Bloodstock South Africa host two exciting R1 million races for 3yo’s at Scottsville today. The 1200m and 1600m contests are restricted to all yearlings or 2yo’s sold in 2015 and entered in the TBA value added stakes/futurity series.
The final fields were determined by a panel appointed by Gold Circle and the depth of quality is a feather in the cap for both BSA – and a winning concept!
Unbeaten Hack Green – looks progressive and has won over course and diistance
Stakes winners are always a welcome game booster for restricted races and the presence of Dennis Drier’s unbeaten Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner Hack Green adds a serious dimension to the BSA Million Sprint.
With generous stakes paid all the way down to fifth finish, there will be a few amongst the balance of the fifteen runners who believe they can enjoy a quick return and rattle the promising son of Gimmethegreenlight’s cage.
Hack Green looks very smart though, and Corne Spies’ tireless Seattle Singer apart, he looks tough to beat over a track and trip where he shed his maiden in style on debut.
If his rating is to be taken as true and at the level weight conditions, he looks too strong.
Trainer Dennis Drier was vocal about Hack Green’s upside potential after his big win on Super Sunday and he looks the proverbial shoe-in at the weights and assuming he makes the expected improvement.
Closer rated to him and claiming the girls’ 2,5kg sex allowance is the gallant Seattle Singer, who was beaten 4,50 lengths by the Drier galloper in the Umkhomazi.
Corne Spies trains Seattle Singer
Seattle Singer has been a solid soldier and she has been thrown in at the deep end against the males time and again by her astute conditioner.
If she is not tired – she has had three runs in just over two months – she could bounce back and one just gets the feeling that she is better over the sprints and that the 200m last time on the sticky stuff may have been a bridge too far.
It’s a toss up amongst the rest for the money.
Dean Kannemeyer’s very smart Paperback Writer won second time out on the poly and then came unstuck in the Gold Medallion when 7,90 lengths back to Always In Charge.
There is no secret that he has plenty of speed, but Dean Kannemeyer even sees him as a Cape Guineas type of horse and it is quite surprising to see him take his chances here, given the DKR catch a monkey slowly approach.
Gavin Van Zyl’s Hallo Mr travels down from Gauteng, where he won his third jump at the Vaal over 1000m.
Paperback Writer could be the danger
Scottsville is known to catch them out and he is a largely unknown quantity.
Sean Tarry was streets ahead of the pack last term and he will be hoping to get off on a high.
Sean Tarry
He saddles Side Show and recent long-priced debut winner, Bold Viking.
Side Show must be rated. He ran two places and was then thrown to the sharks in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes. He failed to fire there but came out firing to win his Vaal maiden in runaway style next time. That was over 1200m but he is likely to go further.
Bold Viking cruised in at 12-1 on debut.
A concern is that he made a breathing noise there but it is always a plus to have Andrew Fortune in the irons.
Hack Green should hold them at bay – banker him.
