Mistress Fated to win

A number of open contests present a puzzle for punters at Scottsville today, but one who does stand out is Fateful Mistress in Race 2, a Maiden Plate for females over 1200m.

This Paul Gadsby-trained Master Of My Fate filly went off at long odds on debut over this course and distance in December after a couple of uninspiring barrier trials.

But after missing the break she finished strongly for second behind fellow first-timer Inn A Minute.

With only natural improvement it will take something a little above average to beat her. And while this isn’t the weakest field, form-wise, she remains a clear first choice.

Race 3 is a weak Maiden Plate over the same trip and here Captains Fort gets the vote. Not that this Elusive Fort gelding is anything above average. But he has managed fourth in his last two Gauteng outings which, in a field of this nature, is winning form. Especially with Anton Marcus engaged.

The wild card here is Ancient State. He was second to a useful sort in Horoscope Harry first time out under apprentice Khanya Sakayi but has flopped dismally in two subsequent appearances.

Sakayi now climbs aboard again and a return to his best level of form would put him squarely in the firing line.

A third decent wager is Slievanorra in Race 5.

She ran on stoutly on her only previous visit to Scottsville to crack her maiden at the second attempt and runner-up Jackson Wells scored a runaway win next time out and will relish stepping up to 1950m.