Andrew Harrison
Two of the better bets on today’s eight-race Hollywoodbets Scottsville card could come in the last two races. Mike and Mathew de Kock saddle Cymric in the seventh and Snaith could round off the afternoon with Black Cheetah.
Cymric has some smart form in useful company has a handy weight and could well be the horse to beat. Biggest threat could be Luhamba Phambili who has been in good form since returning from the Cape and was close-up in a strong field last time out. Snaith sends out Un Bel Di who may just have needed his last run when making his local debut and only has 48kg to shoulder. Lion Rampart makes his local debut and comes with some useful Cape form but does look held.
Black Cheetah is a promising juvenile who could prove too classy for this field and his biggest danger could be Garth Puller’s runner Major Tommie. He returns from a lengthy break but shed his maiden at second time of asking after making a smart debut. If not ring-rusty he looks capable of a forward showing. Trippi T took an age to shed his maiden but once the ice was broken he followed up nicely. He has been rested but is consistent. Louis Goosen’s gelding Ibhele is down in class but knocking at the door. He is one to watch.
The card opener has many first timers but of those that have raced, Holy Star was a beaten favourite last time out and has two promising efforts behind his name.
In the second, Belligerent has started at long odds in both of her starts but improved nicely second time out and should feature. Engelandpark comes from a very much in form stable and was not far back in her Hollywoodbets Kenilworth debut and sure to have come on from that. The Duncan Howells pair of fillies Olive Grove and Perfume Power have the benefit of experience and should come on from their recent efforts.
Priority Terrace can get the Pick 6 off to a winning start although this is a competitive race. She was well fancied in the betting on debut and finished a close-up second. That run should have brought her on. Lucienne has yet to run a bad race and will be a big threat. She was touched off on this course last run in soft ground. Are You Sure has run her best race over course and distance. She has been consistent and should run another good race.
Ultra Quick has a wide draw in a small field in the fourth. He gets 4kg off his back and should be competitive in this line-up. Arverni Princess takes on males but has been consistent and is down in class. Fate Of Fortune has useful recent form but mostly on the poly which is a concern. Stable companion
Alyson Wright is making a concerted effort to land the KZN Champion Trainers title. She landed Saturday’s Gr3 Tote Oaks with She’s A Bomber and saddles Bad Medicine in the fifth. He run two smart races since shedding his maiden and if he can repeat his penultimate showing behind Hollywoodbets July candidate Okavango then he should be good enough in this line-up. Sean Tarry saddles the filly Arctic Silver who cruised home in her maiden win. She looks promising and does not meet a strong field over this trip.
In the sixth, Plaza Accord has come well of late and goes well this course and distance. He should put in another honest effort. Glen Kotzen’s filly Lock And Key takes on males but has improved with each outings since arriving in KZN and looks primed for this. There should be very little between Tirpitz and Imposing given their last meeting while Mojo Man steps up in trip and the extra can suit.