King to rule at Hollywoodbets Scottsville

Jack Milner

There look to be some decent opportunities for bettors at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday and some decent bankers for the exotics.

The first question to answer is can Arverni King finally shed his maiden tag?

Peter Muscutt’s charge takes his place in Race 5, a Maiden Plate over 1800m.

This three-year-old Vercingetorix gelding has run eight times for three seconds, three thirds and a fourth place. Overall, his form at Scottsville has been particularly encouraging having finished second and two third in his three runs at the track.

His last two races have been at the Maritzburg course and although he has been costly to follow, he did suffer interference in both of those runs and was particularly unlucky when a 1.20-length second behind African Dusk, while still producing the fastest 400m to finish.

What is relevant is that despite having been bumped, Arverni King still finished ahead of key dangers Space Cowboy and Gimme Gorgeous.

Keagan de Melo has been engaged for the ride and he will have the benefit of jumping from No 3 draw.

Another interesting runner comes up in Race 6, a MR 73 Handicap over 1750m, where trainer MJ Odendaal saddles El Dante, a gelding he rates highly.

El Dante might be five years old, but the son of Wylie Hall has only raced five times. Although officially a one-time winner, he did win a Maiden Plate at this course last year but was later disqualified. That meant he could not run in another maiden, and after a five-month layoff he returned to the racing in December. He had two warm-up races but in his third start, and his first over 1600m, he came away a 6.40-length winner.

He now has to overcome No 13 draw but has De Melo in the irons.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 10 African Beat, 1 Calling All Angels, 9 Baby On Board, 2 Sign Of Fate

Race 2: 2 Beechamwood Boy, 1 Donquerari, 7 Slim Jannie, 6 Asaruludu

Race 3: 2 Masterbling, 5 Keenonkelly, 10 Aleeyah's Unicorn, 8 King's Spear

Race 4: 2 Super Fast, 1 Majestic Reign, 10 Ana Noba, 8 His Master's Voice

Race 5: 3 Arverni King, 7 Gimme Gorgeous, 2 Triton, 6 Space Cowboy

Race 6: 13 El Dante, 10 El Rey Viene, 2 Unsolved Riddle, 1 Time Taker

Race 7: 3 Captain Fontane, 2 Diani, 1 Ideal Act, 7 News Stream

Race 8: 13 La Pura Vida, 14 Valerias Dream, 3 Diamond Girl, 6 Rock N Roll Girl

BEST BET

Race 5 No 3 Arverni King

VALUE BET

Race 8 No 13 La Pura Vida

BEST SWINGER

Race 6 2x13

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 1, 2, 9, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2, 7

Leg 3: 2, 5, 10

Leg 4: 1, 2, 10

Leg 5: 3

Leg 6: 10, 13

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R192

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 2, 5, 10

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 3

Leg 5: 10, 13

Leg 6: 2, 3

Leg 7: 3, 6, 13, 14

PICK 6

R840

Leg 1: 2, 4, 5, 8, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2, 8, 10

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 10, 13

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3

Leg 6: 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14

JACKPOT 1

R24

Leg 1: 1, 2, 8, 10

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 10, 13

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3

JACKPOT 2

R42

Leg 1: 3

Leg 2: 10, 13

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3

Leg 4: 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14