Paul Lafferty’s mare Bella Siccome denied the handicapper when recently getting the better of Cape Eagle in two small features and she will be hunting the tenth win of her career when she lines up in the sixth at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on April Fool’s day.
The five-year-old is as game as they come and only got a three-pound penalty for her win as she edged out Cape Eagle by a short head. Lafferty will leg up four-claiming apprentice Brevan Plaatjies this time around to nullify the handicap increase. Plaatjies has potential but is still green and Bella Siccome could be a test of his nerve as she likes to make a late dash.
She will be helped by El Rey Viene who likes to race handy. The gelding has improved in blinkers and was out-paced late last run on the poly. He has a light weight and also with 1.5kg claiming apprentice James Lihaba up from a good draw he should be in the firing line for Duncan Howells. Richard Fourie has deserted El Rey Viene to team up with his old boss Justin Snaith who has arrived from the Cape to get in some early blows. He saddles Get Impressed, the three-year-old having done well in feature company. He is over his best trip and is up against a more highly raced three-year-old in Master Fuego. Dean Kannemeyer’s runner is rated five pounds superior and has won over course and distance although is recent form on the poly has been excellent. He is another for the shortlist.
In the card opener is a tricky Juvenile Plate but Isivivane was well supported in the betting on his return from the Cape and won well. He can follow up although he has a tricky draw. Havana Moon improved with every outing before running out a comfortable winner last time out and the step up in trip will suit. Discerning takes on males but raced in feature company last time out and although a well beaten fourth behind runaway winner Almond Sea her form before that was promising. Great Plains raced green in his Cape debut and should come on lengths from that and is one to watch in the market.
The blinkered Elusive Belle and We Will Rock should fight it out in modest company in the second.
Similarly Chieftain and Trippi T look the most likely pretenders in the opening leg of the Pick 6. Chieftain will be the first two-year-old to take on open company in KZN this season and after making a promising debut he only needs to get past Trippi T who has a few soundness issues.
The fourth is a tough handicap. Nettleton is lightly raced but comes off some smart Highveld form. She has gone up in the handicap but looks capable as does Kennedy who is holding form well and loves this distance. She is also lightly raced. Vision To Achieve was not far back to much stronger last time out. She is down in class with first time blinkers which could see her home.
It’s all on or all out in the fifth. Lightning Glow is a progressive three-year-old who got a hefty six-point shunt up the handicap after winning first up out of the maidens. He has come into his own over ground and could prove too classy for some hard knockers. Should he not run up to expectations then all of News Stream, Banzai Pipeline and Etiquette could put the screws on.
Wendy Whitehead could hold the winning cards in the seventh. Joshua Hotsnake has been in good form since the cheek pieces were removed. He has a good draw and looks well weighted to finally get home. Stable companion Giambattista and Richard Fourie try for their fourth win in succession but the handicappers could have the last say as he went up five pounds for his last win. Phutulicious got a high rating after his maiden win and gave weight to Giambattista in his handicap debut. He is now 2kg better off.
Shona Kirsty Yves can make amends in the last for Michael Roberts after being upstaged by her stable companion Noble Storm last run. She has been consistent leading up to this race. Swiss Parade has made good improvement in blinkers, both starts on the poly, but has a handy galloping weight while Spirited Flight has shown up well at her last two over course and distance and drops in class.
