The speed is on at Scottsville

Jack Milner

The expression “speed is of the essence” comes to the fore at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday with the running of four Grade 1 races over 1200m.
The races form the four legs of Jackpot One and the meeting is always an absolute thriller. To add to the excitement a R500,000 carryover has been included to kickstart the pool which is likely to reach R2 million.
All the races have been well supported and all the fields are large, which should ensure a really decent payout.
The four races cater for horses of all ages and sexes and start in Race 5 with the Allan Robertson Championship for two-year-old fillies.
In his event Paul Peter, chasing his first national title, has a very strong hand with three runners – Miss Cool, Glittering Girl and River Queraress.
There is no doubt the stable preference is for Miss Cool but Peter says they all have a chance. “I have not worked the three together so on form Miss Cool is the right one, but it would be no surprise if any of them popped up,” he said yesterday.
“Miss Cool is doing very well. She’s a small filly but has an amazing action, she covers so much ground. I thought she would need further but the Scottsville 1200m will suit her because she has a bit of stamina.
“Glittering Girl was very impressive when she won first time out. She was drawn No 1 but drifted to the outside to the better going and won easily.
“She’s a lovely filly and shows us good work, but this is her first run out of the maidens and she’s going straight into a Group 1. Scottsville is not easy for first timers at the track.
“But she does have tons of ability and wouldn’t surprise me if she popped up.”
River Queraress disappointed last time but Peter says that run should be ignored. “We’ve worked her with blinkers and her response has been excellent. She definitely is looking for further but (jockey) Warren (Kennedy) still thinks she is in with a chance of winning because with blinkers she’s a different horse.”
The main threat to the Peter runners is Sweet Pepper from the Sean Tarry stable. Tarry is always at his best on these big race days, and he prepares them perfectly. The daughter of Trippi made a winning debut last year and then came back last month to notch up a second win. That would have brought her on well and must bring her into the race.
Race 6 is the Gold Medallion for all juveniles and could see one of the better bets of the day in Corne Spies-trained Prophet.
This son of Querari is a full brother to Monks Hood, who won the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas before being shipped overseas. Prophet has won both his starts with ease and has the added advantage of having won last time over 1100m at Scottsville in the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb.
Spies has won and placed in a number of Grade 1 races at this meeting and was bullish yesterday about the chances of his charge. “He is impeccably bred and it looks like he’s the real deal.
“The Godolphin Barb was not the best field in the country, but he ran them to smithereens. At least it gave him a look at the Scottsville track and he’s come on with that run.
“This race will be the real test, but his times have been decent and although he’s taking on some proper horses, he will be a serious contender.”
Again a Tarry runner, Thunderstruck, looks the main danger. The son of Rafeef made his debut in January when he ran third but could not have been more impressive when fitted with blinkers last time and was a runaway winner.
The field includes Port Elizabeth-based Cliff Top, who won the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes at Kenilworth on Cape Town Met day.
Race 7 is the South African Fillies Sprint which sees the return of champion four-year-old filly Captain’s Ransom. Justin Snaith’s charge has been priced up favourite but she could find 1200m too sharp.
However, champions find a way to win and she tends to do that.
Peter, though, does like the chances of Big Burn, who has some decent form too. “I have the greatest respect for Captain’s Ransom. I think she will get the 1200m and I make her the danger, but my filly is very well and put up an exceptional gallop last week, the best I have seen from her.
“After that gallop, Warren was very confident.”
Again it is Tarry’s two runners who must come into the picture. Under Your Spell is coming back in trip after winning the Fillies Guineas but is loaded with class while Sound Of Warning could be the surprise package.
The Jackpot culminates with the Golden Horse Sprint. While the first three events are run at weight-for-age, the Golden Horse Sprint is a handicap which makes it particularly competitive.
Dean Kannemeyer-trained Cosmic Highway is the runner to beat but is a three-year-old taking on some decent older horses. So one may need to add in Tarry-trained Chimichuri Run and Eden Roc, Smorgasbord, Good Traveller, Alesian Chief, Al Sakeet and Real Gone Kid.
Speaking about Smorgasbord, Peter said: “Smorgasbord won the Grade 2 Senor Santa with a light weight but the handicappers punished him and then gave him a lot of weight for running third in the Drill Hall Stakes.
“I had hoped to have a lighter weight for this race, but he is well and has to have a big chance. Gavin Lerena is confident.”

Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 10 Winning Single, 13 Hayat, 6 Stevie Gee, 15 Captain Catman
Race 2: 3 Grinkov, 7 National Star, 2 Good Council, 1 In With A Chance
Race 3: 7 Escape Artist, 4 Napoleon, 6 Astrocyte, 8 Preemptive Strike
Race 4: 13 Isla Morada, 1 Liverpool Legend, 4 Pretty In Pearls, 5 Que For You,
Race 5: 14 Miss Cool, 12 Sweet Pepper, 10 River Queraress, 13 Glittering Girl
Race 6: 1 Prophet, 4 Cliff Top, 12 Thunderstruck, 10 Karangetang
Race 7: 8 Big Burn, 10 Under Your Spell, 2 Sound Of Warning, 15 Captain's Ransom
Race 8: 15 Cosmic Highway, 8 Smorgasbord, 12 Eden Roc, 2 Global Drummer
Race 9: 9 Lady Serena, 4 Burmese Tiara, 7 Mvulazana, 1 Lazuli

BEST BET
Race 2 No 3 Grinkov
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 13 Isla Morada
BEST SWINGER
Race 2 3x7

BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 4, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 13
Leg 4: 10, 12, 14
Leg 5: 1, 4
Leg 6: 2, 8, 10, 15

PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R243
Leg 1: 4, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 4, 13
Leg 3: 10, 12, 14
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 2, 8, 10
Leg 6: 8, 12, 15
Leg 7: 9

PICK 6
R2304
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 13
Leg 2: 10, 12, 13, 14
Leg 3: 1, 4, 12
Leg 4: 2, 8, 10, 15
Leg 5: 2, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16
Leg 6: 9

JACKPOT 1
R384
Leg 1: 10, 12, 13, 14
Leg 2: 1, 4, 12
Leg 3: 2, 8, 10, 15
Leg 4: 2, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16

JACKPOT 2
R96
Leg 1: 1, 4, 12
Leg 2: 2, 8, 10, 15
Leg 3: 2, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16
Leg 4: 9