Andrew Harrison

THE Hollywoodbets Scottsville straight course will find out any horse that is short of race fitness and it is often labelled as a ‘horses for courses’ track.

Ishnana, recent winner of the (Listed) In Full Flight Stakes, a case in point.

 Top horses can get away with it through sheer class but the course, with its dip to the 500m and rise to the finish, has been the undoing of many a smart galloper.

A look at the track is always beneficial for aspirants to the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint, and the three other Gr1 features on the day, that have not raced there. Ever the professional, Justin Snaith has had Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Rio Querari stretch his legs there, but whether the gelding lines up on Saturday, June 5, is yet to be decided.

One horse with the Golden Horse on his agenda is Spydas Corner. Duncan Howells seldom runs a horse without a planned agenda but he will be looking for a big effort from his charge in the eighth on Sunday.

Spydas Corner, named by former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Brian Baloyi,  is no stranger to the course, having made three visits for a win and a second, and since being fitted with blinkers, the gelding has hardly put a foot wrong. His most recent victory came on this course where he got the better of the hard-knocker Good Rhythm.

He is down in class here so takes a corresponding rise in weight but he will need a forward showing to come into contention for a place in the Golden Horse line-up.

Blaze Of Silk is something of a course specialist, four of his five wins coming over course and distance and Corine Bestel has saddled him up at Scottsville 20 times out of his 28 starts.

He is slightly better off with Spydas Corner for when last they met but while the three-year-old has something to come, the six-year-old should have reached his peak.

An interesting runner is Hail Columbia. The Irish import has temperament issues but does give the impression that on his day, he could match it with the best. He made his debut over course and distance, going down to the highly rated Captain Fontane after a protracted duel to the line.

The form has been patchy since and the stable is quiet at present but Dennis Drier knows how to ready them up in Scottsville sprints so expect a big effort.

Dean Kannemeyer almost caused a major upset when Sir Michael pressed Do It Again to the line at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Sunday, and the stable is starting to fire.

He saddles Silver Maria in the seventh and she looks primed for this race, this being her third run after a lengthy break. She was run out of it late in her first two runs back over further, but this mile should suit down to the ground and she could prove difficult to beat.

Garth Puller’s stable is in a rich vein of form of late and Wishful Girl Linn could be the biggest threat to Silver Maria. Puller’s filly has the benefit of an inside draw and has not been far behind in useful company of late. However, her recent successes have been on the poly which may be a factor against her.

Work riders’ races in KZN are always tricky and never races to risk the house keeping on, but Captain Tatters should take some beating in the card opener. Snaith’s runner is rated a division better than the opposition and has smart form over the trip. Nathan Kotzen saddles the useful filly Stella Act who won her last race over course and distance and is smart on her day. She has bottom weight but also an inexperienced rider which could count against her.

Colinda Austin, assistant to Ashburton-based Shane Humby, is an accomplished work rider and partners Ziva La Winter for Kom Naidoo. The gelding is quick and has been up against stronger opposition than what he meets here and could be a threat to Captain Tatters.