Andrew Harrison

Punters will have to do some serious homework for the Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting today where they are faced with a competitive card of handicaps.

Best bet however, could come in the first leg of the Pick 6, race three on the nine-race programme where Alyson Wright sends out Gorgeous Bomb. The daughter of Lancaster Bomber was well supported on debut and only just failed. She can go one better even taking on males and a modest field. Biggest threat could come from One Armed Bandit who has only missed a cheque once in six starts and that was over 1800m. He should put in another bold showing back to a sprint.

In the fourth, Zena Rose has been knocking at the door for Duncan Howells and only just failed last time out over course and distance. Close up in third that day was Rani Tarabai who made good improvement after a break and could have more to come. Dee Day was always handy before fading late in her last run over a mile and can do better back over this shorter trip. Skipper O’Malley  improved second time out and should prefer the extra furlong.

The fifth is a wide open handicap but Barry Du Grond ran way below ability last start and may have need the run coming off a break. He has a competitive draw with a 2.5kg claimer up and should start at lengthy odds. Burning Man found one too good when favourite last time out and can make amends while Magma Magic was another beaten favourite last run but ran well below form. He has a chance on his previous effort. Gimmethegoodlife has been close-up in both starts since his maiden win and goes well this course and distance.

Perilla faces a tough task in the sixth but steps up to a more suitable trip and jumps from a competitive gate. Bevies Delight is always dangerous and has been running on late over shorter. This longer trip from a good draw should suit. Mike Miller has three competitive runners but Warrior Royale was close-up behind Bevies Delight last run could prove the pick. Go Like Flo has the widest draw to contend with but has put in two competitive local efforts and she is never far back.

The seventh could prove a little tricky. Cape Eagle is the class act and was far from disgraced in the Summer Cup but has been rested since and he is more effective over a little further. However, his class may tell. View Of The World has been consistent and goes well this trip. He jumps in class but only has 49.5kg to shoulder. Miss Platina ran an excellent race in a six-horse field last run where Royal Victory was favourite. She also has a light weight and will be a threat.

The eighth is another wide open handicap but Sonata Samaritan was not disgraced first run out of the maidens behind the promising Mocha Blend. She had the worst of the draw that day and is now drawn pole. Forward Motion showed up well first run back from a break and the Lafferty stable is in form .Miss Paget may just have needed her last run but was not far back. She has also dropped in the ratings and now seems to be off a competitive mark. Grey Fantacy has been disappointing since her maiden win but goes another furlong further and can pop up at any time.

Future Flo can round off the meeting . He has been well placed by Michael Roberts and has only been creeping up the ratings. He has cracking recent form and rates the one to beat again. Wissa’s On Fire could be a threat as he makes his local debut. He has dropped in the ratings in spite of some useful Cape form. Philispiel showed up nicely first run back from a break and is over his favourite course and distance. While Trafalgar Square surprised with the blinkers off last time out and only got a two-point rise in the handicap.

Race 1

8 GOTTA GO EDDIE  3 GEORGE’S MAGIC   1 BLACKJACK RANDALL   2 LIKE FIRE  

Summary: Keep an eye on the first timers especially GOTTA GO EDDIE (8). Of those that have run, there should be little between GEORGE’S MAGIC (3) and BLACKJACK RANDALL (1) the two having met last time out the former finishing a length ahead. Both started at long odds. LIKE FIRE (2) was also in that race and finished a further length back but has not franked that form. (Andrew Harrison: 8-3-1-2).

Race 2

8 MOJO MAN   6 CONVOCATION 7 LICENCE TO THRILL   3 QUANDARY

 Summary: CONVOCATION (6) found her best form last run when going close at long odds. She is now 2.5kg better off with LICENCE TO THRILL (7) who bids for a hattrick of wins. MOJO MAN (8) has some fair Cape form and makes his debut for a new stable along with ICY BLAST (5) who goes a furlong further. QUANDARY (3) is not always reliable but is capable on his day. (Andrew Harrison: 8-6-7-3).

Race 3

9 GORGEOUS BOMB   2 ONE ARMED BANDIT   4 FANTASY LEAGUE   5 GALATIC LOVER

Summary: GORGEOUS BOMB (9) was well supported on debut and only just failed. She can go one better even taking on males. ONE ARMED BANDIT (2) has only missed a cheque once in six starts and that was over 1800m. He should put in another bold showing back to a sprint. FANTASY LEAGUE (4) and GALACTIC LOVER (5) have shown some ability and have money chances. (Andrew Harrison: 9-2-4-5).

Race 4

2 RANI TARABAI   4 ZENA ROSE   5 DEE DAY   8 SKIPPER O’MALLEY

Summary: Open. ZENA ROSE (4) has been knocking at the door and only just failed last time out over course and distance. Close up in third was RANI TARABAI (2) who made good improvement after a break. Should could have more to come. DEE DAY (5) was always handy before fading late and can do better back over this shorter trip. SKIPPER O’MALLEY (8) improved second time out and should prefer the extra furlong. Should come on further. (Andrew Harrison: 2-4-5-8).

Race 5

3 BARRY DU GROND   7 BURNING MAN   6 MAGMA MAGIC   9 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE

Summary: Wide open handicap. BARRY DU GROND (3) ran way below ability last start but may have need the run coming off a break. He has a competitive draw with a 2.5kg claimer up and should start at lengthy odds. BURNING MAN (7) found one too good when favourite last time out and can make amends. MAGMA MAGIC (6) was another beaten favourite last run but ran well below form. Chance on his previous effort. GIMMETHEGOODLIFE (9) has been close-up in both starts since his maiden win and goes well this course and distance. (Andrew Harrison: 3-7-6-9).

Race 6

3 PERILLA   2 BEVIES DELIGHT   9 WARRIOR ROYALE   12 GO LIKE FLO

Summary: Open handicap. PERILLA (3) steps up to a more suitable trip and jumps from a competitive gate. BEVIES DELIGHT (2) is always dangerous and has been running on late over shorter. This trip from a good draw should suit. Mike Miller has three competitive runners but WARRIOR ROYALE (9), close-up behind Bevies Delight last run could prove the pick. GO LIKE FLO (12) has the widest draw to contend with but has put in two competitive local efforts and she is never far back. (Andrew Harrison: 3-2-9-12).

Race 7

2 VIEW OF THE WORLD   8 MISS PLATINA   3 CAPE EAGLE   5 AFROPOLITAN

Summary: VIEW OF THE WORLD (2) has been consistent and goes well this trip. He jumps in class but only has 49.5kg to shoulder. CAPE EAGLE (3) was far from disgraced in the Summer Cup but has been rested since and he is more effective over a little further. However, his class may tell. MISS PLATINA (8) ran an excellent race in a six-horse field last run where Royal Victory was favourite. She also has a light weight and will be a threat. (Andrew Harrison: 2-8-3-5).

Race 8

1 SONAT SAMARITAN   4 FORWARD MOTION   3 MISS PAGET   11 GREY FANTASY

Summary: Another wide open handicap. SONATA SAMARITAN (1) was not disgraced first run out of the maidens behind the promising Mocha Blend. She had the worst of the draw that day and is not drawn pole. FORWARD MOTION (4) showed up well first run back from a break. The stable is in form and she can go one better. MISS PAGET (3) may just have needed her last run but was not far back. She has dropped in the ratings and now seems to be of a competitive mark. GREY FANTACY (11) has been disappointing since her maiden win but goes another furlong further and can pop up at any time. (Andrew Harrison: 1-4-3-11).

Race 9

8 FUTURE FLO   1 WISSA’S ON FIRE   4 PHILISPIEL   6 TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Summary: FUTURE FLO (8) has been well placed by Michael Roberts and has only been creeping up the ratings. He has cracking recent form and rates the one to beat again. WISSA’S ON FIRE (1) makes his local debut and has dropped in the ratings in spite of some useful Cape form. He will be a big threat. PHILISPIEL (4) showed up nicely first run back from a break. He is over his favourite course and distance. TRAFALGAR SQUARE (6) surprised with the blinkers off last time out and only got a two-point ride in the handicap. (Andrew Harrison: 8-1-4-6).

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David Thiselton

There is a nine-race meeting at Turffontein Standside today and it is headed by the WSB Listed Hawwaam Stakes over 2,000m and this should fittingly be won by the Mike de Kock-trained Immediate Edge. 

The Hawwaam Stakes is effectively the Derby Trial and the Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial over 2000m is also being run on the day and so is the Listed WSB Aquanaut Handicap over 2400m.

The Vercingetorix gelding Immediate Edge is a long-striding sort who is ideally suited to the Turffontein Standside track and he has won his two starts over 1600m and 2000m with authority even if the margin of victory has not been big. Ryan Munger has ridden him in both starts and he has come from off the pace with a resolute finish on both occasions. From a plum pole position draw, he should be able to afford to be handy before staying on strongly. He is officially merit-rated only 88, but should rise above that mark, so will be hard to beat carrying 57kg. One More Star by One World is a three parts brother to Triple Crown winner Malmoos and has not surprisingly already proved himself effective over this trip when finishing a narrow second from a wide draw over 2,000m at the Vaal last time out in a handicap against older horses. He could be a threat, but does have another wide draw to overcome. Page Boy caught the eye last time out when winning his maiden over 1600m by six lengths as he looks the sort who will relish the step up in trip and he looks to have plenty of scope for further improvement. Ombudsman, like Page Boy, is by Flower Alley, and this improving sort might also enjoy this step up in trip. Peace Treaty has been shown to have a strong finish and is interesting stepped up in trip. His Sire Act of War is by Dynasty, so that will give him some stamina, but his Gimmethegreenlight dam Love of My Life was a sprint-miler sort, so he is not sure to enjoy this trip. Captain Oliver is an interesting entry from KZN, trained by Frikkie Greyling. He looks to be a galloping type and carrying just 55.5 kilograms from draw seven he might be involved. Wild Intent was thought of as good enough to go down to Cape Town and, although he carries top weight, he has proved himself effective over staying trips, as his pedigree suggests he should be. He has a good draw of five under Gavin Lerena and is another one who has a chance. 

In the Oaks Trial Poplar Park looks a promising middle distance to staying type and from draw two over an ideal course and distance she should make a bold bid under Muzi Yeni. Queen of Love has some class about her and strikes as one who will enjoy the step up in trip. However, she does have a wide draw to overcome and has to carry topweight. Cocomelon is by Willow Magic out of a Greys Inn mare, whose two wins were over 1000m, so on pedigree there would appear to be a stamina doubt, but she does run as if she might enjoy this trip. Silver Parasol bounced back to form last time with a good win when stepped up to 1800m, and that augurs well for her attempt here at 2000m. Mountain High has stayed on well in her last couple of starts, over 1450m and 1600m respectively, and won the latter of those races easily, so is interesting stepped up to 2000m. She is coming to hand and has a middle draw.

The seventh race is the listed WSB Aquanaut Handicap over 2400m and Battleground makes appeal, despite having to jump from a wide draw of 11. This five-year-old Futura gelding has a big action and seems to stay all day. He is the sort who is ideally suited to the galloping Turffontein Standside track, so if Ryan Munger is able to find cover for him he should go close. Thunee Playa has class and has proved himself useful over middle distances. He did run in the SA Derby and was unplaced, but he is a year older now and might enjoy the step up in trip. Marauding Horde has always struck as a horse who would enjoy staying trips and as one who would get better as he got older, so he must have a shout from draw five. Raiseahallelujah is an honest stayer who should give a good account of himself from a fair draw of six. Forgiveness looks talented and could have a chance, although on pedigree there might be a slight stamina doubt because although she is by Silvano she is out of a speedy Western Winter mare. Breeze Over is a big staying type who could do well from a good draw of three with Muzi Yeni up.  

The features should be intriguing and Ryan Munger looks to hold the trump cards. 

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