Scottsville’s Festival Of Speed meeting is a day for both the purist and socialite as it always attracts a large and festive crowd, while it takes a top horse to win any of the four Gr 1 1200m events on the card.

Hopefully, with the moving of the far rail inward a few metres, horses will have equal chances no matter where they are drawn.

The Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint is as open as ever and every single horse has a winning chance. Class usually prevails in this race, although occasionally one slips through the handicapping net and punters have the luxury of both class and weight on their side.

The one who best fits both credentials is Barbosa, who has blossomed this season, and his Gr 1 Computaform Sprint third place was similar in style to his former stablemate Captain Of All’s third place in that race last year. The latter went on to win the Tsogo Sun and Barbosa can bring more success to trainer Dennis Drier, who will probably need another cabinet soon just to contain his Scottsville trophies.

Gulf Storm and Talktothestars are the two classiest horses in the field, so are selected for second and third respectively. Captain Alfredo is the young pretender, so could also finish in the quartet. Exelero looks well weighted on certain collateral formlines, so could also earn a cheque. However, it would not be foolish to include the whole field in the Pick 6.

Cuvee Brut, stablemate to Gulf Storm, represents the yard of Brett Crawford, whose SA Champions Season horses have proved in need of their first KZN runs this year. Crawford’s pair are both likely to show big improvement on their last runs. Captain’s Causeway is 1kg under sufferance, but his merit rating is likely capped. Both Captain Alfredo and Captain’s Causeway were given the maximum allowed raise for their respective first and second place in the Listed In Full Flight Stakes, but they probably both deserved to be given even more.

Ernie ran an honest third in the In Full Flight and is 3,5kg better off with Captain Alfredo for a 4,75 length beating, so will have his work cut out, although the officially “very soft” going that day could have exaggerated the winning margins. Ernie should now be at his peak and 1200m looks to be his best trip. Red Ray has the class, as proven by his second place from a tough draw in this race two years ago, but connections have admitted he will only be about 80% fit.

Seventh Plain is one of the dark horses, as one who oozes class, but is coming off an interrupted preparation. He was doing good late work in the In Full Flight Stakes and should have improved a lot from that run. Guiness also has a lot of class, having, like Seventh Plain, won the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion as a two-year-old, and he should also improve on his last run, which was his comeback from an overall disappointing campaign in Cape Town.

Splendid Garden did not have an ideal preparation into the Computaform Sprint, yet still ran a fine fifth, despite jumping from a tough draw. He is thriving at Summerveld and is a runner if behaving himself at the start. Tiger’s Touch will need to improve on the form she has shown off her current 104 merit rating. African Ruler is an up and coming sort who was raised one point after finishing second in the Gr 3 Man O’ War Sprint over 1100m at Turffontein and this is now a lot tougher.

Carry On Alice in the City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint will be the meeting banker provided she is herself, and trainer Sean Tarry has been concerned by the below par form of his Randjesfontein yard at present, so it is not a given she will be. Lanner Falcon has blossomed and can pick up the pieces.

Princess Royal has come on a lot from her last run and is ideally course and distance suited. Joan Ranger is the dark horse as one who has won both of her sprints in fine style since proving herself suited to shorter distances. Real Princess won the Poinsettia over course and distance in eye-catching fashion after being squeezed at the start. They are selected in the order mentioned.

Horse Guards could give Drier his sixth win of the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion in the last seven renewals. He was an impressive course and distance winner last time out. However, Always In Charge looks top class too. Oomph brings the unknown as he has obliterated all before him in the weaker centre of Port Elizabeth. Paperback Writer is another dark horse as a well bred sort who has shown plenty of speed and is now dropped to a likely more suitable 1200m. Red Rock strikes as being better than the form of his last run suggests. He did have to switch close to home in that last run. Seattle Singer is interesting as a consistent and improving filly with  a gender allowance.

The Allan Robertson Championship, following the scratching of the brilliant Cloth Of Cloud, could be won by the classy and superbly bred The Secret Is Out, who has impressed to date. Visuality caught the eye last time in a race which didn’t pan out well for her and is the dark horse. Zaakhira beat a moderate field impressively on debut and should improve further. Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery winner Fursa ideally needs further, but should relish the tough course and distance. SA Fillies Nursery runner up Myfunnyvalentine could earn too.

David Thiselton