Best Bets And Tips: Fairview, Scottsville & Kenilworth

The weekend starts nice and early with horse racing action coming your way from Friday afternoon at Fairview, before Scottsville hosts an eight-race program in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday. On Sunday, racing heads to the Western Cape with plenty to look forward to at Kenilworth.

Fairview (Friday)

Race 1 – Rhythm of the Rain

The opening race on the program on Friday offers a perfect opportunity for the start of all weekend multiples with Rhythm of the Rain looking the best fancy in this race. The 4-year-old daughter of Soft Falling Rain has finished second five times in her eight starts. With S’manga Khumalo retaining the ride, there is still hope of her coming out the maidens as she was bumped on her way to the finish line last time out.

Race 2 – Red Berry

It could be a quick double for S’manga Khumalo who once again rides the top choice in the race. Red Berry finished under a length behind Gillian Anne, who is also in the race, in what proved to be a much tougher field. This time around, Red Berry gets a 6kg turnaround at the weights and should be able to reverse the form line.

Race 7 – Inherit the Rain

S’manga Khumalo looks to be the man to follow at Fairview and is once again tipped to be in the winner’s enclosure. “Bling” is aboard another daughter of Soft Falling Rain in the Inherit the Rain who looks difficult to oppose. She’s won her last two starts and has a record of two wins and two second-placed finishes from her four starts over this course and distance.

Scottsville (Saturday)

Race 4 – Money Heist

The best bet on the card on Saturday and certainly one of the picks of the weekend come in Race 4 at Scottsville. Money Heist produced an outstanding debut run, finished third over this course and distance. There have been three horses who have come out to frank the form and with jockey Muzi Yeni retaining the ride, the 3-year-old son of Gimmethegreenlight should be well-fancied once again and finding plenty of betting support – so the earlier you place a bet on this colt, the better.

Race 7 – Coin Spinner

A fiercely contested sprint is on the agenda for Race 7 with Coin Spinner being the top selection. Keagan De Melo will be looking to prove a point once again, this time with the big boys back in town. This 4-year-old gelding has won four of his nine starts and is in superb shape and form, with his recent form lines being franked. He’s yet to be unplaced at Scottsville and should be one of the leading contenders once again.

Race 8 – Rulership

Rulership could be a horse worth following with plenty shown in his early career to suggest that he has all the makings of being a top, top sprinter. He doesn’t take on the strongest field here and could be the horse to beat. The son of William Longsword won his only attempt over this course and distance, where he dead-heated on his debut run. In both runs as a gelding, Rulership has finished third, and then second, so he should be able to go one better now.

Kenilworth (Sunday)

Race 2 – Piroshka

Piroshka produced a decent comeback run, finishing third despite legitimate excuses in the race. In that field, was a whole host of winners, so there’ll certainly be more to come from this 3-year-old colt from the Candice Bass-Robinson stable. He does play up a bit, but if he has things going his way from the start, he should be right there. Gareth Wright is more than capable of shaking him up when he needs to.

Race 6 – Steinbeck

Race 6 looks to be very competitive, but class should prevail with Steinbeck tipped to edge this race. This son of Silvano is enduring a glorious run of form, winning three of his last four starts and is chasing a hat-trick after winning back-to-back races. He does take a slight drop in trip back to a mile, so will be doing his best work late in the closing stages. Richard Fourie has teamed up with Justin Snaith to produce countless winners, so should be able to get another one on the board.