Marshall’s charge to take the gap

The scratching of both Hashtag Strat and La Ferrari from Race 4 and main event, a MR 96 Handicap over 1200m at Scottsville today, has reduced the field to only five runners. The one who should now seize the opportunity is Vaughan Marshall-trained Rock Of Africa with MJ Byleveld aboard.

This four-year-old has yet to finish out of the money at this course in five starts. His last two runs at the venue was a fourth in a Listed event over 1100m which he followed up with a third over 1200m. His subsequent outing when unplaced at Greyville can be excused as he was over-matched in the 1200m Post Merchants. Stepping down in class and having Byleveld aboard again, the gelding is unlikely to miss this time.

Expect a bold bid from Louis Goosen-trained three-time winner Gratuity who will have 4kg claiming apprentice Khanya Sakayi aboard. This filly was an encouraging 2.25-length fourth out of 14 last time in a 1000m Pinnacle Stakes (F&M) at the venue. With Sakayi’s claim reducing the filly’s carded weight of 52.5kg to 48.5kg, she should be right there again.

Look for improvement from Tony Rivalland-trained two-time winner On That Boulevard (Craig Zackey) who was aimed too high last time when unplaced in the 1100m Durban Dash at Greyville.

There is a Quartet Carryover of R9,571 with an estimated pool of R350,000 in Race 8 at 4.35pm, which sees a competitive maximum field of 15 contest a MR 64 Handicap over 1600m.

A suggested TAB Quartet permutation to play in this race is: (1) Ovation Award and (6) Stand By Me as floating bankers with (3), (5), (11), (12), (14) and (15).