The Hollywoodbets Scottsville Sunday meeting is headlined by a MR90 Handicap and the progressive Nocturnal Flight could follow up on his last win.
Nocturnal Flight’s trainer Peter Muscutt is having a fine season in KZN with 19 wins at a high strike rate of 26.76%. Nocturnal Flight won from a wide draw over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville last time and now has a plum draw of two and is only off a two point higher mark. In form Kabelo Matsunyane rides. The danger could be stablemate Bristol Hercules, who has run five times at Hollywoodbets Scottsville for two wins, a second and a third. He has not raced for over three-and-a-half months, but the booking of Gavin Lerena is a signal that this imposing horse is in with a shout. Lindbergh showed a lot of ability in the strong centre of Cape Town and he will appreciate the return to turf and the step up to 1600m. He would not be a surprise winner from a fair draw.
In race 3 My Boy Lollipop has never enjoyed much luck and he will likely have benefited from a three month layoff. He usually finds one better but faces an uninspiring field and at last has a chance to exit the maidens.
In race 7 Now I Got You was mixing it with the best early in his career before going off the boil. However, he has shown glimpses of being competitive again and has now dropped even further down the merit ratings to 65. Deryl Daniels has ridden Now I Got You four times and been in the frame three times so gets the ride. Stevie Gee went close the last time he ran over course and distance, but is now ten points higher in the merit ratings. Iron Will is off a competitive mark and although this is on the sharp side Hollywoodbets Scottsville has a tough 1200m and he should be staying on.
Race 6 is an interesting MR 88 Handicap and the talented Capsaicin is an interesting runner. He has not yet fulfilled his considerable potential and should do better stepped up in trip here. However, El Dante is highly regarded and full of ability and bounced back with a fine run last time, so looks the one to beat.
Twenty One May makes appeal in the last race. He is at his best over 1000m and his last run over course and distance reads well because he was under sufferance and was right on top of them.
David Thiselton
