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

The Vaal Classic track stages a low key eight race meeting tomorrow and the Pick 6 looks catchable.

In the first leg over 1000m Lion King is the one to beat with Saint Michael and Ragnarok the dangers. Lion King has plenty of pace and it was costly last time when he jumped left over this trip on Turffontein Inside. He was rushed to the front and finished only 1,5 lengths back so with a better start and as a relatively unexposed sort he could make amends. Saint Michael is a scopey sort who has plenty of pace too. He hasn’t raced since being caught late over this course and distance with first-time blinkers on in February and finishing a 2,25 length second.

Hungry Heart

He should have matured in the interim and can get away with the layoff over this sprint trip. Ragnarok has shown pace in his last two over 1200m and now drops in trip with first-time blinkers on so is an interesting runner.  First-timer Mischievous Green is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Black Minnaloushe maiden who is a half-sister to two Listed winners and Strydom is an eyecatching booking. The other first-timer Split is by Potala Palace out of an unplaced Var mare whose dam has not produced any winners but Hewitson is aboard.

In the next leg over 1000m Carmalita showed a lot of natural speed when returning from a short layoff over this trip and held on comfortably. Strydom stays aboard and this rangy sort should have come on from that last run so can handle a three point raise. Memphis Belle must be included as she is consistent and has won once and finished second twice in three starts over the course and distance. Modjaji can never be ignored in these 1000m fillies and mares handicaps although she is 1kg worse off with Memphis Belle for a short-head beating. Elusive Strike is in hard-knocking form and should be included. Celestina has not run since February but has the ability to win.

In the third leg over 1450m Hungry Heart is a progressive sort who won in eyecatching style last time and with Strydom keeping the ride off a four point higher mark she can follow up. Lady Negra was 3,25 lengths behind Hungry Heart last time but is 2,5kg better off, well drawn with Hewitson up and now has blinkers on. Fragrant Miss has been a touch disappointing overall but hold up tactics over this trip worked well last time as she ran on well. She was given a harsh six point raise for that win, but must be considered. Picture Me also warrants consideration as the form of his easy maiden win over 1200m has been franked and first time out the maidens over this trip he had a terrible draw so can be forgiven that run.

In the fourth leg over 1600m Jika is the one to beat from pole position. He was beaten in his last two starts over this trip by Infamous Fox and the latter went on to win on July day so this handy to front-running sort is going to be hard to beat from pole position. Soldier On is suggested as the only other inclusion in the Pick 6. He beat Infamous Fox in the Egoli Mile at Turffontein Standside in March and last time out was only 0,4 lengths behind Jika when staying on from a wide draw. He has another high draw to overcome but will be dangerous if it pans out well for him.

The next leg is a maiden over 1600m and there is not much form to go on at first glance. However, the unexposed trio Oojooba, Oona and Dance Dance all have scope for improvement and should get punters through.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 Empress Valley could make it four on the trot. Last time over course and distance she over raced behind a slow pace and yet still won comfortably so she can overcome a three point raise. However, Beautiful Shay is the likely pacemaker again and might slow it down again so others must be included. Itsmydarlin only lost to Empress Valley by a head when charging home from a wide draw on the Vaal Inside track on June 12. She is drawn wide again but is 1,5kg better off so has a big shout. September Bloom has a definite form chance too from a good draw over an ideal trip. Those three could be enough but for wider Gold Shades, Glamorous Scandal and My Cherry can be included.

By David Thiselton

The closure of the N3 highway on Sunday accompanied by some welcome winter rain were probably a blessing in disguise for the Scottsville turf that has since endured its worst frost in many a year.

In the days of yore, reams of nappy liner were spread across the track in an effort to ensure a green surface for the Gilbey’s Stakes, now the Tsogo Sun Sprint, then run the weekend before the Vodacom Durban July.

This drastic measure in an effort to ensure aesthetics has not been necessary in recent years with mostly mild winters and the Tsogo Sun Sprint day run earlier in the season.

But some forward thinking has resulted in Sunday’s meeting moved to today and today’s scheduled Greyville poly meeting moved to Friday night.

Rock Of Africa

Handicaps are always tricky races but one of the pointers that can often lead to a winner is taking note of which horses have recently come down in the merit ratings. Another is when a horse drops in class. Combine the two and you have a fair chance of finding a winner, often at a decent price because at face value, the current form doesn’t look all that impressive until one drills down a little.

Two horses that fall into the above categories at Scottsville today are Rock Of Africa in the fourth and Cat’s Legacy in the sixth. Rock Of Africa has taken a rating drop while Cat’s Legacy has a rating drop and also takes a significant drop in class.

Rock Of Africa has been competing in top company since arriving in KZN for Champions Season and has paid his way with a couple of placed efforts in useful company. Most recently he was just under five lengths back to Sniper Shot in the Post Merchants.

That form has obviously not impressed the handicappers as he has been dropped four points in the handicap, the equivalent of 2kg. On Sunday he lines up in a handicap lacking in big names and he can round of his Champions Season with a win.

The diminutive Hashtag Strat is one casualty of the moved meeting so stable companion Gratuity with apprentice Khanya Sakayi claiming 4kg will do service for Louis Goosen and with her light weight will make this small field pick up its feet.

Cat’s Legacy lines up in the sixth, with an injured Luke Ferraris scheduled to ride, but Alyson Wright is sure to looked for a similar four-claiming apprentice. Cat’s Legacy has dropped from a career high of 87 in the merit ratings to Sunday’s 73. If Wright stays with a four-claimer, that will be another 8 pounds off his back. Cat’s Legacy has been a touch disappointing after showing some promise early in his career against stronger than what he meets on Sunday so he could prove to be a solid bet on the day.

Internet Kid will be a popular banker in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The fifth race looks to be a difficult affair where punters would do well to load up in the exotics but Je Suis Silver and Geographe Bay could prove the pick.

Duncan Howells hit form at Scottsville last Wednesday with a brace of winners and his pair of Barinois and Queen’s Plain could see you through in the seventh.

Copper Pot and Stand By Me should be right there in a competitive last race but beware of Don Pierro. The gelding has a hot temperament but is talented and he looks to be over his right course and distance.

By Andrew Harrison

Justin Snaith, on the crest of a wave at the moment, can hit the ground running with Ladder Man in the first at Durbanville today.

This colt, by sire of the moment Twice Over, lost ground at the start and raced green when fourth of seven on debut. At the time the form didn’t seem to amount to much, largely because the race was won by Quarllo who had been a maiden for 21 races and nearly four seasons. But second-placed Lanza has won well since while the third (Elusive Trader) had gone close on his previous start.

“Ladder Man has come on a fair bit since and I have managed to get a gallop into him which always helps,” says the new champion trainer. “He will be in the first two.”

Richard Fourie (Nkosi Hlope)

Richard Fourie’s mount was 16-10 joint favourite yesterday with World Sports Betting which has More Magic on the same price. This one keeps running well – he has been beaten an average of only just over a length in his last three starts – but he has proved expensive: 8-11 last time and a very costly 2-7 in his previous race. “He doesn’t get a draw and he hasn’t again here,” comments Candice Bass-Robinson.

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Hidden Influence, although an 8-1 shot, seems certain to get into the shake-up. He ran well in the race won by the above average Clouded Hill and now Bernard Fayd’Herbe is in the irons.

Snaith’s The Suit is 9-2 for race two after disappointing when favourite four weeks ago (Snaith: “It was the wide draw and he is again drawn badly here”) and preference is for 33-10 joint favourite  Apollo Ace who is well drawn while the last two of his three runs read well.

Seattle Force is also on 33-10 but the Glen Kotzen colt is drawn eight out of 11 which is going to make life difficult for Robert Khathi.

Hither Green at 9-2 has a bit to do on ratings in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden but Fourie’s mount had 33-10 shot Arinza nearly two lengths behind last time when Elusive Diva (8-1 here) threw away her chance by pulling hard and finished tailed off.

The normally consistent Spectra Force ran below par when favourite last time (he played up in the pens) and could be worth another chance at 9-2 in the Play Soccer 6 Handicap (race five). He has a good draw and is ridden by an in-form 4kg claimer.

In the Supabets Handicap 22-10 favourite Para Handy’s weight advantage may enable him to beat Fayd’Herbe’s mount Silver Master.

By Michael Clower

Dutch Philip, winner of the hugely valuable CTS 1200 at Kenilworth in January but only sixth behind Procal Harum when starting favourite for the eThekwini Sprint on July day, will go on a recovery mission in the Mercury Sprint at Greyville on Saturday week despite being drawn widest of all.

Dutch Philip (Liesl King)

Candice Bass-Robinson said: “He got a fair bit back on the poly and had to come from well behind. I am not sure that he is not a better horse up the straight but there is nothing else for him so he will run in the Mercury.”

Drill Hall winner Perovskia will step up to Grade 1 company for the first time in the World Sports Betting Champions Cup that day and is another who will start from the outside. He failed to make the cut for the Durban July and was unlucky when a two-length second to Infamous Fox in the Greyville Convention Centre Handicap.

Harold Crawford said: “Jeff Lloyd told me that he could have sat closer had he been drawn better in the Convention Centre (he started from pen nine) but he had to come wide into the straight. He is drawn 21 out of 21 in the Champions Cup but I can’t bring him back to Cape Town before then so he might as well run.”

The sponsors make Perovskia an 18-1 chance and have Undercover Agent 9-2 favourite with Elusive Silva on 5-1 and African Night Sky on 11-2. Bold Respect is 33-10 favourite for the Mercury Sprint with Dutch Philip a 12-1 chance.

By Michael Clower