Stars set to talk at Scottsville

A Pinnacle Stakes comprising a Grade 1 winner and runner-up respectively in Talktothestars and Brutal Force and an up-and-coming sprinting filly in Sommerlied make for a thrilling encounter in this race over 1000m.

Under the race conditions Talktothestars looks hard to beat and his opening price of 6-1 is extremely appealing. Coenie de Beer’s runner has not won since sneaking home in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m at Flamingo Park in October last year but he has hardly disgraced himself either.

He finished a 1.30-length second behind Rafeef in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein in May and then suffered quite a lot of interference when attempting to defend his title in the Grade 1 in the Golden Horse Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville later that month. He then ran a neck second behind Search Party in the Grade 2 Post Merchants at Greyville but was unable to overcome a wide draw next time over the same course and distance in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint won by Bull Valley.

He does have a 0.5kg advantage over Brutal Force on merit rating but De Beer’s decision to put 2.5kg claimer Ashton Arries on his runner sees that advantage extend to 3kg.

That puts Sommerlied at a 5.5kg disadvantage. Dennis Drier’s charge has raced four times for three wins and one poor run over 1200m at Kenilworth. She beat the boys when touching off Sergeant Hardy over 1100m at Greyville but a line through the runner-up should see her battle to beat Talktothestars.