the back over 1600m last time out and wasn’t  beaten far by the promising Saratoga Dancer, so he looks likely to enjoy this trip and could be a contender. Jet Avenger likely needed his last run but is distance suited and has won at Scottsville before. Buck Shot has been disappointing but is drawn well and should be effective over this trip so could earn if producing his best. There is not much between New Fort and Worship Dancer on their last meeting, but the former does have the widest draw to overcome.

The second race over 1200m could be won by the Drier-trained Just As Well filly Well In Flight who caught the eye staying on well over course and distance on debut. There are plenty of first-timers in this race and the one that makes most appeal is Northern Chorus, who is by Fort Wood out of the Graded-winning sprinter Headstrong.

The third race over 1200m could be won by Bunker Hill, who finished just 1,75 lengths behind Swakopmund on debut in a strong form race. Land Of Legends is one who could improve out of that same race. Apollo’s Gift ran a fair race on debut and could also improve.

First-timer African Ruler is of interest here being by Trippi out of the useful sprinter Chant De Nuit. Astral Promise is a full-brother to the dual Gr 3 winner Astro News and is another interesting first-timer.

In the fourth over 1200m the interesting runner is Blessed Release who was all the rage last time out and is worth another chance.

Aguero and Green Door beat him in that last race but the form has not worked out too well so others that will have to be considered are the hard knocking Destined For Dawn, Triptonic and Al Wahed. The last mentioned returns from a break of nearly a year but if he repeats his six length second place finish to Generalissimo last time out he will be right there.

The fifth over 1200m could see the hard-knocking Roy’s Angel beating Masked Girl and Kingsview.

The sixth over 1000m could be won by the two-year-old Just Africa, who is well regarded and being very fast will love this trip. He also has the advantage of a 4kg claimer aboard. The speedy Tonto should also be suited to this course and distance having only faded late when beaten 5,25 lengths by the promising Hunting Owl over 1200m.

The Tripster, who overtook Tonto late in that race, should be thereabouts too. Bengal Boy, All True Man, Midanswer, Burrwood and Threshhold can also be considered.

The eighth sees a good opportunity from a good draw for Princess Beach, who has struck as being better than her form suggests and the 1950m trip should be perfect. Bizjet could be the danger.

The last over 1400m could be won by the two-year-old Brooklyn Brawler, who likely needed his first outing over 1400m and looks to have scope for considerable improvement.

It’s a tough race and Noble Peer might present fair each/way value. Gurkha Chief is another one who could be in the shake up.

By David Thiselton