The main race at Scottsville yesterday, a MR 86 Handicap over 1200m, saw a cosy win for the promising Mark Dixon-trained Silent Crusade. .
This three-year-old Crusade filly looked capable of improving on a 78 merit rating as she is a half-sister to her useful stablemate Silver Fantasy who reached a merit rating of 92. Carrying just 52,5kg she sat just off the pace and moved through smoothly under Keagan de Melo to beat topweight Essenceoflife by 1,90 lengths.
The meeting began with a win for the talented but problematic Duncan Howells-trained Rocket Fire in a Maiden over 1000m. This Klawervlei Stud-bred gelding is by Rock Of Gibraltar out of a placed Irish-bred mare who is a half-sister to twice Group 2 winner Bankable, who stood at stud in South Africa. His temperament has cost him as he gets worked up and then tends to over race. However, yesterday he was allowed to stride out at the head of affairs under Mark Khan and stayed on well to beat Krishnies Jet and convert 2/1 favouritism.
The second race was a Maiden over 2400m and once again the horse who was bred to win did so. The Frank Robinson-trained Cruise Cruz is by Vodacom Durban July winner Bold Silvano out of a half-sister to the SA Derby winner Seal and after sitting third in the running he stayed on well in the straight and won cosily in the end under Serino Moodley. This colt has a rangy action and could win more races over staying trips.
Moodley and Robinson then clinched a quick double with the Gimmethegreenlight filly Watchmego in a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m. The rank outsider benefitted from a tactic change as she shot out of the starting gates straight into the lead and managed to gallop all the way to the line for a one length victory over the fancied By The Way.
In the next race, a Maiden over 1400m, Last Of A Legends was settled near the back from a tricky draw of eight and Luke Ferraris then switched the Sean Tarry-trained three-year-old Horse Chestnut colt to the outside in the straight. He ran on full of running to win by 1,75 lengths from outsider Mr Fitz, who caught the eye with a strong finish on debut.
In the fifth, a Maiden for Fillies and Mares over 1400m, the Tony Rivalland-trained Oratorio filly Star Vega is a good looking sort with plenty of substance and after running on resolutely from midfield down the inside of horses she found another gear in impressive style to win by 1,60 lengths under Stuart Randolph from the rank outsider Class Of Eight with the favourite Winter Retreat third.
The sixth race was a MR 72 Handicap over 1200m and Lyle Hewitson took the Garth Puller-trained Toreador gelding Sentido straight to the front. He was full of gallop on the day and won easily by 3,25 lengths from the second favourite Tristful.
The last race over 1000m saw the Darryl Moore-trained Querari gelding Woodstock Festival just getting up under Jarred Samuel to deny Bravo Zulu.
By David Thiselton
