Hollywoodbets Scottsville hosts an eight race meeting today and the exotics should pay rewarding dividends for those who do their homework.

In the seventh race over 1000m the Wayne Badenhorst-trained Vercingetorix filly Mai Tai has always been well regarded and having led last time over 1200m before being caught late she is interesting dropped to the minimum trip. The jockey dropped his crop at the 300m mark last time but pushed the horse out well. A more significant factor was she over-raced a touch with cheek pieces on and they are now off. She should still have enough pace to be within touching distance and this time will be able to find the necessary extra at the finish. She looks to be off an attractive mark of 82 considering she was regarded as feature class as a two-year-old and placed fourth in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m. 

The Alyson Wright-trained Soft Falling Rain filly Gail Force won well second time out over this trip on the poly and has been accorded a competitive looking merit rating of only 77. 

Garth Puller has been in fine form this season and his Seventh Rock filly First Sighting has been right there the last twice she has tried this trip so she can go close with the advantage of a 4kg claimer now up.

Louis Goosen has been on good form and his filly Song Of The Forest should be finishing strongly under a 4kg claimer. 

Puller’s Flaming Lass won well second time out over 1200m and she could also be involved despite being accorded quite a high merit rating of 85.

Soiree and Coyote Girl also warrant respect.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a maiden over 1200m and Anton Marcus is an interesting booking on Alma Mater. This horse improved with blinkers on over 1100m last time and doesn’t face an inspiring field. 

King Cyrus made a fair debut in the strong centre of Kenilworth and wasn’t disgraced in his first run after gelding on the Greyville poly. He can improve and should be included.

In the second leg of the Pick 6, a Progress Plate over 1750m, Williams Land was beaten 4,25 lengths by G G’s Dynasty over 1600m last time. The form has been franked as the latter went on to win the Listed Michael Roberts handicap. Williams Land will relish the step back up to a similar trip as his last win although drawn six of ten won’t make it easy for Keagan de Melo. Paths Of Victory is an interesting runner as he prefers further but on this tough course he will be staying on well. He is second best in at the weights. Moon In June is third best in at the weights and is drawn five over a suitable trip, so she can make her presence felt.

In the fifth race over 1750m Silva Magic, Dark Moon Down and In Jest could fight it out. Silva Magic went close over 1800m last time off this merit rating and has a fair draw of five. Dark Moon Down comes from the Paul Lafferty yard, whose fortunes are on the up, and she was staying on over 1600m last time in her first run out the maidens. She will relish the step back to the course and distance of her maiden win and she now has a plum draw of three compared to 14 when she won her maiden. In Jest beat Silva Magic by half-a-length last time but is now half-a-kilogram worse off and has a tricky draw. 

In the sixth over 1000m Washington Square has always been well regarded and is in fine form so can go close with the same 4kg claimer up. Sarabi has won over course and distance before and has Warren Kennedy up off a slightly reduced merit rating. Candle Cove won her only start over this course and distance and has Marcus aboard.

In the last race over 1950m Wylie’s Wonder showed improvement with blinkers on last time and should relish the step to this trip. She is drawn in pole so has a chance if starting better than she did last time. Salah’s Girl was a revelation when stepped up from sprints to 2000m last time so she is an interesting contender, although she does have a tough draw to overcome. Captive Gold has fair form and with first time blinkers on has Marcus up from a good draw. Rise was staying on well over 1750m last time but also has a wide draw. Mission Beach has shown enough to be able to contest the finish.          

By David Thiselton