Jack Milner: Peter Muscutt emerged from the shadow of Brett Crawford to take out his own trainer’s licence from 1 November and he has got off to a flying start.
Assistant to Crawford in KwaZulu-Natal, Muscutt wasted no time finding his own way to the winner’s enclosure with his first runner on 1 November when Hugs Accepted scored a maiden win by the shortest of short heads,
But, as the expression goes, they don’t pay you any more if it wins by any further, and the victory gave Muscutt the ideal start.
He has saddled nine runners in total for that win and six places, a pretty decent foundation.
Muscutt looks set to notch up another winner on Sunday when he saddles Kayson in Race 7 at Hollywoodbets Greyville, a MR 88 Handicap over 1200m on the Polytrack.
This three-year-old son of Gimmethegreenlight won a barrier trial before he started to race officially and began his career with an impressive 2.60-length victory over 1200m on the Greyville turf track.
Kayson then tried 1400m in The Gatecrasher (Listed) but proved difficult at the start and finished unplaced.
He reverted to 1100m after a short rest and almost caused a major upset when he went down a short head to highly regarded odds-on favourite Captain Oupie.
In fact, Muzi Yeni, who rode Captain Oupie, said he was impressed by the manner in which Kayson moved up to him and that he really had to work hard to win that race.
Both Kayson and Captain Oupie went on to win their next starts and that form has been well franked.
Apprentice Jabu Jacobs has ridden him in his last two starts and his back on board again. He takes 2.5kg off the gelding’s back.
The only concern is how Kayson will handle the Polytrack as all of his races have been on the turf.
Another former assistant trainer who can get off the mark at Greyville on Sunday is Carl Hewitson. His horses have had to adjust to a move from Port Elizabeth to Summerveld but they have not performed badly.
He is expected to get off the mark in Race 1, where he sends out Set The Date. Ironically, it was this horse who was touched off by Muscutt-trained Hugs Accepted.
The Gimmethegreenlight filly is now drawn No 1 and will prove very hard to beat. Wayne Agrella takes the ride.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Set The Date, 10 Sweetscentedgreen, 7 Mrs Player, 12 Soweto Hall
Race 2: 7 Diamonds And Toads, 3 Backstop, 4 State Of Mind, 6 Princess Maxi
Race 3: 12 Trippin The Stars, 4 Nirvana Girl, 3 Celtic Vision, 8 Winter Whistle
Race 4: 1 Ralph The Rascal, 7 Mount Anderson, 2 Born To Perform, 5 Frank Lloyd Wright
Race 5: 3 Donald Mcdonald, 7 Run To Denmark, 5 Karoo Lark, 4 Electric Surge,