Scottsville warming up for action
THE weather at the moment is about as predictable as a horse with dodgy form. Cold and damp yesterday with temperatures in the low teens, the forecast for Scottsville today is a relatively balmy 26 degrees and sunny. Let’s hope the forecast is correct.
Punters are faced with mainly small fields as many stables have locked down for compulsory African Horse Sickness vaccinations after the end of the season, but that does not make finding winners any easier.
Two races that could illustrate that point are the sixth and seventh, both small fields over ground.
The seventh is a tricky affair with only six runners after Truly Wicked wasa late scratching yesterday.
But top weight Warfarer (7-2) is over his favourite course and distance nad has the edge.
However, with no speed in the race this race could turn into a sprint for home.
Morning Catch
A pedestrian pace will benefit all of Morning Catch, Verdier and Coys.
New Fort (13-10) and Impact Zone (92) will have their supporters in the White Horse Function Room Handicap, sixth on the card, but both may have to take a back seat to Louis Goosen’s charge Haddington (9-2) who will not be fazed if he is forced to make the pace.
With apprentice Luke Ferraris’s 2.5kg claim, the giant Ideal World gelding will feel that he’s running loose and the step up to the 2400m of this race should be right up his street.
Only seven runners contest the fifth, and MR90 sprint, and Monte Christo (5-2) could finally add a fourth victory to his CV.
He has been something of an under achiever after making a winning debut for Alistair Gordon some four season’s back and two stables later he get another chance.
Monte Christo started his career with a debut win for Gordon before being moved to Charles Laird where he subsequently collected back-toback victories but has since been winless for close on two years although continuing to threaten the judges.
Anton Marcus knows the gelding well, having partnered him to his last win and in many subsequent races and it could be significant that he will be aboard in the gelding’s first outing for Brett Crawford.
Monte Christo has warmed up in two barrier trials and with a handy galloping weight could prove too strong for the two at the top of the handicap, Macduff and Tribal Fusion.
Shane Humby may well have been reading Damon Runyan, when commenting on two narrow defeats on Wednesday: “That’s racing. Nothing I can do about it now”.
Tribal Fusion (26-10) boasts some useful form, including a recent victory over subsequent winner and ethekweni Sprint runner-up Woljayrine.
However, he does have the matter of 62.5kg to shoulder.
Macduff (17-10) is carded with a similar weight but gets 2.5kg relief in the form of apprentice Ferraris.
Macduff regained his best form over course and distance with the blinkers removed and will be a threat.
White Lightning (6-10) can get the Pick 6 off to a favourable start in the third after coming within an ace of scoring a major upset on debut.
He came from the clouds to go down a piece of paper and on that showing the mile should be well within his compass and Marcus aboard is an added advantage.
Dunzie
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In a similar vein, Dunzie (11-2) came from off the pace when beaten a length at her last start and Duncan Howells has declared blinkers on his charge this time around.
If they have the desired effect she could prove difficult to beat in the fourth and is a possible exotic bet banker although Satara is a lukewarm 2-1 favourite.
Grecian Laurel (3-1) can round off the meeting for Howells. She was allowed to start at any price on debut, consensus being that the 1200m would be on the sharp side, but she kept on resolutely to win as she liked.
It was not the greatest field in opposition and the form is suspect but given the extra 200m and the ease of her victory, Grecian Laurel could have the measure of Cause And Effect and Marsala.