It was not an afternoon for the faint-hearted punter at Scottsville yesterday with long-shots making for big exotic bet pay-outs.

But that would not have bothered the husband and wife combination of Greg and Karen Anthony. They are not high on the totem pole when it comes to statistics but do well enough from a small string and racked up a quick double in yesterday’s opening exchanges.

In the card opener, Francisco, a smart looking son of champion sire Fort Wood’s last crop, was all the rage after an eye-catching barrier trial, but there is no substitute for experience.

Kilmokea (Candiese Marnewick)

It took time for Francisco’s penny to drop but by the time it did it was all over bar the shouting as Eastbrook, under champion jockey elect Lyle Hewitson who had kept faith with the ride, skated home leaving Francisco to battle it out for second ahead of rank outsider Flying George.

The Anthony’s were back in the winner’s circle a half-hour later as late starter Double ‘O’ Eight, was on the mark.

The daughter of Eightfold Path had put up an eye-catching trial, finishing ahead of the speedy Khetiwe, and carried that form through to a convincing victory over Jaydene’s Shreya and favourite Boundless Deep.

A third consecutive winner for the stable was on the cards when Prince Charming was sent out favourite for the opening leg of the Pick 6 but was denied in a tight finish. Keagan de Melo squeezed the best out of Bravo for Dean Kannemeyer’s charge to edge out a fast-finishing White Lightning with Prince Charming and Internet Kid in close attendance, a neck covering the first four past the post.

With two scratchings, the fourth race field was cut to just five runners with Rock Of Africa the ruling favourite. But Hewitson was on the mark again as he got Joey Ramsden’s gelding Macduff home ahead of the lightly weighted Gratuity with Rock Of Africa having every chance in third.

The sixth was a nightmare handicap for fillies and mares and so it proved with little more than a piece of paper separating the first three past the post, Just Vogue narrowly holding off the attentions of a game Rani with Geographe Bay also concerned in the judge’s photo.

The real exotic bet rot started in the sixth where 12-1 shot Impact Zone got the better of a tight tussle with The Money Man, three wide for most of the race, but Doug Campbell’s runner finding another gear under Donovan Dillon.

Dillon repeated the dose for beleaguered punters with a polished ride on Robbie Hill’s runner Kilmokea in the seventh who made light of her 15 draw to keep a fast-finishing Roy’s Stingray at bay.

The highly strung High Altar is not the easiest to handle at home but she did the honours for Duncan Howells in the last as Muzi Yeni tracked to the outside to win well from Regent Seven and Secret Success. Howells is reigning KZN champion trainer but is six winners behind perennial rival Dennis Drier with a handful of meetings left to the end of the current season.

By Andrew Harrison