Trainer Gareth van Zyl looks to have placed Quandary well in a B Stakes after the Vercingetorix gelding came back to best in his last start against stronger opposition.
William Robertson also rates a key runner in a nine-race programme at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
Quandary isn’t meeting a bad field in Race 9 over 1000m, but he has beaten some high-class individuals and if back to best, his class could be the deciding factor. He has a great record, having recorded three of his four career wins at Scottsville, but one of his best efforts was a fast-finishing fourth when beaten 1.60 lengths by this year’s Bantry Bay Stakes winner Ziyasha in which he conceded 2kg to winner at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Ziyasha subsequently took now-retired champion Thunderstruck to the wire and has even more accolades in the bank.
Quandary has also beaten Sun Blushed who is a big player in Race 7, the Non-Black Type Marula Sprint, which must say something about the chances of the Van Zyl runner in a B Division Stakes race. Incidentally he is one from one over the course and distance.
Sun Blushed is a 1200m specialist and having won four and placed three times from eight starts is a horse that loves Scottsville. Three of his five career wins have come over the distance of the Marula Sprint, but he could not get past William Robertson in his last two and is again weighted to come off second best to the Highveld sprinter.
William Robertson is set to dominate the locals once again, even though he had to settle for the second cheque in the African Holly Stakes behind Captain Bombshell, a horse who has upset him before. William Robertson, trained by Corne Spies, had valid excuses last time. There had been plenty rain about which would have affected his preparation due to the lack of training tracks, and it showed in his race as he seem to lag and only got going very late.
He produced a strong finish but was beaten 0.40 lengths, that run would have brought him on nicely for the Marula.
Sun Blushed who finished 0.80 lengths behind will have his work cut out to get that close this time.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 8 Bell Of Angelus, 3 Treasure Island, 11 Limitless Sky, 10 Magical Sky
Race 2: 4 Ice Rain, 6 Ginger Delight, 3 Broadway Girl, 1 Spirit Of Levana
Race 3: 3 Good Living, 10 Emoyeni, 6 Touch Of Heaven, 1 Real War
Race 4: 3 Princess Goldie, 4 Jumpthegreenlight, 11 KMV Retrofit, 5 La Maddalena
Race 5: 2 Harun Al Rashid, 1 Uzwano, 7 Many Waters, 4 Fortune Hunter
Race 6: 7 Ragnar The King, 1 Green Mile, 5 Prince Florian, 9 White Waters
Race 7: 8 William Robertson, 4 Sun Blushed, 10 Shipholia, 2 Good Traveller
Race 8: 1 Happy Analia, 14 Lady Of Vix, 12 One Smart Cookie, 4 Ayuwi Yuwi
Race 9: 5 Quandary, 6 War Empress, 8 Connery, 11 Smorgasbord
BEST BET
Race 7: 8 William Robertson
VALUE BET
Race 8: 1 Happy Analia
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 8x9
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 3, 4, 6
Leg 2: 1, 3, 6, 10
Leg 3: 3, 4, 11
Leg 4: 1, 2
Leg 5: 1, 5, 7
Leg 6: 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 3, 6, 10
Leg 2: 3, 4
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 1, 5, 7
Leg 5: 8
Leg 6: 1, 12, 14
Leg 7: 5, 6, 8
PICK 6
R1500
Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 7, 11
Leg 2: 1, 2
Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9
Leg 4: 8
Leg 5: 1, 4, 11, 12, 14
Leg 6: 2, 5, 6, 8, 11, 14
JACKPOT 1
R50
Leg 1: 1, 2
Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9
Leg 3: 8
Leg 4: 1, 4, 11, 12, 14
JACKPOT 2
R150
Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9
Leg 2: 8
Leg 3: 1, 4, 11, 12, 14
Leg 4: 2, 5, 6, 8, 11, 14