Andrew Harrison

MICHAEL ROBERTS, a sporting legend and one of the finest jockeys ever to don racing silks, will once again be honoured at Hollywoodbets Scottsville tomorrow. Scottsville was the course where he rode his first winner in 1968 and sent him on his way to 11 South African Jockey Championships. Later, in his 17-year stint in the UK, he became only the sixth foreign rider to win the UK championship where he was also the first rider to crack the 200-winner mark.

Roberts has his name on his trophy, five times as a jockey and a trainer, his first win when riding for brother-in-law Robin Watkinson, but he will be a spectator in the Listed Michael Roberts Handicap.

Peter Muscutt has always rated Baby Shooz who has only once finished out of the money in 10 starts. Since being gelded in June last year, he came up short of a run behind surprise winner Frank Lloyd Wright and then disposed of Desolate Road next time out.

More recently he finished under a length behind Mount Anderson but was a touch unlucky as he cast a shoe in the running.

He has only once been further than 1600m and that was back in February last year when he scored comfortably over 2000m. So tomorrow’s 1800m trip will hold no fears and with only 53.5kg to shoulder he should make a fist of it.

Shane Humby does not run them often but Mr Fitz had an enforced break towards the end of last season as the stable battled a hoof abscess. The five-year-old is now over it and he has smart form leading into this race. He finished a length behind Baby Shooz two runs back giving the winner 1kg and was then run out of it late by Mount Anderson in the Christmas Handicap.

He is currently in a good space and also has a light weight to enhance his chances.

Duncan Howells has always held Trip To Africa in high regard but a persistent virus the plagued the yard last season saw the stable hit an extended ‘flat’ spot. Trip To Africa is only now showing what he is capable off and could be some way ahead of the handicapper which will make him dangerous.

Howells can get the afternoon off on a winning note where he saddles Irish Belle, the only filly in the race. She is exceptionally quick and looked to be headed for a comfortable victory last time out. However, the last furlong found her out and she had to be content with her fourth successive runner-up berth.

She drops a furlong to what should be a more suitable trip given her recent record and with apprentice Thabiso Gumede claiming 2.5kg she could prove difficult to beat.

Tristan Godden landed a double on the same course last Wednesday and he has a bright chance on the Alyson Wright-trained Preferential in the sixth. The filly has been in mustard form since being tried in blinkers, winning twice from three outings and a close-up second in the other.

However, she will face strong opposition from the enigmatic mare Diamondsandpearls.

She has a mind of her own and not the easiest to get fit but appears to be in a good space at present and will give this field a hard race.

Legislate’s Dance can fire up the first leg of the Pick 6 as Lezeanne Forbes’s colt has improved with every outing and could prove a little too classy for the older opposition. He has only had three trips to the race course and he looks ideally suited to this trip. The blinkers come off Raiseahallelujah although he has been disappointing while Galabier made a promising start to his career for Gareth van Zyl and is sure to improve.

Silent Crusade is the best weighted in the eighth, a conditions race, but her best recent form has been over further. However, she has plenty of class which along with a favourable weight could see Mark Dixon’s mare home. Hawker Typhoon is lightly raced and jumps in class but both wins have come on this course and she carries bottom weight. Linear is not the easiest, being a bit of a head case, but is smart. She was not disgraced in a Highveld feature last start and she must have a good chance in this line-up.

The last is a wide-open handicap where exotic bet punters are advised to load up. Star Of Joburg has been up against much stronger at recent outings and not been far back. Nathan Kotzen has declared blinkers and a tongue-tie which could see a couple of lengths improvement which could be enough to take the honours.  Quant Master has improved in blinkers recently and is useful on his day while the ‘lurker’ could be Greenlighttoheaven.

Gavin van Zyl tried him over 1750m last time out but the gelding had shown early promise over sprints and drops back to 1200m tomorrow.