Dennis Drier is a master of the Scottsville Sprint Festival and bids for his eighth winner in this feature when he sends a trio of runners to post for the R750 000 Gr1 Gold Medallion.
William The Silent holds off the maiden Cirillo in the SA Nursery – they clash again
Crown And Country, Goliath Heron and Immortelle are the Drier representatives who will face some serious opposition from William The Silent, Cirillo and Chimichuri Run, who filled the first three places in the SA Nursery at Turffontein earlier this month.
S’manga Khumalo – out to make amends
The Godolphin Barb top trio of Cue The Music, Van Halen and Traces are also serious runners in a fascinating race, where the 2yo pecking order could be sorted.
Sean Tarry’s Cirillo is still a maiden but with two high class stakes runner -up credits to his name, must rank as the horse to beat. His regular pilot S’manga Khumalo came in for some criticism after the son of Pomodoro went down narrowly to William The Silent in the SA Nursery last time and he will be out to make good here.
Robbie Sage has enjoyed a terrific feature run of late and he brings William The Silent down after the son of Var’s excellent SA Nursery win last time out. We have already indicated that the runner up Cirillo was unlucky and the Sage runner will be fully tested here.
Cirillo’s stablemate, Chimichuri Run, was a length behind William The Silent after showing plenty of pace in that race and he will no doubt go close again.
Unbeaten Cue The Music – plenty in his favour
The exciting Dennis Bosch trained Cue The Music remains unbeaten in two starts, including an eye-catching 3 length victory over Van Halen in the Godolphin Barb. The son of Oratorio’s form is faultless and the very capable Gunter Wrogemann will do the riding for the first time.
The Somerset 1200 winner Twist Of Fate travels up from the Cape after two impressive wins. His sire Master Of My Fate’s first stakes winner, this R20 000 purchase looks to be going places and will have his Mauritius fans rooting for him.
Twist Of Fate – very progressive and travels from the Cape
In Cahoots ran on steadily for a 3 length 5th in the SA Nursery and could enjoy the testing Scottsville 1200m trip.
Tony Nassif makes a rare visit to Scottsville with Affranchi, who finished just behind In Cahoots in the SA Nursery. A winner over 1200m at his second start, he is sure to improve here and Grant van Niekerk will add value from the saddle.
Crown And Country is the first of the Dennis Drier trio and is a course and distance winner. He stayed on for a well beaten second in the Sentinel Stakes over the Greyville 1000m last time.
Brett Crawford – power string
The Brett Crawford trained one-eyed listed Summer Juvenile Stakes winner Traces failed to impress on his KZN debut when beaten almost 7 lengths by Cue The Music in the Godolphin Barb. The son of Snitzel deserves another chance and could be involved in the finish.
The most experienced contestant in this race, Van Halen, showed excellent pace when beaten 3 lengths by Cue The Music in the Godolphin Barb. There are questions over whether he has the form to go all the way and win here.
Goliath Heron is the second of the Drier trio and is another that was well beaten in the Godolphin Barb.
Dorrie Sham’s recent maiden winner Topmast tries his luck here after getting the better of Scoop last time. The form is difficult to assess.
Sulka was beaten by Chimichuri Run on debut but then improved nicely to win next time out at the Vaal. He steps up into much stronger company here.
Vaughan Marshall – excellent record here
Top Of The Class lost a shoe when running a disappointing race in the Godolphin Barb. Vaughan Marshall has a very good record in these 2yo races and this impressive son of Var must surely improve dramatically on that.
Recent maiden course and distance winner Di Me is a first Gr1 runner for Niklaas Van Wyk and is a difficult colt to assess on what he has done so far.
Immortelle got the better of Good Buddy to win his debut over the course and distance. That was a good run against winners and he was well supported – suggesting he has shown plenty back home.
All told, the KZN form faces up to the Gauteng raiders, with the Cape raiders having some sort of shout.
Cue The Music is the choice to show his home ground advantage and class and beat the maiden Cirillo, with the Drier trio always a likely threat.
