Brett Crawford runs the fancied Snitzel colt Traces in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion at Scottsville on Saturday and has a strong hand in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sprint too with Bold Respect and Sunset Eyes.

Crawford said about the Australian-bred colt by Snitzel, Traces. “He has done very well. He had a good prep run when he first arrived here and has come on immensely. Scottsville first time out is never an easy track for a horse to handle so I am expecting a big run from him.”

Traces had his African Horse Sickness vaccinations in March, so they had to take it easy with him. Therefore he needed his SA Champions Season pipe opener when beaten 6,75 lengths into third by the Medallion favourite Cue The Music over 1100m at Scottsville. Furthermore, he is blind in his near-side eye so from a draw of one the field were on his bad side that day, but he now has a high draw so will be able to see most of the field this time and Crawford believed this would be a “big plus” factor.

Crawford said about the three-year-old Bold Silvano gelding Bold Respect and the four-year-old Western Winter gelding Sunset Eyes, “They are both coming off great runs in the In Full Flight Stakes (over 1100m at Scottsville first and second). Bold Respect’s really done well subsequently as has Sunset Eyes. Being a handicap, off their respective marks I expect them both to be competitive. Bold Respect is a horse who I think will keep on improving and Sunset Eyes is as honest as they come, so I expect both horses to run big races.”

Crawford said the Cape Summer season had not worked out well for Bold Respect after they had initially tried him over further, so the best should be seen of him now that he is sticking to sprints.

Corné Orffer rides Traces and Bold Respect and Warren Kennedy rides Sunset Eyes.

By David Thiselton