Festival Of Speed Always Provides Thrilling Racing
The finish of last year’s Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint couldn’t have been closer with Mia Moo (Centre) winning by a shorthead from Asiye Phambili (far side) and Mrs Browning a shorthead behind the latter in third (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Festival Of Speed meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville is always a much looked forward to meeting especially for its Jackpot of Graded races.
The Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint is certainly going to be a humdinger this year as it sees the clash of the top class and in-form pair Double Grand Slam and Asiye Phambili, while the reigning champion Mia Moo looks to have hit form at the right time and she also has another important factor on her side i.e. she is trained by Sean Tarry, otherwise known as The King of Pietermaritzburg, having plundered a record 21 Gr 1 victories at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
Double Grand Slam is in the form of her life and will be out to make amends for her bad luck in this race last year. She is drawn ten so Andrew Fortune should have time and space to produce her late.
Asiye Phambili has emerged from a hard knocker into the real deal and if ever a filly deserved a Gr 1 victory it s her. Sean Veale knows her well and her draw of eight should suite her style.
Mia Moo came into the race last year on the back of a 2,10 length victory in the Gr 2 Camellia Stakes, whereas this year she comes in off a 2,90 length third in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint.
Interestingly Mia Moo beat Almond Sea by 4,80 lengths in the Camellia Stakes race and beat her by 3,35 lengths in the Computaform, so her form coming in is not actually much worse than it was last year.
However, it is her, and not Double Grand Slam, who has to contend with draw one this year and ironically Richard Fourie is up.
In another coincidental twist Mia Moo was drawn 8 last year, which is Asiye Phambili’s draw this year, and Asiye Phambili was drawn ten last year, Double Grand Slam’s draw this year.
Princess Of Gaul should be considered by the risk averse as she has a Gr 2 win over this trip as well as a Gr 2 and a Gr 3 over 1400m.
Perfect Miracle is an interesting runner too as she is by Hawwaam, whose progeny seem to improve continuously, just like his father Silvano’s progeny.
Perfect Miracle is proof of that. She has won a Gr 3 and a Gr 2 in her last two starts and the latter was the Camellia Stakes, which produced last year’s SA Fillies Sprint winner.
In this year’s Camellia Perfect Miracle faced Rodeo Drive on terms 1kg better than weight for age and beat her by 0,75 lengths, so on paper there should not be much between them now on wfa terms.
She was on wfa terms with all of Rachel Wall, Whistle The Tune, One Fine Winter and Almond Sea, whom she beat by 1,15 lengths, 2.05 lengths, 2,30 lengths and 3,80 lengths respectively, so has their beating on paper.
Symphony In White is a previous Gr 1 Allan Robertson third-placed achiever, but was beaten 4,55 lengths in this race last year and is well held by Asiye Phambili this year from their previous meeting.
Elegantrix was second in last year’s Allan Robertson, but ran a shocker last time out although she did win a Listed race well two runs before that over 1200m, so she could be a dark horse.
None of the others make much appeal.
The selection is Asiye Phambili to beat Double Grand Slam with Mia Moo , Princess Of Gaul and Perfect Miracle.
The Gr 1 Gold Medallion is the most expensive race at Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting and although the Vaughan Marshall-trained Rich Man’s World looks hard to beat there could be some value for places on one other runner in particular.
The unbeaten Boland Stud-bred Rich Man’s World has got better and better with every start and last time out he treated the previously unbeaten Master Magician like a maiden plater. The lattter had attempted to kick away from the field, but Rich Man’s World just cantered up to him with Richard Fourie still sitting still and a shake of he reins saw the big horse accelerating before free-wheeling for the last 50m and winning by 7,50 lengths..
Fourie later admitted the horse had hardly come out of first or second gear.
He is 5/10 with Hollywoodbets.
Haute Couture’s looks to be a serious racehorse too. He showed good cruising speed and a magnificent turn foot and has a good action.
The place value could lie with the Sean Tarry-trained Egremont, who caught the eye showing a fine turn of foot on debut. The son of Skits Skizzle is out of a Captain Al mare Cals Crush, who won four races over 1000m.
Better Never Ends has a resolute finish and this Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery winner is on the up, so he could also possibly make the frame.
The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Time Is Precious is by Querari out of Vercingetorix mare, Twilight Hour, who won on debut over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. He has a fairly big action and finished well when winning the Gr 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m. He could earn a cheque.
Kudikuran should appreciate the step up in trip and could earn.
Those are the ones who make most appeal and they are selected in the order mentioned.
In the first leg of the Jackpot, the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship, Querari Dancer would be fancied more if she had a better draw than one, which will be especially problematic for her style of running in which she comes from off the pace. The outside horses tend to drift inward and cause traffic problems for the lowly drawn horses who are being held up. The wily Fortune might concoct a plan though and this horse looks to have the class to win. Get Up showed a fine kick from a handy position over 1100m to win the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes and has a form chance. If she can be in the leading line the draw of four should not be problematic and she has the Tarry factor. Secretary Bird is well regarded and Griselda beat Get Up in the SA Fillies Nursery, but the latter slammed the SA Nursery winner Good Day Sunshine in the Pretty Polly, so Get Up was probably below par in the Nursery. Griselda has a scurrying sort of action so is not as impressive as Get Up but they win in all shapes and sizes and she has a nice draw of seven out of 16. Flower Island won well in both starts, although her time was not noteworthy last time. Ventura Boulevard won by ten lengths on debut in the East Cape and can’t be ignored.
The selection is Querari Dancer to beat Secretary Bird and Get Up with Flower Island and Ventura Boulevard next best.
In the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint Cosmic Speed bounced back when put over a sprint down the straight last time and, as he is a former Gr 1 Gold Medallion runer up, he will enjoy this course and distance, He has a nice draw of seven. One Eye On Vegas has speed and class and if able to overcome the troublesome number one draw he could be in the shake up. Taxi To The Moon is in devastating form and from draw five should make a bold bid. Texas Red is a 1400m specialist with consistent form and he should enjoy the tough Hollywoodbets Scottsville course and distance. Jerusalema Rain is in fine form and could still have more to come as he has found bis feet in the Tarry yard and he should be in the shake up. Cafe Culture has speed and class and should be right there. Fox On The Run has some class and is tough to ignore. Last year’s winner Tenango comes in fresh and could have benefited from the layoff.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m Uzwano has a nice middle draw and with Gavin Lerena up he should be finishing strongly and will go close. He is just 1kg under sufferance with the best weighted pair Better Man and Diani. Guy Gibson is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance and with Fourie up should be runnin on well over a suitable trip. Better Man has class and could earn although he has a wide draw and the trip is sharper than ideal. Mohave Princess is in good form and should enjoy this course and distance. Diani could earn a place in this line up.
In the last leg of the Pick 6 Chapbook is only the reserve runner but if getting in he will go close as he caught the eye finishing strongly over 1100m at this course last time. Banff has interesting formlines and should be cherry ripe and in the shake up. Kaalvoet is well weighted and should go close. Green Gateway is also well weighted and if not needing it will be right there. Magic Surprise was not disgraced last time in the In Full Flight Stakes over 1100m and he has come into his own so should make a bold bid as the 1,5kg claim of Rachel Venniker can be taken this time. Saudi Sweep is not officially well weighted and returns from a long layoff but has a big reputation.
In the first leg of the PA Next Of Kin has been knocking on the door and should go close from a good draw.
In the second race the raider The Name Of Dladla looks ready to win and Andrew Fortune is up.
In the first race Enjoy The Ride was not disgraced on debut and with expected improvement should be thereabouts.
