There are four features on the go at Scottsville on Sunday and all are preparation runs for up-and-coming major races.
The Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes (Race 5) is the precursor to the Grade 1 Alan Robertson which takes place on the first Saturday in June. Princess Ozma could make amends for her second-start loss. She disappointed a bit after an impressive debut but was handing re-opposing Red Roses Too 3kg and did play up at the start.
The latter turned on the pace from the jump and never looked back but now carrying level weights she could find Princess Ozma too strong.
However, Red Roses Too may not be the stable elect for the Dennis Drier yard. Watch out for Baubles And Beads who is ridden by the stable’s first-choice jockey, Sean Veale.
This filly is very well related. Her grandam won the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes among other Graded races and produced the then record sale-priced Wonder Lawn who won the Grade 3 Peninsula Handicap. She was well backed to win her debut on the Polytrack and she won that easing up.
If she dominates Red Roses Too back home, she could have Princess Ozma’s measure, but she is switching to turf and the race could come too soon.
The warm-up for Grade 1 Gold Medallion, the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes (Race 6) looks a three-cornered contest between local hope Gladatorian, Highveld-based easy debut winner Prophet and Countdown who glided to an easy win in his Western Cape debut. Hard to call it as all look special.
It is KwaZulu-Natal versus the Highveld versus Western Cape respectively. Although the smallest and final region, the Eastern Cape, is not represented and yet may have one of the best juveniles in Cliff Top who may only be seen in the Gold Medallion.
A mouth-watering spectacle awaits then but for now suggest taking the three mentioned in boxed formats to catch the Exactas, Swingers and Trifectas. Whatever the case the winner of this race could be special enough to take on anything in the coming months.
The Listed In Full Flight Handicap (Race 4) and Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes (Race 7), trials for the Grade 1 Golden Horse and Grade 1 S A Fillies Sprint, are open affairs although the latter is a conditions race that heavily suits champion trainer Justin Snaith’s four-way coupling. Richard Fourie partners Kwinta’s Light who has the pace to enjoy Scottsville and has drawn well. But all of Full Velocity, Favorita, Gimme Dat and Tanzanite Queen have powerful form and could fight it out.
Socrates is in good form and is selected to defeat Ambiorix who ran his career best when winning last season’s Grade 1 Gold Medallion. But in this case all of Intrepid, Spydas Corner and Ashford Castle add to a tough race.
Clive Robinson
