Dawn Calling is possibly the best one-time winner racing but gets a chance to double her winning tally in the Racing. It’s A Rush Pinnacle Stakes at Scottsville on Sunday although punters will be treading carefully.

Duncan Howells has a strong hand in the eight-runner field and although Anton Marcus, who has been pencilled in behind many of the Howells runners recently, stays with Dawn Calling, it may be because of the weights. Marcus is hardly comfortable at 55.5kg so Anthony Delpech has picked up the plum ride on stable companion Fiorella.

Dawn Calling

On current evidence, Dawn Calling does not appear to have an optimum distance. Stretched to a mile she has come up one-paced on a number of occasions, although admittedly against superior opposition. Over sprints she lacks early ‘toe’.

If she does have an optimum trip it could be this 1400m and although she has again drawn the short straw as far as barriers go, she must rate an outstanding chance.

Dawn Calling and Fiorella finished within a neck of each other behind the rising star Hashtagyolo in the Flamboyant Stakes with the former one-paced and the latter running at them late. Sunday’s shorter trip could be the key to the outcome of this battle.

Mark Dixon has tossed She’s A Dream in at the deep end but although badly out at the handicap her two victories to date have been super impressive. She romped home in a MR70 Handicap last time out and put in a smart piece of work at Summerveld yesterday and would not have blown out a candle after her gallop so she is super fit. Is she good enough? Only the race will tell.

Top weight Lala is the best weighted in the field but Doug Campbell’s mare does appear to be lengths better on the poly.

On a tricky ten-race card, punters will be looking to cut down where possible and the Ashburton pairing of Amor Ardiente and High Green could be enough to get them through a difficult leg of the exotics.

Belinda Impey had a winner at Scottsville last Sunday when City Of Stars ran out a narrow winner and in Amor Ardiente she looks to have another bright chance for the winner’s enclosure. The gelding has his quirks but also useful form to back his claims. Racing from a wide draw last time out, he ran the smart mare Mark My Card to within a length. He meets slightly weaker here and has a better draw.

High Green shed his maiden for Lowan Denysschen last time out, blossoming over the extra. High Green comes out of some solid formlines and another win would not come as a surprise.

Majestic Glory was another recent maiden winner but Paul Lafferty thought enough of the Australian-bred colt to start him off in Cape Town during their season. It all came together first time of asking as Majestic Glory lived up to his billing as favourite. He takes on a few hard-knockers in his handicap debut in the Rockafellas Restaurant Handicap but does look to have enough scope to follow up on that win.

By Andrew Harrison