Andrew Harrison

It’s pretty run-of-the-mill racing at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today until the last race on the eight-race programme.

It is easy to fall into the trap of pumping up a horse’s ability after only one win but Mike and Mathew de Kock look to have an exciting prospect in the three-year-old colt Exocet. He boasts a smart European pedigree and made short work of the opposition on debut over Sunday’s course and distance.

Second-placed Mfethu has done little to frank that form but Exocet won with authority and Richard Fourie has been booked for the ride.

It may not be all plain sailing and visiting Clinton Binda could have a say when he saddles Chapbook for the Hollywood Racing.  Second time out the son of Rafeef finished runner-up to recent Gr1 winner and Equus Champion Jan Van Goyen at just his second outing and followed up with a comfortable victory.  Given that Jan Van Goyen is out of the De Kock stable they should have a good line on what to expect from Chapbook although Jan Van Goyen’s Gr1 win was over a mile.

 These two colts look progressive and could fight it out. Also in the line-up to keep them honest is the year older Tripping Thunder. Lightly raced, he was rested after his maiden win but it was his first local appearance after showing solid Cape form which is generally a little stronger than local. Nathan Kotzen saddles Now I Got You who has plenty of miles on the clock but has been in good form of late and has a money chance with his handy galloping weight. 

It is a competitive card  starting in the first, a maiden over 1100m. There are many first timers but there is some solid form behind some the exposed runners. Tingamabob is back from a break but comes with good Cape Town form. If not short of a gallop she could prove difficult to beat. Belligerent has improved with every outing and found strong market support last time out. Rachel Venniker’s 1.5kg allowance should add to her chances. Light Of Gabriel was supported at long odds at her second start and did improve nicely. She does look held by Belligerent on that showing but does appear to have more to come. 

The second could rest between That’ll Be The Day and Holy Star. That’ll Be The Day ran out of steam late when trying further last time out and this shorter trip could suit but Holy Star has not been out of the money in his five starts and two of his best efforts have been over course and distance. He will be a big runner. 

Only eight runners line up in the C Stakes over 2400m, start of the Pick 6. Mike’s Mazarin has his third run after a break and is back over what looks to be his optimum trip. He is lightly raced and can still improve but does have a big weight. Continentalexpress also has his third run after a break. The step up in trip will suit so keep an eye on the betting. Escapologist loves this course and distance. He is in good form and should run well again. 

The fourth is a competitive handicap where Prom Queen has the widest draw to contend with but is holding form well and should be involved in the finish.  Sign Of Fate is drawn one gate inside of Prom Queen but has been close-up in her last three and is also a strong contender. Greenhouse took on males last run and was much improved in blinkers. A repeat showing puts her in with a shout. LA 

The fifth is a difficult handicap. Schipole shed her maiden at long odds but was a little disappointing next time out but she makes her seasonal debut and can make the required improvement. Copacabana won well enough last time out with the blinkers off after showing steady form prior to that. She has a good draw and can follow up. Flying Reign Storm is 2.5kg better off with Copacabana on their last meeting  beaten just under four lengths. She started at any price that day. Amafort is similarly 2.5kg better off with Copacabana on this latest meeting. She was beaten nearly five lengths but does run well on this course. 

Binda could hold the key to the sixth with Inafix. He only got a two-point raise in the handicap for his latest Turffontein win and although he has a fair weight he can follow up in a competitive race. Galla Vanting was much improved with first time blinkers. He has a light weight and a repeat showing can see him into the money. 

The seventh is a Middle Stakes over 1200m and another competitive race. There was a short head between King Of Spin and Bourbon Warrior when last they met. King Of Spin is now 2.5kg better off at the weights which should see him finish ahead once again. However, the recent form of both horses has been on the poly. Licence To Thrill has been in good form over course and distance and should be in the mix once again along with Riverstone who was only a neck back in their last meeting. 

Scottsville Sunday 31 August

1

3 THINGAMABOB   1 BELLIGERENT   8 LIGHT OF GABRIEL   5 CARTEL QUEEN

Summary: Many first timers but some solid form behind some that have exposed form. THINGAMABOB (3) is back from a break but comes with solid Cape Town form. If not short of a gallop she could prove difficult to beat. BELLIGERENT (1) has improved with every outing and found strong market support last time out. Rachel Venniker’s 1.5kg allowance should add to her chances. LIGHT OF GABRIEL (8) was supported at long odds at her second start and di improve nicely. She does look held by Belligerent on that showing but does appear to have more to come. CARTEL QUEEN (5) has shown some improvement at recent outings and has a money chance. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-8-5).

2

6 THAT’LL BE THE DAY   7 HOLY STAR   9 RIPSNORTER   5 GRAND FORCE

Summary: THAT’LL BE THE DAY (6) ran out of steam late when trying further last time out. This shorter trip could suit. HOLY STAR (7) has not been out of the money in his five starts and two of his best efforts have been over course and distance. He will be a big runner. RIPSNORTER (9) raced green on debut and drifted alarmingly in the market when making his debut. He is likely to make big improvement. GRAND FORCE (5) showed some improvement last run and could be coming to hand. (Andrew Harrison: 6-7-9-5).

3

5 MIKE’S MAZARIN   4 CONTINENTALEXPRESS   3 ESCAPOLOGIST   6 DANCING ON A CLOUD

Summary: MIKE’S MAZARIN (5) has his third run after a break and is back over what looks to be his optimum trip. He is lightly raced and can still improve but does have a big weight. CONTINENTALEXPRESS (4) also has his third run after a break. The step up in trip will suit so keep an eye on the betting. ESCAPOLOGIST (3) loves this course and distance. He is in good form and should run well again. DANCING ON A CLOUD (6) goes this trip for the first time. He is lightly raced and can improve over the distance. (Andrew Harrison: 5-4-3-6).

4

11 PROM QUEEN   10 SIGN OF FATE   8 GREENHOUSE   6 LA MADDALENA

Summary: Competitive handicap. PROM QUEEN (11) has the widest draw to contend with but is holding form well and should be involved in the finish.  SIGN OF FATE (10) is drawn one gate inside of Prom Queen but has been close-up in her last three and is a strong contender. GREENHOUSE (8) took on males last run and was much improved in blinkers. A repeat showing puts her in with a strong shout. LA MADDALENA (6) was a beaten favourite last Sunday but was running on well and can finish in the money again. (Andrew Harrison: 11-10-8-6).

5

7 SCHIPOLE   2 COPACABANA   6 FLYING REIGN STORM   1 AMAFORT

Summary:  Difficult handicap. SCHIPOLE (7) shed her maiden at long odds but was a little disappointing next time out. She makes her seasonal debut and can make the required improvement. COPACABANA (2) won well enough last time out with the blinkers off after showing steady form prior to that. She has a good draw and can follow up. FLYING REIGN STORM (6) is 2.5kg better off with Copacabana on their last meeting  beaten just under four lengths. She started at any rice that day. AMAFORT (1) is similarly 2.5kg better off with Copacabana on this latest meeting. She was beaten nearly five lengths but does run well on this course. (Andrew Harrison: 7-2-6-1).

6

11 INAFIX   7 GALLA VANTING   6 WHEREVERILAYMYHAT   12 FATE OF FORTUNE

Summary: Wide open. INAFIX (11) only got a two-point raise in the handicap for his latest Turffontein win. He has a fair weight here but can follow up in a competitive race. GALLA VANTING (7) was much improved with first time blinkers. He has a light weight and a repeat showing can see him into the money. WHEREVERILAYMYHAT (6) has been consistent of late and goes well this trip. Stable companion FATE OF FORTUNE (12) seldom runs a bad race and has been in good form of late. He may prefer it a furlong further but does have a stronger rider aboard. (Andrew Harrison: 11-7-6-12).

7

2 KING OF SPIN   1 BOURBON WARRIOR   6 LICENCE TO THRILL   4 RIVERSTONE

Summary: Competitive handicap. There was a short head between KING OF SPIN (2) and BOURBON WARRIOR (1) when last they met. King Of Spin is now 2.5kg better off at the weights which should see him finish ahead once again. However, recent form has been on the poly. LICENCE TO THRILL (6) has been in good form over course and distance and should be in the mix once again along with RIVERSTONE (4) who was only a neck back in their last meeting. (Andrew Harrison: 2-1-6-4).

8

9 EXOCET   8 CHAPBOOK   6 TRIPPING THUNDER   7 NOW I GOT YOU

Summary: EXOCET (9) won well on debut in good time over course and distance. He does look to have plenty of scope and can follow up. CHAPBOOK (8) finished runner-up to recent Gr1 winner Jan Van Goyen at just his second outing and followed up with a comfortable victory. These two colts look progressive. TRIPPING THUNDER (6) was rested after his maiden win but it was his first local appearance after showing solid Cape form. NOW I GOT YOU (7) has plenty of miles on the clock but has been in good form of late and has a money chance with his handy galloping weight. (Andrew Harrison: 9-8-6-7).

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chelmsford City and Sandown (UK) – 30 August 2025

Soccer4on Sunday, 31 August 2025 C/Over R 25 000. Pool Closes at 17h30. Sport 17 and Pool 2. Estimated Pool: R 100 000