Betting Tips: Grade 1 Sprints At Scottsville & Kenilworth

It’s one of those weekends where you could miss it with just a single blink of an eye. Some of the country’s finest sprinters are in action this weekend as we look ahead to some of the best horse racing bets and tips from Scottsville and Kenilworth.

Scottsville – (Saturday)

Race 5 (Allan Robertson Championship) Gr 1 – Ameena

A quality sprint and the first of many Grade 1s start in Race 5 on Saturday as Ameena is tipped to keep her unbeaten record intact. The daughter of Quasillo is 2 from 2 thus far and looks progressive. She won a Grade 3 race last time out and should come on from that run as Richard Fourie retains the ride for the Glen Kotzen stable.

Race 6 (Gold Medallion) Gr 1 – Prophet

Races involving 2-year-olds can always be tricky as some horses take much longer to get going in their careers, while some show their best form as a juvenile. Prophet seems tough to look past here after winning his first two starts by over 4 lengths and then 3.8 lengths in a Grade 3 last time out on this course. Craig Zackey has ridden him in both starts and should make it a hat-trick for the son of Querari.

Race 7 (SA Fillies Sprint) Gr 1 – Big Burn

The class in this year’s SA Fillies Sprint is undoubtedly Captain’s Ransom from the Justin Snaith stable, but coming from a 18-week layoff and racing over further distances for most of her career, I’m looking past the classy 4-year-old by backing Big Burn. Warren Kennedy and Paul Peter team up once again and will hope to notch up this daughter of Elusive Fort’s sixth career victory from 11 starts. She finished 2nd in a Grade 1, despite running against the boys, so she should take the power of beating here and get the better of the top favourite.

Race 8 (Golden Horse Sprint) Gr 1 – Good Traveller

The last of the Grade 1 action ends in Race 8 on Saturday with Good Traveller getting the top selection. The 3-year-old son of Visionaire drops to a better-suited trip after falling short in the Drill Hall Stakes. He has won two of his three runs on this course and looks accustomed to the uphill stretch up the Scottsville straight. I make him a massive runner here for the Glen Kotzen yard, especially with Donovan Dillon aboard.

Kenilworth – (Sunday)

Race 1 – Simply Beautiful

It should be a promising start at the races on Sunday with Simply Beautiful expected to open proceedings. How she stayed on in her last start suggests that she should be at home over the extra 200m. Grant Van Niekerk retains the ride and should be able to get this 3-year-old daughter of Coup De Grace out of the maidens.

Race 3 – Captain of Stealth

It seemed like a long layoff is exactly what Captain of Stealth needed after producing a stunning victory last time out, winning by over 2 and a half lengths, beating a horse called Seventh Gear, who went on to win again. This is also the first leg of the Pick 6 on Sunday so perhaps a possible banker in the form of the Vaughn Marshall trained runner.

Race 6 – Ciao Bella

One of the best bets on Sunday’s card comes in Race 6 as Ciao Bella looks to come on from her eye-catching debut run. Usually, there is a bit of hesitance when it comes to 2-year-olds, but this daughter of Bela-Bela looks vastly progressive and will relish the extra 200m in trip. She found plenty of betting support on her debut and should make her followers happy once again.

Race 7 – Hithemhardsunshine

Hithemhardsunshine has shown plenty of positive signs in his early career, winning his first two races and now seeking a hat-trick. Richard Fourie has ridden him on both occasions and is rumoured to think the world of this 2-year-old gelding from the Eric Sands stable. Over this course and distance, Hithemhardsunshine beat At My Command, who came out to win and frank the form line once again.