The Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting will be as exciting and intriguing as usual and picking winners in the Jackpot of Gr 1 races will have kept form studiers busy during the build up.
The R1 million Tsogo Sun Sprint is the headliner and as it is a handicap it is always the toughest of the four races to assess.
Generalissimo will attempt to make it three years in succession that a three-year-old son of Var has won this race. This Kenilworth 1200m course record holder looks to be more classy than the previous two winners Contador and Normanz and is only a couple of points higher in the merit ratings than they were. He has a fair draw of nine.
His stablemate Captain Of All possesses class in abundance and could join greats like J J The Jet Plane as a victor in this race with top weight. He loves this track and his draw of nine on a straight which usually favours low draws shouldn’t be a significant disadvantage considering he posseses both pace as well as the ability to kick late.
Willow Magic is a Gr 1 winner carrying only 54 kg and is drawn on the right side. He is 6kg better off with Captain Of All for a one length beating in the Gold Medallion two years ago and also 6kg better off with the same horse for a 2,65 length beating in last month’s Computaform Sprint. However, he didn’t get a good start in the latter race and will prefer the 1200m.
Sheik’s Brashee was unlucky last time out in the Listed In Full Flight Handicap over 1100m at Scottsville, but consequently avoided a merit rating raise and is drawn perfectly over a course and distance he loves.
Gulf Storm proved he enjoyed this tough course when impressing in the Listed In Full Flight Stakes over 1100m, but he was given a harsh nine point raise.
Barbosa won well over course and distance after a long layoff and is a game sort running from a good draw with a good jockey aboard. Brutal Force has quite a tough draw of 12 but won well last time over 1000m in his second run after gelding and will prefer this 1200m trip.
Zambezi River is a good looking horse who is suited to this trip and although officially 1kg under sufferance the best has probably not been seen of him. Bichette won by an impressive six lengths in a Gr 2 last time, showing speed throughout, but has a tough task at the weights for a three-year-old filly.
Normanz has enjoyed a good preparation and his pace could help him overcome a wide draw. He is only three points higher in the merit ratings than last year. Kingvoldt is full of class and effective over this trip but has the toughest draw to overcome.
Ashton Park was very unlucky in the Diadem over this trip and will likely be running on strongly after possibly being dropped out from a high draw. The speedy Flyfirstclass has won three times over course and distance and jumps from the same draw that the last two winners of this race have come from.
Moofeed was given a harsh eight points or his head second in the In Full Flight Stakes, when proving he is capable of overcoming this same high draw. Chekilli has early pace but couldn’t have landed a worse draw for his style of running. Daring Dave did not enjoy his first visit to Scottsville and has it all to do.
The Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship will be a cracker. Australian-breds have had a fine record in South Africa this season and although by jockey bookings Entisaar looks the second string from the De Kock yard, she impressed from an unfavourable draw when winning the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery and should enjoy the tough Scottsville track from a fair draw of eight.
Classy Princess Royal is a half-sister to a previous winner of this race Princess Victoria and was unlucky last time out. She has come on from that run and doesn’t have too bad a draw in nine.
Unbeaten Royal Pleasure has landed a perfect low draw for her style of racing in which she likes to dominate from the off and on pedigree she should run all the way to the line.
Shaama is another Australian-bred from the De Kock yard and finished a gallant second against the boys in the SA Nursery but faces a tougher draw here. Swift Sarah impressed on debut and could be anything but also has a tricky draw.
The Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion could be won for the fifth time in six years by Dennis Drier. He runs Seventh Rock colt Seventh Plain, who has both early pace and the class to stay all the way to the line. Muwaary won easily on debut in a good time and is a classy Australian-bred who will have a big say. Redcarpet Captain has enjoyed a much better preparation than for the SA Nursery and could bounce back. Mr Roy has also enjoyed a better preparation this time than last and could be the dark horse.
Beat The Retreat was only 1,5 lengths off Seventh Plain last time and comes from a yard that has a good record in KZN Gr 1 sprints.
Prospect Strike beat a weak field by over 12 lengths on debut and could be anything. Donny G should improve on his debut win and is well drawn. Jet Air has some pace and will stay all the way to the line from a good draw. Just Africa has fair Jo’burg form and can’t be ignored.
The Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint could see Carry On Alice getting the better of her nemesis Alboran Sea from a superior draw and over a trip she will prefer. The latter will use her early pace to overcome her tricky draw and it is likely going to be a thriller.
Jet Belle is full of class and proved last time that she relishes this tough course, so could feasibly upset the applecart. Garibondy could be next best ahead of last year’s respective second and third Fly By Night and Jet Aglow.
The horses are selected for every race in the order mentioned.
By David Thiselton
Picture: Generalissimo (Liesl King)
