Trainer and jockey comments for Scottsville today

Dennis Drier is expecting a good run from Rock On Baby (4th race), a talented sprinter who was found to be coughing after her disappointing last start in the Gr 2 WSB Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m at Kenilworth five months ago.

Drier has won five of the last six runnings of the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and the public are still waiting for his contender for this year’s renewal, so all eyes will be on Seventh Rock colt Rocky Valley in the first over 1000m. Drier said, “He should run a nice race.” He is out of the fair sprinter by Mogok, Valley Of Rubies, who finished runner up in the Gr 3 Sycamore Sprint. He is owned by Markus Jooste, whose retained rider Anton Marcus will however be aboard the Charles Laird-trained Buffalo Soldier, who is by Warm White Night out of a USA-bred dam who hasn’t produced much to date. However, Laird has a fine record with first-timers so the betting should be watched closely.

Drier said the first-timer Anime in the second race would probably need the run. However, she is well bred being by Count Dubois out of Gr 2 KZN Guineas winner Rei Rei, so can’t be discounted.

Drier said it is about time Lighting The Fire, who runs in the fifth race over 1400m, “lit his fire” and he at least seems to be back down to a competitive merit rating and is over a suitable trip so can’t be ignored.

Warren Kennedy spoke on behalf of the Gavin Van Zyl yard and said, “Qatar Springs (7th over 2400m) is doing very well and has beaten all of these horses before. He stays well and should win.

Bagger Vance (5th) is one of my better rides on the day, he has the weight turnaround with Never Settle and should be there.

Northern Storm ran a cracker on debut. There was a lot of talk about Rebel Rose on debut (the Wendy Whitehead-trained filly duly finished second to an odds on shot) and she could be the one to beat, but if you go on times Northern Storm is ahead of her. It’s a difficult race and there are a lot of first-timers too but Northern Storm should be in the first three.

Cronological (3rd race) made a decent comeback but what you see is what you get, she is a struggler. Hello Mah also runs here but the 1000m is too short for her.

Lil Red a Rooster (1st race) has to improve.

Captain At Sea (8th) is a smart colt, but is drawn high on debut. It’s a weak field though and he has a quartet chance.”

Dennis Bosch was bullish about Lavender Bank and gave all his other runners chances too.

He said, “Lavender Bank will run a good race (3rd race – Anton Marcus retains the ride after she was backed to 9/20 on debut but ran green around the turn on the poly, although she still ran an eyecatching race to finish a staying on 1,3 length fourth).”

Bosch continued, “Regardstobroadway (4th) has always been talented but wasn’t being ridden correctly and is now being ridden the right way.”

He said Your Worship (7th) was also not given a good ride last time. However, the blinkers are back on and Delpech is aboard so he expected a decent run.

Bosch also expected a decent run from the sprinter Shezaleader (4th) too and this filly certainly loves the Scottsville straight.

By David Thiselton