Juveniles show their talent
FOUR RACES DEVOTED TO TWO-YEAR-OLDS AT SCOTTSVILLE MEETING There is money to be made in the early races.
Juveniles take centre stage at Scottsville on Sunday when four of the nine races will be devoted to the two-year-olds. While the first two are for maidens, the Strelitzia Stakes and Goldolphin Barb Stakes are Grade 3 events over 1100m.
While nothing really leaps off the page at you in these two features, a number of these youngsters will be lining up for the two Grade 1 features coming up at Scottsville on 5 June so this will be more of an “adaption” exercise for many of these youngsters to get them acclimatised to the undulating track.
Also, many of them are returning from a break and could be in need of the run. That could result in a few upsets in these two features.
Dean Kannemeyer saddles unbeaten Cosmic Highway, who impressed when winning the Grade 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m at Kenilworth in February, and if he takes to the course he could be the runner to beat in the Godolphin Barb Stakes.
Vaughan Marshall has had a good season in KZN and he has some decent runners on the day, especially Safe Return, who ran out a very easy maiden winner last time and looks one to watch.
Justin Snaith and Sean Tarry could fight out the Strelitzia Stakes with High Hosanna and Sound Of Warning respectively. Both are daughters of Trippi, bred and owned by Drakenstein Stud.
Sound Of Warning looked decent when wining on debut at the Vaal and gets a shaky nod ahead of High Hosanna, who won on debut and then finished third in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m at Kenilworth in January.
Bettors could earn some betting money in the two Maiden Juvenile Plates because if the firsttimers are not heavily supported, then both Hasta Manana in Race 1 and Party Time in Race 2 should dominate their respective heats.
Hasta Manana found one better in highly regarded Cholima. But that was on his debut while Cholima already had valuable racing experience.
If the playing fields were level, the result could very well have been different.
That race was on the Polytrack but now Hasta Manana is switching to the turf. He does have a good draw and Richard Fourie takes the ride for trainer Gareth van Zyl.
Of the raced runners Rowntree looks his biggest danger as he is likely to improve on his fourth place on debut at this venue. Gimme A Prince is well related and could be the first-timers to watch out for.
Party Time did some low flying and almost caught unbeaten Good Traveller, who is a leading contender for the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb. That speaks volumes for his chances in the second Maiden Juvenile Plate, also over 1200m.
There does not appear to be too much optimism from the trainers with regard to the chances of their first-timers but it could be prudent to keep an eye open for any significent betting moves.