Andrew Harrison

Eleven-time South African Champion Jockey Michael Roberts has always rated the New Zealand-bred Sledgehammer as the best horse he ever rode in South Africa.

None in today’s field in the World Sports Betting Sledgehammer (Listed) will ever rise to those lofty heights but they will have punters pondering. Andre Nel saddles Selukwe who was a comfortable winner of a minor feature last time out and that form has since been franked. He took a six-point rise in the handicap for that win and takes on useful company but a repeat will see him close.

Justin Snaith fires his first salvos leading into South Africa’s Champion Season and sends out Legal Counsil who won his last two in the Cape. The gelding looks progressive and with a light weight he will be a big contender. Stable companion Rapidash has been up against top opposition in the Cape and although a distant second last run, The Real Prince is not in this line-up. Alec Laird only has one runner on the day and Command Pilot may just have needed his last run and has a money chance.

The World Sports Betting Highland Night Cup will have Frank Robinson planning for the big staying features coming up in the next three months. He saddles Shoot The Rapids who made a smart return to the track after a lengthy break when a close-up second last run. He stays well and at best will go close again. Snaith sends out Master Of Paris who arrives with useful recent Cape form over shorter. He gets 9kg from Shoot The Rapids which could make things difficult for Robinson’s charge. Cape Eagle is never far off them and stays the trip. He will be a big runner. Raiseahallelujah ran well below form last time out and the run is best ignored. He stays well and is not without a winning chance.

The Alistair Gordon-trained filly Scarlet Lady was one of the finest sprinters of her time so it is a bit ironic that the WSB Scarlet Lady is run over 1750m. Whatever, Spirit Of Levana  was scratched from her last intended start on the grounds of an interrupted work programme. Hopefully she is up to peak fitness now and she can make amends for being a beaten favourite last run. The blinkers have been exchanged for cheek pieces. Miss Platina was quietly fancied in the King’s Cup last run. It was a tough ask but the form of her penultimate start has worked out well. Celtic Beauty is useful and set the pace in a sprint last run in a good blow-out for this race. She will much prefer this trip.  Mascherina is seldom far back and has a strong money chance.

Snaith can get his Champions Season campaign off on a winning note with Gran Canaria in the first leg of the PA, third race on the 10-race card. The gelding comes with smart Cape form and looks the part although Amandla Ngawethu started favourite in his Highveld debut after showing promising Cape form. The step up in trip should suit.

It is a competitive card and punters will need to do their homework and also keep an eye on the market before making their decisions. The first leg of the Pick 6 is an open handicap but Greenlight Queen made steady improvement leading up to her recent maiden win. That form has panned out quite well and she can go in again. Princess Goldie was also a recent maiden winner but comes from a very much in-form stable. The step up in trip from a good draw should see her in with a strong chance. Buttercup Baby has a tricky draw to negotiate but was doing her best work late last run and will appreciate the extra furlong. Emerald Green was drawn on Marriott Road last start so that run is best ignored. She is smart on her day.

In the eighth, Happy Analia found one too good for her in stable companion Tara Sands last run but there was very little in it. She could find this trip a touch sharp but is in good form. B fiftytwo has been knocking at the door for some time now and the apprentice has been replaced by Andrew Fortune. Michael Roberts holds a strong hand with four of his Hollywoodbets Scottsville specialists in the field. Best could be Northern Warrior who has shown some of his best form over course and distance and is in good form at present. Stable companion Philispiel is over his best course and distance with a 4kg claimer aboard. His last run is best ignored.

The final leg of the Pick 6 does not get any easier but On Board made a winning local debut after showing some modest Cape form but can follow up in this company. Dawn Surprise was a beaten favourite last run after a smart previous effort. She is 1kg worse off with Prized Platinum on their last meeting given the apprentice claim. Jaap Visser is a rare visitor and saddles three runners. Si Veloce was much improved last run and could be the pick although Perini Palace is more consistent but her current recent form has been over further.

Race 1

10 OLD FASHIONED   3 TAM’S KNIGHT   1 CAPTAINSHIP   2 GALACTIC LOVER

Summary: Competitive maiden. OLD FASHIONED (10) arrives from Gauteng with solid form over the trip. He must have a strong chance of shedding his maiden but does faces some useful local opposition. CAPTAINSHIP (1) has been rested but has improved in blinkers and if anywhere near best he will put in a good showing. TAM’S KNIGHT (3) comes with solid Cape form although he has not been out since June last year. GALATIC LOVER (2) has made recent improvement and showed up well over course and distance last time out. (Andrew Harrison: 10-3-1-2).

Race 2

2 ARE YOU SURE   6 LUCIENNE   8 RUBY RISING   4 BELLE OF ANGELUS

Summary: ARE YOU SURE (2) has been knocking at the door for some time now and started favourite at her last four starts. She may just have been in need of her last run and can make amends. LUCIENNE (6) has shown up well in both starts although over a furlong further. However, she does look progressive and should feature prominently. RUBY RISING (8) has some useful form over the trip and should be a contender. BELL OF ANGELUS (4) shows plenty of pace but tends to lack extra when is counts. She tried further last run. (Andrew Harrison: 2-6-8-4).

Race 3

9 GRAN CANARIA   4 AMANDLA NGAWETHU   1 PIONEER SQUARE   6 WHITE SEAHORSE

Summary: GRAN CANARIA (9) is Justin Snaith’s first runner since arriving in KZN for Champions Season. The gelding comes with smart Cape form and looks the part. AMANDLA NGAWETHU (4) started favourite in his Highveld debut after showing promising Cape form. The step up in trip should suit. PIONEER SQUARE (1) has yet to finish out of the money and was a beaten favourite last time out. He has the best of the draw.  WHITE SEAHORSE (6) has shown up nicely in two local starts over further but is another that can feature in the money. (Andrew Harrison: 9-4-1-6).

Race 4

7 GREENLIGHT QUEEN   2 PRINCESS GOLDIE   15 BUTTERCUP BABY   4 EMERALD GREEN

Summary: Open handicap. GREENLIGHT QUEEN (7) has made steady improvement leading up to her recent maiden win. That form has panned out quite well and she can go in again. PRINCESS GOLDIE (2) was a recent maiden winner but comes from a very much in-form stable. The step up in trip from a good draw should see her in with a strong chance. BUTTERCUP BABY (15) has a tricky draw to negotiate but was doing her best work late last run and will appreciate the extra furlong. EMERALD GREEN (4) was drawn on Marriott Road last start so the run is best ignored. She is smart on her day. (Andrew Harrison: 7-2-15-4).

Race 5

3 SHOOT THE RAPIDS   1 MASTER OF PARIS   2 CAPE EAGLE   5 RAISEAHALLELUJAH

Summary: SHOOT THE RAPIDS (3) made a smart return to the track after a lengthy break. He stays well  and at best will go close again. Master Of Paris (1) arrives with useful recent Cape form over shorter. He gets 9kg from Shoot The Rapids which could make things difficult for Frank Robinson’s charge. CAPE EAGLE (2) is never far off them and stays the trip. He will be a big runner. RAISEAHALLELUJAH (5) ran well below form last time out and the run is best ignored. He stays well and is not without a chance. ARVERNI KING (7) has improved in blinkers and won well enough last time out to rate a good each-way chance. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-2-5).

Race 6

2 SPIRIT OF LEVANA   4 MISS PLATINA   8 CELTIC BEAUTY   6 MASCHERINA

Summary: SPIRIT OF LEVANA (2) was scratched from her last intended start on the grounds of an  interrupted work programme. Hopefully she is up to peak fitness now and she can make amends for being a beaten favourite last run. The blinkers have been exchanged for cheek pieces. MISS PLATINA (4) was quietly fancied in the King’s Cup last run but it was a tough ask. The form of her penultimate start has worked out well. CELTIC BEAUTY (8) is useful and set the pace in a sprint last run in a good blow-out for this race. She will much prefer this trip.  MASCHERINA (6) is seldom far back and has a strong money chance. (Andrew Harrison: 2-4-8-6).

Race 7

6 SELUKWE   8 LEGAL COUNSEL   4 RAPIDASH   7 COMMAND PILOT

Summary: Competitive feature. SELUKWE (6) was a comfortable winner of a minor feature last time out and that form has been franked. He took a six-point rise in the handicap and takes on useful company but a repeat will see him close. LEGAL COUNSEL (8) won his last two in the Cape. He looks progressive and with a light weight he will be a big contender. Stable companion RAPIDASH (4) has been up against top opposition in the Cape and although a distant second last run, The Real Prince is not in this line-up. COMMAND PILOT (7) may just have needed his last run and has a money chance. (Andrew Harrison: 6-8-4-7).

Race 8

11 HAPPY ANALIA   12 BFIFTYTWO   8 NORTHERN WARRIOR   10 PHILISPIEL

Summary: Wide open. HAPPY ANALIA (11) found one too good for her in stable companion Tara Sands Last run but there was very little in it. She could find this trip a touch sharp but is in good form. BFIFTYTWO (12) has been knocking at the door for some time now and the apprentice has been replaced by Andrew Fortune. Michael Roberts holds a strong hand with four of his Hollywoodbets Scottsville specialists in the field. Best could be NORTHERN WARRIOR (8) who has shown some of his best form over course and distance and is in good form at present. PHILISPIEL (10) is over his best course and distance with a 4kg claimer aboard. His last run is best ignored. (Andrew Harrison: 11-12-8-10).

Race 9

10 ON BOARD   4 DAWN SURPRISE   11 PRIZED PLATINUM   1 SI VELOCE

Summary: ON BOARD (10) made a winning local debut after showing some modest Cape form but can follow up in this company. DAWN SURPRISE (4) was a beaten favourite last run after a smart previous effort. She is 1kg worse off with PRIZED PLATINUM (11) on their last meeting given the apprentice claim. Jaap Visser is a rare visitor and saddles three runners. SI VELOCE (1) was much improved last run and could be the pick with the consistent PERINI PALACE (9) more consistent but his better form over further. (Andrew Harrison: 10-4-11-1).

Race 10

7 PALERMO   8 RICCARDO   5 MISTER NIBBLES   15 ROOSTER BRADSHAW

Summary: Not easy. PALERMO (7) took on a bit stronger last run and showed up well at his two previous starts over the trip. RICCARDO (8) is consistent and down in trip but is always dangerous. There should not be much between MISTER NIBBLES (5) and ROOSTER BRADSHAW (15), a head separating last time out but the latter has a tricky draw to contend with. (Andrew Harrison: 7-8-5-15).

Please Note: Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Saturday 12 April has been postponed to Monday 14 April due to unsafe underfoot conditions and further forecast of rain.

The Lady Is A Champ, newspapers wrote of SCARLET LADY. “She was a freak”, admits trainer Alistair Gordon. When Scarlet Lady first arrived at Summerveld at 6 o’clock one evening, she kicked Alistair’s knee and nearly broke his leg, when trying to off-load her. The next day when he took her out the stable, he saw a “tiny little thing with terrible legs”. If Alistair could have sent her back to the stud farm, he would have. This was none other than Scarlet Lady who went on to become Equus Champion Sprinter in 1980/81. As tribute to this courageous filly, Sunday sees the running of the World Sports Betting Scarlet Lady (NBT)) at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

✔️Click for FIELD https://www.tabgold.co.za/fixtures/ra…

✔️Click for RACECARD https://www.tabgold.co.za/fixtures/ra…

🎥 : Cameraman : Nkululeko Mbhele

🏃🏽‍♀️‍➡️: Producer : Michele Wing, Racing News Social TV

In a 1988 SABC interview, Michael Roberts who had already won 11 South African Jockey Championship titles, was asked which horse stuck out in his mind. He didn’t hesitate in his reply, “Sledgehammer”, he said. As a tribute to this mighty horse, Sunday will see the running of the World Sports Betting Sledgehammer (listed) at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Click for FIELDhttps://www.tabgold.co.za/fixtures/race-card…

Click for RACECARDhttps://www.tabgold.co.za/fixtures/race-card…

🎥 Cameraman : Mickail Pillay

Producer : Michele Wing, Racing News Social TV