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Paul Matchett, Sean Tarry, Calvin Habib, Gavin Lerena, Mike and Mathew de Kock, OPERA FAN, XENOPHON, NEXT OF KIN

Some good early bets at Scottsville

July 2025

Jack Milner

With the dust of the Hollywood Durban July now starting to settle, racing in KwaZulu-Natal gets back to more mundane racing at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday.

Bettors should be able to get off to a fair start with Opera Fan in Race 1 and Next Of Kin in Race 3.

Opera Fan has now run well at three different tracks. The Paul Matchett-trained youngster should have won her local debut on the Polytrack after making the trip from the Highveld to KwaZulu-Natal last time but had things go wrong. She was also only beaten 0.40-lengths courtesy of a clever ride from Calvin Habib who kept Mrsglittersparkles going in front over 1400m.

Habib now rides the daughter of underrated stallion Horizon in a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1600m and from gate No 1 the pair could lead a largely inexperienced field to the end.

The biggest threats are Cassandra, who was most disappointing in her Polytrack debut, as well as improving Omnia.

Race 3 is a Maiden Plate over 1200m and unless there is a decent unraced horse, it should be a match race between Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Next Of Kin and Sean Tarry’s charge Xenophon.

Next Of Kin was friendless in the betting market on debut, drifting out to 14-1 after opening at 15-2 in a race over this course and distance

Unfortunately, they bumped Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimmie Rules who was super impressive on debut. He is a full brother to top sprinter Gimme A Prince and Durban July champion The Real Prince.

Next Of Kin was second best, but this form line could be a good one and he must rate as the best bet on the day.

Xenophon was beaten as odds-on favourite over 1400m but the drop in distance should suit and that could suit the son of Vercingetorix with Gavin Lerena up.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Opera Fan, 6 Cassandra, 5 Omnia, 4 Gathering Winter

Race 2: 4 Master Spy, 10 Bruh, 2 French War Lord, 9 Lunar Descent

Race 3: 4 Next Of Kin, 10 Xenophon, 1 Kanaal Skater, 8 Cardinal Chief

Race 4: 9 Celestial Diamond, 16 Lucienne, 5 Trail Runner, 6 Aurelian

Race 5: 5 World Of Royalty, 1 El Capitan, 9 Queen Of The Air, 8 Limelight Legend

Race 6: 3 Hodgepodge, 9 Another Dream, 10 Elembee, 6 Ideal Gift

Race 7: 6 Lock And Key, 2 Royal Invitation, 5 Tirpitz, 3 View Of The World

Race 8: 4 Major Tommie, 10 Rafa's Boy, 2 In The Bag, 9 Smorgasbord

 

BEST BET

Race 7: 6 Lock And Key

VALUE BET

Race 8: 4 Major Tommie

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 2x4

 

BIPOT                          

R162

Leg 1: 1, 3, 9

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 4, 5, 6

Leg 4: 3, 4

Leg 5: 1, 5, 7

Leg 6: 2, 3, 5

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R144

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 4, 5, 6

Leg 3: 3, 4

Leg 4: 1, 5, 7

Leg 5: 2, 3

Leg 6: 1

Leg 7: 2, 3, 4, 7

 

PICK 6

R720

Leg 1: 4, 10

Leg 2: 5, 9, 16

Leg 3: 1, 5, 8, 9

Leg 4: 3, 5, 6, 9, 10

Leg 5: 6

Leg 6: 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12

 

JACKPOT 1

R100

Leg 1: 5, 6, 9, 15, 16

Leg 2: 1, 5, 8, 9

Leg 3: 3, 5, 6, 9, 10

Leg 4: 6

 

JACKPOT 2

R120

Leg 1: 1, 5, 8, 9

Leg 2: 3, 5, 6, 9, 10

Leg 3: 6

Leg 4: 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12

 

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