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ANDREW HARRISON

THERE could be more than just a handful of Pick 6 ticket-holders holding their breath going into the final leg at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today with East Coast Star high up on their list of possible exotic bet bankers.

After warming up in two sprints, East Coast Star was sent out deep in the red to shed her maiden in her first attempt at 1400m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly.

It looked to be money in the bank a furlong from home as Anton Marcus hit the front on Peter Muscutt’s filly but she came up empty when challenge late by My Saving Grace.

East Coast Star switches to the turf today and Marcus, marooned in Cape Town for the month, has been replaced by stable regular Donovan Dillon.

A perusal of the opposition form makes modest reading but more cautious punters could include stable companion Racey Stacey in their calculations.

She does have behavioural issues but has shown that she does have ability when flashing up to run second to Shastina at her penultimate start with Gavin van Zyl’s filly having since paid tribute to that form, winning again.

Given that showing, Racey Stacey was well fancied to break her duck over the Greyville poly mile next time out but gave apprentice Jabu Jacobs a few harrowing moments as she took the scenic route home in the straight.

Seasoned rider Raymond Danielson will be legged up this afternoon and will have been made well aware of his challenge.

If he gets the best out of his mount, East Coast Star may find herself in the maidens for another race and the 11-10 about her chances with Track & Ball about sums up her chances with Racey Stacey 5-1 with 6-1 bar.

 The Track & Ball Gaming Handicap over 1400m heads the card and although one can make a case for a number of runners, the race looks tailor-made for former Gr2 Post Merchants winner Sniper Shot to finally get back into the winner’s enclosure. It has been a long time between drinks, his last win coming nearly three years ago, and it has been a lengthy journey down the merit rating ladder to what may now be a more realistic handicap mark.

It has taken 943 days since his Merchants win for the handicappers to drop the six-year-old from a high of 110 to his current mark of 95, three pounds lower than for his last start. In the handicapper’s defence, Sniper Shot has shown flashes of his early ability which earned him his highest MR and the number crunchers have been hesitant to drop his rating.

That said, this is a clear example of a horse, not quite out of the top drawer, being hamstrung by the ratings.

Black Cat Back finished second in the Merchants and was exported to Mauritius where he won four races. It has taken 18 starts and three years for the handicappers to work out that Sniper Shot’s rating was out of kilter.

But with this rating drop and apprentice Kyle Strydom giving him 2.5kg relief in the saddle, Paul Lafferty’s runner does look an attractive bet at current odds.

Desolate Road failed narrowly last run where he finished ahead of Sniper Shot and he has improved in blinkers. However, he is now 6kg worse off, given Strydom’s claim so he is unlikely to confirm the placings. Guru’s Pride, Tready Swiftly and Socrates are all in with a shout.

The race sponsors deem this a wide-open affair with Tread Swiftly a weak 9-2 favourite and the other runners mentioned all at 5-1.

There should be little separating stable companions Civil Rights and Countess Cartier in the card opener, Mike Miller’s pair finishing within a neck of each other on debut. Ashton Arries is the stable first call rider and has stuck with Civil Rights while Tristan Godden retains the ride on Countess Cartier.

The balance of the field are at long odds.

Any one of Café Pacifica, Camora or Trumpet Voluntary could see you through the opening leg of the PA but two of the three would be a safer option.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6, Quenanza, who has improved with each outing since a lay-off, has her peak third run after a break and with Garth Puller’s yard seldom out of form she should be up there. Garry Rich’s filly Leading Lyric is at surprisingly long odds and 16-1 appeals as an each-way punt. She has had two tough draws at recent starts at Greyville and sports first-time blinkers.

Top of the boards is What A Splash who made a promising debut on this course for Michael Roberts.

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation last night and announced that the country remains on adjusted alert level 3 and therefore the status quo of ‘Racing Behind Closed Doors’ as per the NHA’s Press Release on 29 December 2020 remains in place.

Some salient points of the President’s speech last night are:

1. The pandemic in our country is now at its most devastating level.

1. The number of new infections, hospital admissions and deaths is higher now than it has ever been since the first case was recorded in our country in March 2020.

1. Since New Year’s Day, we have recorded nearly 190 000 new infections.

1. The country has recorded more than 4 600 Covid-19 deaths so far this year alone with more than 33 000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

1. As a proportion of the population, the province with the highest average number of cases over the last seven days is KwaZulu-Natal, followed by Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. 

1. New infections in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape have grown fast and have now far exceeded the peak during the first wave.

1. Infections in Gauteng are growing exponentially and are expected to increase further as more residents of Gauteng return to the province following the festive break.

1. We do know that this new variant of the virus spreads much faster than the earlier variants. This explains the fact that many more people have become infected in a far shorter space of time.

1. Now more than ever, we must each make a deliberate decision to avoid any unnecessary contact with other people.

1. Given the risk of widespread transmission, most indoor and outdoor gatherings are not permitted.  This includes social gatherings and gatherings at sports grounds, etc.

A further update will be provided by 26 January in respect of Riders being domiciled in one region.

The NHA reiterates that the proven non-pharmaceutical measures of wearing of masks, hand sanitizing/washing for at least 20 seconds and social distancing of at least 1,5m apart, is critical and the Chief Compliance Officer, Mr Arnold Hyde, together with his team shall continue to ensure same is done throughout a race meeting.  

Please be reminded that the wearing of masks in a public place is mandatory and is one of the best ways to prevent transmission.

As and when the President announces any further amendments, the NHA will advise accordingly.

SUMMER PUDDING was scratched from the Cape Town Met Gr 1, Tuesday 12 January 2021 @13.54. No reason given.

THE race meeting scheduled for the Turffontein Inside track on Saturday 16 January has been moved to the Standside track.

Frequent rain and overcast weather conditions have retarded grass growth over the recently installed drainage systems at the pull-up area and the 1100m and 900m marks on the Inside track.

The surface should still be ready for racing on 16 January, but with more rain forecast over the next few days, it has been decided to move the race meeting to the Standside track as a precautionary measure.

The following distance changes apply: 1450m races now 1400m and 1500m races now 1600m.