Scottsville 23/5/15

Carry On Alice
Zambezi River

Mac wrote:
Royal Pleasure

Seventh Plain

Alboran Sea

[strike]Zambezi River?[/strike] Barbosa

Craig Eudey’s big five-year-old Kahal gelding Flyfirstclass is drawn well in barrier five for Saturday’s Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville and is doing well at Summerveld.



Meanwhile, Champion trainer Justin Snaith said he would have to think of a game plan to overcome Kingvoldt’s widest draw of all and he was not bullish about the chances of his other contender Daring Dave, while the Kumaran Naidoo yard had mixed feelings about their two Gr 1 contenders on the day.



Flyfirstclass has won three times over the Scottsville 1200m trip, but finished 8,5 lengths back from a high draw last time out over 1100m in the Listed In Full Flight Handicap. However, the stipendiary report revealed that he took a bump and jockey Athandiwe Mgudlwa also reported that he had felt something amiss. The veterinary surgeon later reported him to be not striding out on his off hind.



Eudey said Flyfirstclass had been freshened since then and had put up a good grass gallop on Monday. He added this race had been the sprinter’s long term aim and said, “We have got a ticket. We are hoping for rain but don’t think we are going to get it.”



Snaith said he and jockey Johnny Geroudis might even consider sticking to the outside rail with Kingvoldt from the toughest draw of all in the Tsogo Sun Sprint. Regarding Daring Dave he said he had “changed everything” after the Dynasty gelding had been “stressed” during and after his downfield run in the In Full Flight Stakes. However, he added, “He has it all to do in this field.”



Naidoo runs Arcetri Pink in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint over 1200m. The yard are obviously hoping for rain as this filly is known to grow “an extra leg” in soft conditions. The yard were interested to see how she would go dropping back to this trip, knowing that some of the best runs of her early career were over sprints. They added that her work had been good and felt that if Alboran Sea and Carry On Alice were taken out of the field she would not be without a chance. She is drawn seven with Ian Sturgeon up. Naidoo’s Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship contender Roy’s Goddess has been doing well but the yard admitted she would be a bit outclassed.

By David Thiselton

Multiple-times Cape champion trainer Mike Bass sends out last year’s Gr 1 Mercury Sprint winner Fly By Night in Saturday’s star-studded Grade 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville Racecourse and even if she bounces back from her last place finish in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint she will have her work cut out to repeat last year’s close second.



The yard also run Ashton Park in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint and Jet Air in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion.



The five-year-old Jet Master mare Fly By Night travelled well to Johannesburg for the Computaform Sprint, but then went down to the start striding short and took no interest in the race. The yard trotted her up afterwards and found nothing wrong.



However, Bass’s assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe said about her from Summerveld this week, “One or two hiccups have been ironed out and she galloped well on Saturday. She always does well in KZN and I think she will be back to her best, although she is drawn near the outside.” She jumps from draw ten, but that shouldn’t be too much of a disadvantage in an eleven horse field.



Fayd’Herbe said that the five-year-old Battersea Park gelding Ashton Park had been doing very well. On paper this sprint-miler is 4kg better off with Captain Of All for a 3,6 length beating in the Gr 2 Diadem Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth. However, that doesn’t tell the story of him being completely taken out by runner up Copper Parade when making a forward move on the outside rail, although on the other hand that was Captain Of All’s second run after a year long rest and he likely still needed it. Ashton Park unfortunately has a wide draw of 13 to contend with but should be running on strongly late.





Fayd’herbe described the Visionaire colt Jet Air as a “nice little horse” and felt the yard had done enough with him “to run a nice race”, but he added that his main aim would be the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day. In his second start in the maidens in March over 1400m at Kenilworth, he showed fair pace to overcome a wide draw, before sitting in second and winning cosily. He should enjoy the tough 1200m and is a dark horse from draw three.



Stable jockey Grant van Niekerk rides all three of the yard’s Gr 1 contenders.

By David Thiselton

The reality is that Zaki has a good 2yo in Prospecy Strike and i doubt you would get price come this weekend or any other

Some Stats for the 4 sprint races over the last 5 years, regarding the Winners only. ie. 20 races.

1. 90% of these 20 races have been won by horses Drawn 1-9.(2-6 being the most frequent)
2. the 2YO boys race and the Tsogo sun (gilbeys) races have the highest priced winners, on average.
3. The Fillies Sprint has the shortest priced winners, on average.
4. Of these 20 races, JHB trainers have won only 4 .

Sealegs wrote: Some Stats for the 4 sprint races over the last 5 years, regarding the Winners only. ie. 20 races.

1. 90% of these 20 races have been won by horses Drawn 1-9.(2-6 being the most frequent)
2. the 2YO boys race and the Tsogo sun (gilbeys) races have the highest priced winners, on average.
3. The Fillies Sprint has the shortest priced winners, on average.
4. Of these 20 races, JHB trainers have won only 4 .

they perhaps the reason why i phrased it the way i did!

PS is 18/10
Sevent Plain 9/2

Sabaha 28/10 now 18/10

Seventh Plain for me at 9/2 dbl with Sabaha

Bob Brogan wrote:

Craig Eudey wrote: Flyfirstclass drew 6 which is great in the Tsogo Sun Sprint.

All the best Craig

as is getting Paul Gadbsy to ride...

Mac wrote:

Mac wrote:
Royal Pleasure

Seventh Plain

Alboran Sea

[strike]Zambezi River?[/strike] Barbosa

In the Royal Pleasure race do you not feel the stable is the better horse? The horse was 12/1 earlier today.

Princess Royal is better than Royal Pleasure especially over this distance and if it behaves but I can't see past the De Kock due in the race. Will need jet packs to catch them. I'm a Shaama fan but not for me at that price and draw.

I'm a Prospect strike fan obviously as the Toreadors have been very nice to me lately in the Zaki stable. Do think he's the one to beat but Muwaary unknown quantity here and will be in the shake up. Seventh Plain has no chance vs these two. No chance at all imo, not in the same league.

Alboran sea won't win it has been incredibly lucky in the last two races. One a 4 horse race last time as only the horses drawn in double digits had a chance. Just held on the race before from another perfect draw and this extra furlong will kill her. Throw in a bad draw this time and I don't like her one bit in the race. Same can be said for Carry on Alice, that last formline is awful to follow due to the draw bias and also poorly drawn. I've taken Jet Belle @5/1 e/w here. Great comeback run and loves this distance. Will be in the shakeup come the business end of this race.

Depending on the track is running I will make my bet but if the draws don't affect the running too badly, Captain of all will win. Best sprinter in the country on a level playing field imo. Has been very unlucky with draws and the run in but has the speed to cream this field if the draw of 11 doesn't hinder him like the draws at Turffontein. Zambezi river will finish infront of Brutal force this time as they both have awful draws but don't fancy them to beat Captain of all. If the draw bias is big Wilow Magic is weighted and drawn to steal it. Won't have to to do much if draws 9+ or badly affected with his quality.

Only putting most bets down after race 4 other than Jet Belle who's my one fancy drawn well, have to see how the course is running first but that's my early input

Craig Eudey wrote: Flyfirstclass drew 6 which is great in the Tsogo Sun Sprint.

Is that a hint Craig lol my favourite KZN horse, will have some place money on him.