Icy Blast to hit Scottsville

Jack Milner

The word from KwaZulu-Natal is that the sun was out over Maritzburg yesterday so hopefully it is all systems go for today’s rescheduled race meting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville

Icy Blast comes into Race 2 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday as the lone winner in the field.

The Vaughan Marshall-trained runner has not raced since 25 February when he finished a 2.30-length fourth in the Grade 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in Cape Town.

The son of Erupt makes his debut in KwaZulu-Natal after an 85-day layoff and Marshall could not have found a better race to introduce his charge to the tricky Scottsville track than this Juvenile Plate over 1000m.

Icy Blast stands out head-and-shoulders above any of the raced opposition and his main challenge could come from of the four unraced runners in the line-up.

However, they will have to be very decent if they are to stop Icy Blast. The Cape Of Good Hope Nursery was won by Candice Bass-Robinson-trained filly Winter Cloud, who gave the males a hiding in that Cape race.

She then arrived in KwaZulu-Natal and just like Icy Blast had her first run at Scottsville, but in a feature race. The daughter of What A Winter went off a 6-10 favourite to win the Grade 3 Strelitzia Plate over 1100m and the result was never in doubt as she went clear to win easing up, beating Hot Pearl by 2.80 lengths.

It is worth noting that Icy Blast’s best form has been over 1000m and in the Nursery he led for most of the journey before fading late to finish fourth. As a result, he will benefit from the drop to the minimum trip, this time around.      

Another point of interest is that just three days after the running of the Cape Nursery, Icy Blast was gelded and one would expect that to have brought him on.

He does carry top weight of 60kg and will have to give 3kg to all the other runners but that should not be a problem.

A bigger issue could be the undulating Scottsville track which has caught out a lot of horses on their debut at the course.

Sean Veale takes the ride and he knows the track very well and from barrier No 1, which is the place to be on this track, he looks a standout bet.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 11 Bomber Girl, 12 Mia's Athena, 3 African Beat, 7 Princess Arlowe

Race 2: 1 Icy Blast, 5 Let The Flag Fly, 4 Yannakis, 6 Splendid Fella

Race 3: 8 Main Defender, 5 Fibonacci, 10 Winter Frolic, 12 Nelson Bay

Race 4: 3 Thisiswhatitmeans, 5 Trusova, 9 Power Star, 2 Imaginable

Race 5: 6 Bosnay, 4 Mythical Tune, 9 Theappleofmyeye, 1 St Cloud

Race 6: 4 Feeling Groovy, 5 Alphabetty, 1 Fabulous, 6 Lady Serena

Race 7: 1 Aurora Storm, 10 Sequoia, 12 Radicchio, 2 Professor Snape

Race 8: 15 Cheeky Laddie, 8 Masterbling, 13 Ensuing, 7 Lord Wylie

Race 9: 2 Pelargonium, 11 Diamond Girl, 12 Shipholia, 9 Certainly

BEST BET

Race 2 No 5 Icy Blast

VALUE BET

Rae 7 No 1 Aurora Storm

BEST SWINGER

Race 5 4x6

BIPOT

R192

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 5, 8

Leg 3: 2, 3, 5, 9

Leg 4: 4, 6

Leg 5: 1, 4, 5

Leg 6: 1, 2, 10, 12

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 8

Leg 2: 3, 5, 9

Leg 3: 4, 6

Leg 4: 4, 5

Leg 5: 1, 10, 12

Leg 6: 8, 13, 15

Leg 7: 2, 11, 12

PICK 6

R2400

Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9

Leg 2: 4, 6

Leg 3: 1, 4, 5

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6, 10, 12

Leg 5: 7, 8, 13, 15

Leg 6: 2, 9, 11, 12

JACKPOT 1

R120

Leg 1: 4, 6

Leg 2: 1, 4, 5

Leg 3: 1, 2, 6, 10, 12

Leg 4: 7, 8, 13, 15

JACKPOT 2

R240

Leg 1: 1, 4, 5

Leg 2: 1, 2, 6, 10, 12

Leg 3: 7, 8, 13, 15

Leg 4: 2, 9, 11, 12