The Michael Roberts-trained six-year-old Victory Moon gelding Muscatt became the second horse in two weeks to break a Scottsville course record down the straight on Sunday. Muscatt, who carried an actual 54,5kg due to the 4kg claim of apprentice Calvin Habib, lowered the 1000m course record to 55,81 seconds. The previous holder was the Dennis Drier-trained Equus Champion Sprinter Captain Of All, who recorded 55,96 when carrying a welter 61,5kg on March 29 last year.

Muscatt, who was bred by Milkwood Stud, is an impressive specimen who weighed in at 545kg for Sunday’s race. He displayed high cruising speed from his draw of six and had soon drifted across to join the pacemaker Tonto, who jumped from the number one draw. When challenged by the favourite Beloved Country, Muscatt kicked away under the hands in impressive style and Habib only had to give him a couple of backhanders to keep the talented Mark Dixon-trained London Call at bay by 3,5 lengths. He beat third-placed Sheik’s Brashee, who finished third in last years’s Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, by six lengths.

Muscatt (Nkosi Hlophe)

Muscatt has big, flat feet and relished the forgiving underfoot conditions, with the penetrometer reading at an official 24.

He has always had huge potential and showed it from day one of his career, winning his opening two races over 1000m and 1200m at Fairview for his first trainer Gavin Smith by 12,25 lengths and 5,5 lengths respectively.

However, his feet have given him plenty of problems, so Roberts and his farrier Dom Finnis have done wonders to bring him back to his best at this relatively advanced age. The process was begun by putting him in a grass paddock for a month upon arrival at the yard. His first run for Roberts was on January 3 and he was beaten 0,25 lengths by Beloved Country over the Scottsville 1000m. Muscatt was 3kg better off with Beloved Country on Sunday, if the 4kg claim of Habib is included, and Roberts was confident of reversing the form. The big horse duly did so, slamming her by 6,3 lengths.

Muscatt had one race in between and ran way below par over 1200m at Greyville.

Roberts admitted yesterday (Monday) it appears 1000m is his best trip, but looking at his record believes he is better down the straight than around the turn.

Therefore his target will be the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m on the first Saturday of June.

The Tony Rivalland-trained four-year-old Miesque’s Approval gelding Humidor, bred by Backworth Stud, broke the Scottsville 1200m course record when carrying 55,5kg  on February 14, lowering the 67 second time of Kildonan (carrying 57,5kg in the Golden Horse Casino Sprint of 2007) to 66,98 seconds.

By David Thiselton