If ever there was a case to be made for horses-for-courses one need look no further than Blaze Of Silk.

Before yesterday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, three of his four wins had come on the Pietermartizburg track and he added a fifth yesterday as he out-gunned the filly La Bella and Hampton Court.

That said, Corinne Bestel is not a fan of the poly track and Blaze Of Silk has been kept to the turf whether it be Hollywoodbets  Scottsville or Hollywoodbets Greyville and he has hardly ever let his connections down.

Sherman Brown, deputising for and injured Gareth Wright, sat in off the early pace set by the filly La Bella but when asked he quickened away to win as he liked.

Favourite Hardfallingrain was in the pack early but fell away to finish with daylight behind him.

Gareth van Zyl has been in racing all of his life, his father Gavin a top jockey and now trainer, and the young Van Zyl has learnt well.

He was the toast of the track yesterday as he saddled a quick double, both ridden by log-leading jockey Warren Kennedy.

Kennedy rode a particularly cool race on Daidala, sitting well of the pace turning for home but threading his way through the traffic for the filly to win well.

“The race worked out perfectly for me. This filly can turn it on.” said Kennedy. “The pace was on, I was very comfortable where I was, I pulled her towards the outside and it opened up like the red sea.”

The combination was back in the winner’s circle 30 minutes later carrying the same silks of Allen Peters. Stepping up in trip, Slievanorra kept rolling to win rather comfortably in the end. Stable companion Queen’s Plain gave some cheek but Kennedy, who knows the stable runners, was confident that once off the bit, Queen’s Plain would not find any extra and it was Green Ice who denied a stable one-two.

Bint El Malak was edged off the top of the table for the Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge log by the long-time maiden Jayden’s Shreya before yesterday but Paul Lafferty’s filly was back in front after finishing third behind Daidala. Getting a run via the back door as a reserve runner. Bint Al Malak is also scheduled to line up at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday where she is destined to take her place according to Paul Lafferty. “That all depends on how she pulls up today, I don’t see any reason why she should not run on Sunday given that she is fit and well.”

Master Of My Fate was not the easiest when in training by Dennis Drier was a big supporter of his first crop and it has paid dividends. But that temperament quite often manifests itself in the offspring and Tarocco is not the easiest at home according to Stuart Ferrie, long-time assistant to Drier. “She had it all her own way today,” he said and the filly rolled home unchallenged under apprentice Luke Ferraris, 36-1 on the books and paying R22 on the ‘nanny’.

The word was out early on course that Sofia Erin was the business in the card opener and those that followed the money were not disappointed as she cruised home unextended.

“We knew that she was going to win,” confirmed Serino Moodley who was recently voted Gold Circle Jockey of the month for January.

“She’s a very classy filly and we knew that she would win,” according to Lezeanne Forbes who is predicting a future for the filly. Relatively new owners Suzette and Basie Viljoen have ploughed plenty into the sport and this was their first winning juvenile.

By Andrew Harrison