Andrew Harrison
Things are hotting up on the feature race front as the country approaches the start of Champions Season next weekend. Hollywoodbets Scottsville plays host to minor features on Wednesday but the outcome of each could have a strong bearing on what could unfold in the next three months.
With the Gr1 Gold Medallion on the horizon, the expected clash between the two unbeaten colts Rich Man’s World and Master Magician in the Gr3 Tote Godolphin Barb Stakes could give a pointer as to what to expect on the last weekend of May when the province’s Capital hosts the biggest day of their Champions Season.
Vaughan Marshall has an exceptional record in the Gold Medallion and Rich Man’s World comes with stellar Cape Town form, hardly pressed in winning his two Hollywoodbets Kenilworth starts. After winning on debut, he appeared to have chased away most of the opposition as he took on a six-horse field at his next outing and demolished them by an ever extending five lengths at prohibitive odds in a performance that stamped him as a high-class two-year-old.
The connections of Master Magician apparently turned down a substantial offer after the son of Querari made short work of stable companion Japura at his second start after romping home on debut. Mike Miller has a stable-full of juveniles and Master Magician is obviously way better than all of them.
He has the added benefit of having won on what can be a tricky Hollywoodbets Scottsville course and has recorded exceptional times on a track that on both occasions was officially carded as yielding.
The pair are drawn alongside each other and Miller’s stable rider Tristan Godden will be keeping a close eye on Richard Fourie who is back in the irons for Marshall.
It could be a fascination tactical battle as this pair stand out head and shoulders above the balance of the opposition.
Two that could spoil the party are Tommy Greaney, who improved lengths to win his second outing for Dom Zaki after finishing behind Flamethrower on debut, while Flamethrower also made the expected improvement for Yogas Govender after a promising debut behind the Miller-trained Steamy Window.
Andrew Fortune made an early recovery from injury when scoring a double in his comeback to the saddle and he should add another to his winning list when he partners Querari Dancer in the Gr3 Tote Strelitzia Stakes. Fortune has built up a winning relationship with Justin Snaith and Querari Dancer should take a power of beating. After winning on debut, she ran the colt Red Spice close on her two subsequent starts in feature races and Red Spice has since franked that form in strong male company. Given that she takes to the Scottsville track she should take a lot of beating.
Doug Campbell’s filly Lady Godiva has yet to finish out of the money in four starts and followed up her maiden win with good second behind Erik Dubois in the Race Coast Sales Slipper. If she can build on that she could trouble the likely favourite.
Lady Jean was not expected to show much when starting at 100-1 in the Race Coast Sales Slipper and looks safely held by Lady Godiva but she did have the widest draw in a 14-horse field at Hollywoodbets Greyville. She is likely to put in a better showing this time around.
Narrow maiden winner Flower Tryst and Menagerie who was well fancied on debut could be factors but they will all need to get past Querari Dancer.
