3 minute read
I may not be as skilled as a chef but it feels similar to making a five course Michelin starred meal that isn’t eaten to wrrte last week’s article only to see the meeting abandoned after just the two races.
But safety has to remain paramount in this sport and I cannot moan as we move on to another day and another Scottsville meeting, this time on a Saturday afternoon.
For those in the UK who, like I used to, assume South Africa to be all sunshine and beaches, it has been pouring it down this week forcing abandonments, so we do need to be careful with our bets with softer going more likely than not and I will be tempting my bets accordingly but more of that later on.
Before then, the main racing news I could find was all about not this week’s Scottville meeting, but next week when we have not one but FOUR top class sprints to look forward to with the very serious prize money attracting the cream of the crop and giving us plenty to look forward to in the next seven days.
Meanwhile, I’m keeping a Lerena Watch now that Gavin is riding in the UK, primarily for Charlie Hills and as I write, he has had two rides with a sixth at Bath on board Mudajaj and a ten length third at Newmarket on top of 20/1 chance Dr Goodhead. But it is early days and I am convinced he will be snapped up by other yards in the weeks and months ahead, and will have got off the mark by the time I write next week’s column.
On to Scottsville Saturday and a nine race card awaits the wary or unprepared punter but I will do what I can to alleviate your pain by trying to find a winner or two starting in the opener at 12:05pm when Filippo looks the one to be on.
Easy in the market on his debut here over 1000m he was sent off a 20/1 chance (opened 10/1) for Yogas Govender and broke slowly before running on to be just half a length off Procul Harem at the line, and with an added 200m today and that experience tucked away the son of Toreador looks a sensible bet this afternoon.
Three bets seem enough for anyone on a Saturday and number two will be Pack Leader in Race Three at 13:15pm for trainer Glen Cotzen. One race and one win does make the son of Philanthropist difficult to judge. But he did do it comfortably after being backed as if defeat was not an option at Greyville in late April, beating Red Eight by a comfortable three lengths despite being held up and given a decent education by Craig Zackey. He looked as if he could go on to be pretty decent in the long term making him the one I want to be on today in a race that seems sure to be full of future winners.
Last but not least we have the Adam Marcus trained Gyre who is looking to land his hat-trick for Adam Marcus in the 15:30pm (Race 7) after a couple of wins over this 1600m trip at Kenilworth.
There is no reason why he cannot transfer that form to this track this afternoon and although up another three pounds now he won with a bit in hand last time after a perfectly timed ride by Corne Orffer and if Richard Fourie can execute the same tactics this afternoon he can win again and land our final bets in the process, perhaps in a photo finish in a race sponsored by Konica Minolta.
