Golden Horse Festival Of Speed – Final Feature Fields

A R500 000 Carryover to Jackpot One, which is expected to reach R1,5-million, adds sparkle to the annual Golden Horse Festival of Speed race meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday 31 May.

Unbeaten Canford Cliffs flyer Direct Hit (Pic – Chase Liebenberg )

Gold Circle report that the fifth race, the R1-million Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship for 2yo Fillies over 1200m, is the opening leg of Jackpot One which sees the unbeaten Alan Greeff-trained East Cape Star, Direct Hit, go head-to-head with Sean Tarry’s One Fine Winter.

One Fine Winter was beaten by another Greeff filly, Golden Palm, in the Gr2 SA Nursery a month ago, but Tarry’s stellar record  at the Golden Horse Sprint race day is unrivalled and he will fancy gaining revenge on Gqeberha’s Champion Trainer.

The R1,5-million Gr1 Gold Medallion for two-year-olds over 1200m forms the second leg of the carryover Jackpot and here Tarry has declared Green Diamond, the sole filly in the race, to go against nine colts and geldings.

Military Command will be ridden by Serino Moodley (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

Green Diamond has won her last two starts by wide margins but she takes on a competitive field which includes the Peter Muscutt stable companions, Military Command and debut winner Little Boy Blue.

On Nursery form, Robyn Klaassen’s Charming Cheetah seems well held by Green Diamond, but Charming Cheetah won first up as a gelding following the Nursery and he could make a big impression here.

Highveld raider Charming Cheetah (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

Zelatoris was a close second behind Charming Cheetah last time and appears to be well above the average.

Grade 1 winners, Double Grand Slam and Rascova, head the 15-strong line-up in the seventh race, the R1-million Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint (F&M) over 1200m, but it could be argued that neither are at their absolute best over the trip.

Candice Bass-Robinson won this race last year with October Morn and she will be hoping that Symphony In White can deliver back-to-back victories for the stable.

However, both Symphony In White and Mai Sensation will be hard pressed to confirm the Poinsettia Stakes form with Asiye Phambili, who meets each of these talented fillies on far better weight terms.

Asiye Phambili suffered the misfortune of losing her rider at the starting stalls a year ago, but Hollywood Racing’s 5yo daughter of What A Winter deserves a victory at the highest level and it could be pay-back time for Duncan Howell’s inmate.

A highly competitive renewal of the R1-million Gr2 Golden Horse Sprint over 1200m completes Jackpot One and pin-pointing the likely winner is no easy task. ‘Lady Luck’ will play her part but Future Variety has been teed up for this race and he should be doing his best work over the final 200m.

Dean Kannemeyer’s Outlaw King – interesting contender in an open race (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

His stablemate, the exciting Tenango, will be partnered by Aldo Domeyer which appears to suggest he is the stable elect.

Alan Greeff saddles Fairy Knight, a winner of ten races from only 18 starts, but he may have to play second fiddle to fellow East Cape raider Cruise Control from the Gavin Smith yard.

Cruise Control forms part of a strong Hollywood Racing presence, as they will also harbour high hopes for recent winner Ziyasha.

Surjay jumps from the stand-side stall but he is already a Grade 1 winner and was runner-up in the Cape Flying Championship behind Gimme A Prince in January.

With a full field of 16 runners, this year’s Golden Horse Sprint should be another nail-biter and is arguably the toughest leg of the carryover Jackpot.