Professor can deliver

Gelding can often make a dramatic change to a racehorse and this certainly was the case with Professor Brian.

Since the operation he has turned around a record of one win in nine starts to six wins in 14 starts as he reeled off five wins in row in the Western Cape and is clearly the one to beat in Race 7 a 1200m Handicap at Scottsville today.

This Australian import celebrated his first run in KwaZuluNatal with a win but faded somewhat in his second race, albeit in stronger company.

Now he journeys to Scottsville and Anton Marcus gets aboard the four-year-old for the first time. There are some good reasons to advance his cause – notably that the 1200m Scottsville trip is down the straight and not around the turn; something he has shown an aversion to.

He also drops in class - but still has some talented rivals to contend with. Chief of these are Redcarpet Captain and Amazon King.

Redcarpet Captain does not always show his best side but when does he is talented and this course and distance suits him. It could be worth noting that while this Captain Al gelding was well behind Professor Brian last time he suffered interference.

Amazon King is an improving three-year-old who quickened nicely to win his latest start.

He takes a jump in class and may now be looking for further than this distance but his future looks rosy.