Trainer Garth Puller has some interesting runners at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday. Beautifully bred Izibulo beat a horse that has gone through the divisions and that could be the form line to be with.
As to the best race of the day, Mike Miller’s Abaddon, one of the best finishers around, could make in three wins in a row.
Not only is Izibulo by stallion of the moment, Lancaster Bomber, but she is out of an Ideal World mare, so is bred in the purple. As a juvenile she took a few runs to get the hang of things but once she did, she showed decent potential. She beat Warrior Royale then, and while Izibulo has dropped in ratings, the latter has since gone through the divisions winning three from her last four (won easily last week), sitting with a merit rating of 96 with more to come.
Izibulo, who travelled smoothly when winning her maiden run over 1400m at Scottsville, never looked like weakening, she must be underrated with a rating of 79.
She dropped a few points after needing her last two and having secured a plum gate in Race 6 could remain unbeaten now back to her best track and trip. For good measure Puller has also engaged the services of up-and-coming apprentice Jacey Botes, who claims 4kg.
Puller also has Sanbeenee, in the race before (Race 5). The Futura filly has yet to show at Scottsville but her last run on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville was amazing to see. She came from an impossible position to run second, beaten 0.90 lengths by Flying Reign Storm on the Polytrack and it may be that she has needed time to mature.
She has run well over 1800m and 1900m and but the slight drop to 1750m could be ideal. Like Izibulo she runs in a competitive race and could jump as something of a value proposition.
Both Master Du Rouvray (Race 4) and Abaddon (Race 8) appeal as possible bankers on the day. The former runs for trainer Mark Dixon who hasn’t had the best of starts to the year. But his Master Of My Fate gelding whom he has rated in the past finished 12 lengths clear of the third-placed runner Tickalox when second to Highveld form horse Kwagga Blitz and he could turn things around.
Miller, on the other hand, has had one of his better seasons. He is the trainer of earlier-mentioned Warrior Royale, and in Abaddon he has a horse who could also be headed for better things. The Flying The Flag gelding is a lightly raced four-year-old who has produced outstanding finishes to win two difficult races in a row.
In Race 8 which is a Class 4 run over 1200m he is running in the toughest field on the day but the fact that he beat hard knockers All The Time, Gorgeous Guy and Masterbling in his first run out of the maidens in his first run at the track on soft ground coming from the worst draw must say something about his ability.
Clive Robinson
