Get an early start at Scottsville

Nicci Garner

There are some good punting opportunities early on Sunday’s programme at Scottsville, starting off in Race 1 where Louis Goosen-trained Zen Arcade could be hard to beat.

This Ideal World gelding ran a most promising debut in the August Million over 1400m at this track. He made up more than five lengths from the 400m marker to finish 2.25 lengths behind Broadway Trip in second place. The winner was the more experienced of the two, going in with a debut win to his credit.

Zen Arcade has masses of scope for improvement and if jockey Gunter Wrogemann does not allow him to get so far off the pace this time this shorter cut should not pose a problem.

Biometric and First Crusade, who will sport blinkers for the first time, look the biggest dangers.

Coral Queen looks certain to give her supporters a good run for their money in Race 2 over 1400m. She ran a promising race second time out, when narrowly beaten into third behind Awesomeness over 1000m at this track in February and has only run twice since.

She was obviously not fully recovered from whatever plagued her when she returned in April and weakened late to fifth, 2.55 lengths behind Light On Her Toes in a fairly strong field over 1200m at Greyville. She then found one better in July, when well backed but beaten 2.75 lengths by Sorceress. She should return fit and could recoup losses.

The right one in Race 3 over 1400m looks to be Got Your Back, who is overdue to post her first career win, having placed in her last three of four starts.

She enjoys this course and distance and last time out finished second to Queen’s Plain here after losing a length at the start. Jockey Anthony Delpech is unlikely to let her get away with dawdling at the start for a third time and she could finally get off the mark.

Silent Dream, who had fair form before a rest, Clique and Queens Diamond could be the horses who get closest to Got Your Back.