Andrew Harrison
TOMORROW’S meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville is not for the faint-hearted punter with some seriously competitive racing on the nine-race card. To further complicate matters, there is a prediction of some rain. Let’s hope that the Norwegian weather gurus have it wrong.
A Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares heads up the card where the two most obvious protagonists are Mary O and Silent Crusade. Lezeanne Forbes saddles WSB Fillies Guineas runner-up Mary O who took on a strong field of males from the worst of the draw at her last outing in the Michael Roberts Handicap. Prior to that she was close-up in the Flamboyant Stakes and the winner of that race, Indi Anna was deemed good enough by Peter Muscutt to send her to Cape Town where she lines up in the Gr1 Majorca Stakes.
There should be little between Mary O and Mark Dixon’s mare Silent Crusade. The latter ran a cracker in her comeback sprint when second to Hawker Typhoon giving the winner 10.5kg. She will much prefer this trip and with a good draw she should make a bold bid.
The Alyson Wright-trained Preferential is in a rich vein of form in weaker company since being tried in blinkers and although she takes on a useful field, she can finish in the money again. Petra had a tough draw in the Flamboyant but won well at her previous start. She should maybe be judged on that effort.
Another to consider is Drama Queen who has her third start for her new stable and although badly in at the weights she could come along enough to finish in the money.
Two smart sophomores Sav’s Star and Stella Act look the principal contenders in the seventh but again the list of likely winners does not stop with them.
Sav’s Star needed her last run. Although lightly raced Nathan Kotzen’s filly shows plenty of potential and should come on nicely from her first run back from a lay-off. It was a useful field and Vivid Jet is no slouch. John Buckler will saddle Stella Act for Glen Kotzen and the filly returns from a fairly lengthy break, not having been out since November last year. However, she takes a three-point drop in the ratings and at best will go close.
Tienie Prinsloo’s winners have generally been ignored in the betting in spite of having obvious chances. He saddles the Silvano mare Hareer who put up a good piece of work at Ashburton on Tuesday.
