The Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint heads a jackpot of Grade 1 races at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday. It is always an intriguing meeting given the mix that two of the Grade 1’s are juvenile sprints where anything can happen, the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint is WFA and the Golden Horse is a handicap.

 

Dean Kannemeyer could hold the key to the Golden Horse with Gimme A Prince who has only missed the boards once in nine starts. He ran a cracker in the Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes when jumping from an outside gate and he beat Rio Querari in the G1 Cape Flying Championship. However, Justin Snaith appears to have got former Champion Sprinter Rio Querari back to some semblance of his old self and was a game winner last time out. The gelding seems to have improved with the blinkers removed.

 

Last year’s Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Thunderstruck could be the dark horse in the race. He has been struggling at recent starts but horses often have a tendency to strike form in yearly cycles and with Sean Tarry at the helm one can expect improvement on his recent showings.

 

We’re Jamming was close-up behind Rio Querari last time out but has taken an eight-point hit in the handicap.

 

Tarry, who looks to have a strong hand on the day, sends out the fancied Princess Calla in the Fillies Sprint who has cracking sprint form and meets the majority of this field on better weight terms if one takes ratings into account. Her two recent defeats have come at the hands of males but she did start favourite for the recent Gr1 Computaform Sprint.

 

Mike de Kock has had Desert Miracle racing over further of late having recently win the Gr1 Majorca Stakes and Gr1 Empress Club Stakes, both over a mile. However, she ran Princess Calla to under a length in the Gr2 Sceptre Stakes and is a big runner.

 

Stable companion Iphiko was less than a length back to Princess Calla in the Southern Cross Stakes and although all of her recent form has been over 1000m she cannot be written off. Stiptelik is another not far off Princess Calla and with some luck in the running she has a chance of pulling this off.

 

Tarry saddles the unbeaten Lucky Lad in the Gr1 Gold Medallion who was a comfortable winner of the Gr1 SA Nursery last time out. With rider Richard Fourie on a hot streak, he is likely to start favourite although he will face some useful opposition. Outlaw King suffered his first defeat in the Gr3 Goldophin Barb but it was obvious that he was short of a run. Having seen the course and a run under his girth one can expect a few lengths improvement. Lucky Houdalakis has avoided the Allan Robertson to take on males with the filly Egyptian Mau, a comfortable winner on debut and could be the dark horse in the race. Nathan Kotzen’s gelding Royal Warrior fluffed his lines on debut when touched off by Cliff Hanger but made amends with a five-lengthy romp next time out. He is a must inclusion in all exotic bets.

 

Candice Bass-Robinson has made a fine start to her Champions Season campaign and can add to her tally with in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship. Winter Cloud has the benefit of having won on the course and was most impressive when putting the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes field to bed. She has won her last three and looks a likely winner. Tarry generally bottles up his best for the big days and the unbeaten Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery winner Mrs Geriatrix looks a danger to the top choice. She has not won by far in each of her three races, often the sign of a good horse. Golden Tatjana was pitted against males in the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes and was touched off in second. A look at the course and her first run since February should see her in the firing line for Glen Kotzen. Red Hot Rose was a close-up second to Mrs Geriatrix in the Nursery with first time blinkers and she has not been out of the money in four starts for Mike de Kock.

 

 

1 FORESHORE 10 LADY CANTON 8 SEA OF TEARS 7 AMBER SKY

Summary: Glen Kotzen sends out FORESHORE (1) took on winners over the distance last time out and has shown steady improvement. She has the best of the draw and should put in a good showing. LADY CANTON (10) has not had the best of draws of late and has pulled another wide gate. However, Paul Lafferty’s filly has improved with every outing and looks ready for this. SEA OF TEARS (has had many chances and although runner-up at her last three the younger fillies appear to have her measure. AMBER SKY (7) showed promising improvement when tried over this trip last run and S’Manga Khumalo has stayed with Nathan Kotzen’s runner. (Andrew Harrison: 1-10-8-7).

 

3 PUERTO PLATA 6 TRITON 4 KASHKAVAL 5 BOOK OF DREAMS

Summary: PUERTO PLATA (3) has consistent Highveld form for Johan Janse Van Vuuren. He stays the trip well and should be in the firing line. TRITON (6) is a long-time maiden but has been consistent in softened ground. If the going firms up he could get it right this time around. KASHKAVAL (4) has been consistent since Yogas Govender added cheek pieces. He does step up in trip but should see it out. Stable companion BOOK OF DREAMS (5) has been trying further but has shown some promise on this track. DUKE OF AFRICA (2) has shown ability but his best recent form has been on the poly track. (Andrew Harrison: 3-6-4-5).

 

5 TWICE GOLDEN 8 PROFESSOR SNAPE 10 PRIME EXAMPLE 6 ZAKHO

Summary: Garth Puller has taken a chance on young apprentice James Lihaba to partner course and distance specialist TWICE GOLDEN (5) in what is a difficult handicap. Lihaba cut his teeth in ‘bush racing’ so is no wet-behind-the-ears apprentice and his 4kg claim and Puller’s instructions could see them home. But it will not be easy. The grey PROFESSOR SNAPE (goes the tri for the first time but was running on smartly at his last start and looks primed for this. PRIME EXAMPLE (10) has good form in Highveld staying features and could be one of the last winners Ashley Fortune saddles in this country before moving to Australia. There should be little between ROCK FALL (11), EXCEEDER (12) and ZAKHO (6) but the latter has improved in blinkers and gets the benefit of a 1.5kg allowance. (Andrew Harrison: 5-8-10-6).

 

4 CAPTAIN FONTANE 1 ROYAL VICTORY 7 RUSSIAN ROCK 8 VANDERBILT

Summary: Garth Puller has always rated CAPTAIN FONTANE (4) and the gelding is finally living up to his billing although has had a difficult career up to this point. He come from well back to beat former Cape Guineas winner RUSSIAN ROCK (7) last time out and even though the latter is slightly better off at the weights he is unlikely to turn the tables going on their last meeting. ROYAL VICTORY (1) has not been out since contesting the Gr1 SA Classic in early March but Nathan Kotzen’s gelding is back over what looks to be his optimum trip from the best of the draw. VANDERBILT (lost his way a little after racking up a string of successes but was back to his best last start for Tony Peter. SILVANO’S DASHER (12) has drawn wide but he has won against some useful opposition. (Andrew Harrison: 4-1-7-8-12).

 

10 WINTER CLOUD 12 MRS GERIATRIX 2 GOLDEN TATJANA 7 RED HOT ROSE

(Andrew Harrison: 10-12-2-7).

 

11 LUCKY LAD 5 OUTLAW KING 7 WARRIOR OF ROYALTY 8 EGYPTIAN MAU

(Andrew Harrison: 11-5-7-8).

 

1 PRINCESS CALLA 10 DESERT MIRACLE 7 IPHIKO 4 STIPTELIK

(Andrew Harrison: 1-10-7-4).

 

14 GIMME A PRINCE 13 RIO QUERARI 8 THUNDERSTRUCK 4 WE’RE JAMMING

 

12 WICCAN WARRIOR 5 KITCHAKAL 9 PONTE PIETRA 3 TABEBUIA

Summary: Tough handicap. WICCAN WARRIOR (12) has taken on the best and found awanting but a drop in class should see him fare a lot better. KITCHAKAL (5) only got a three-point raise in the handicap after his last win and Duncan Howells’s runner has been in good form in useful company of late. The step up in trip should suit and he can go in again. PONTE PIETRA (9) confirmed the form of Kitchakal’s win when running out an easy winner in his follow-up. Kitchakal is 1kg better off so one can reasonably expect a similar result between the two. Stable companion to Wiccan Warrior, TABEBUIA (3) was a comfortable winner on the Highveld last time out but got a hefty eight-point raise in the handicap. However, Richard Fourie stays with the ride. (Andrew Harrison: 12-5-9-3).