Dual Grade 1 winning KwaZulu-Natal champion Royal Victory sets the standard at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and rates the one to beat in the feature of the day, the umThomboti Stakes (Non-Black Type) over 1950m.
There are also Highveld raiding parties that look sure to come away with the share of the stakes on offer.
Nathan Kotzen-trained Royal Victory was one of the stars of last season on the Highveld coming away with two important Grade 1 victories, the Betway Summer Cup and Premier’s Champions Challenge, both over 2000m at Turffontein. While unable to defend his Summer Cup title run last November, having battled conditions that didn’t suit backmarkers and he also had a bit more to do at the weights then, the Champions Challenge should be a more winnable race, run at weight for age.
Royal Victory has what appears to be his final prep in Race 2 where he is weighted to win easily.
He has already beaten second best weighted Miss Platina by 4.80 lengths over 1600m and at the same weight terms should win more easily over an even more suitable distance.
Muzi Yeni, who rode him to both those Joburg feature-race victories, will be back in the irons on Sunday.
Highveld conditioner Tony Peter has brought some runners to contests some of the early races. Silent War was beaten in a close call in a Listed feature, but he will have his work cut out taking on Royal Victory. However, Peter has a forward two-year-old running in Race 1 and that looks hard to beat.
Not only has Zacatoo produced the pace to go with some promising sorts, but it is also interesting to note he has given weight to all that have finished ahead of him, including when he ran fourth on debut. On local debut at Scottsville, he brings in the best form at level weights so rates the horse to beat. There are first-timers and as always, follow the betting market closely before placing bets.
Jack Milner’s selection
Race 1: 4 Zacatoo, 1 Black Frost, 3 Treaty Of Paris, 8 Natural Law
Race 2: 2 Royal Victory, 1 Silent War, 5 Positive Attitude, 3 Selukwe
Race 3: 1 Owner Of Creation, 10 Kwagga Blitz, 4 Master Du Rouvray, 7 Zyakala
Race 4: 2 Our Lady Fate, 5 Like A Prayer, 10 Annie's Song, 11 Takatalvi
Race 5: 5 Imposing, 7 Savantrix, 8 I Salute You, 6 Tyrconnell
Race 6: 10 Connoisseur, 2 Attaboy, 1 Fireburst, 3 Pongola
Race 7: 3 Hodgepodge, 4 Radu, 7 Buttercup Baby, 9 Tomyris
Race 8: 7 Prized Platinum, 9 Cotton Ron, 5 El Draque, 6 Now I Got You
Race 9: 3 All The Time, 7 Agrado, 10 Magma Magic, 9 Masterbling
BEST BET
Race 2 No 2 Royal Victory
VALUE BET
Race 9 No 3 All The Time
BEST SWINGER
Race 4 2x5
BIPOT
R90
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 1, 4, 10
Leg 3: 2, 5
Leg 4: 5, 7, 8
Leg 5: 1, 2, 7, 8, 10
Leg 6: 3
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 1, 4, 7
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 5, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 10
Leg 5: 3
Leg 6: 5, 7, 9
Leg 7: 3, 7, 9, 10
PICK 6
R2160
Leg 1: 2, 5, 10
Leg 2: 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10
Leg 4: 3
Leg 5: 3, 5, 6, 7, 9
Leg 6: 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10
JACKPOT 1
R120
Leg 1: 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 3, 5, 6, 7, 9
JACKPOT 2
R180
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 3, 5, 6, 7, 9
Leg 4: 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10