Field day for punters at Scottsville
THERE is a low key meeting at Scottsville tomorrow and punters will be hoping for more good form results after a generally favourable meeting at this venue on Sunday.
The first race on the card over 1 200m will attract plenty of interest for parade ring watchers around the country as swimming icon Chad Le Clos will be there to see the debut run of his Toreador colt, the Paul Lafferty-trained Unbelievable Chad, who is described as a “very nice horse who should run very well.”
The horse who could prove hard to beat will be the Dennis Drier-trained Imperial Stride colt Swakopmund, who finished second over course and distance on debut and the form looks strong.
The Mike de Kock-trained Australianbred first-timer Kinaan is by world leading sire Galileo, so will be of interest, and Chestnut’s Champ and Omega Onslaught are the other first-timers who make some appeal. Of those to have run Vinicio could make more improvement.
The highest rated race is the seventh race, a MR 78 Handicap over 1 950m.
The three-year-old gelding Pioneer Spirit is well drawn with Anthony Delpech up and being by Go Deputy he will now be improving rapidly.
Worship Dancer, an improving gelding by Tiger Dance, will relish the further step up in trip on pedigree, but he does have a tricky draw of six in the nine horse field.
Sovereign Reign ran on from the back over 1 600m last time out and wasn’t beaten far by the promising Saratoga Dancer, so he looks likely to enjoy this trip and could be a contender.
Jet Avenger likely needed his last run but is distance suited and has won at Scottsville before.
Buck Shot has been disappointing but is drawn well and should be effective over this trip.
There is not much between New Fort and Worship Dancer on their last meeting, but the former does have a wide draw to overcome.
The second race over 1 200m could be won by the Drier-trained Just As Well filly Well In Flight who caught the eye staying on over course and distance on debut.
There are plenty of first-timers in this race and the one that makes most appeal is Northern Chorus, who is by Fort Wood out of the Graded-winning sprinter Headstrong.
The third race over 1 200m could be won by Bunker Hill, who finished just 1,75 lengths behind Swakopmund on debut in a strong form race.
Land Of Legends is one who could improve out of that same race. Apollo’s Gift ran a fair race on debut and could also improve.
First-timer African Ruler is of interest here being by Trippi out of the useful sprinter Chant De Nuit. Astral Promise is a full-brother to the dual Gr 3 winner Astro News and is another interesting first-timer.
In the fourth over 1 200m the interesting runner is Blessed Release who was all the rage last time and is worth another chance.
Aguero and Green Door beat him in that last race but the form has not worked out too well so others that will have to be considered are the hard knocking Destined For Dawn, Triptonic and Al Wahed.
The last mentioned returns from a break but if he repeats his six length second place finish to Generalissimo last time out he will be right there.
The fifth over 1200m could see the hard-knocking Roy’s Angel beating Masked Girl and Kingsview.
The sixth over 1 000m could be won by the two-year-old Just Africa, who is well regarded and being very fast will love this trip. He also has the advantage of a 4kg claimer aboard.
Tonto should be suited to this course and distance having faded late when beaten 5,25 lengths by Hunting Owl over 1 200m. The Tripster, who overtook Tonto in that race, should be thereabouts.
Bengal Boy, All True Man, Midanswer, Burrwood and Threshhold can also be considered.
The eighth sees a good opportunity from a good draw for Princess Beach, who has struck as being better than her form suggests and the 1 950m trip should be perfect. Bizjet could be the danger.
The last over 1 400m could be won by Brooklyn Brawler, who needed his first outing over 1 400m. It’s a tough race and Noble Peer might present fair each/way value. Gurkha Chief is another one who could be in the shake up.