While the 2017 Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes at Scottsville on Sunday has attracted a small field of just eight runners, it looks to be a cracking race with some of KZN’s best 2yos facing off against some well bred visitors.

The Charles Laird trained Varallo (Var) has done nothing wrong in winning his first two outings-despite racing-very green, and he could well make it three out of three in Sunday’s 1200m contest. He has a win over the course and distance under his belt, and with top rider Anton Marcus up, Varallo looks a lively contender here.

Autumn In Seattle (Sail From Seattle) was most impressive when winning his first two outings by an aggregate of nearly nine lengths. He was not disgraced when touched off in the non black type Sentinel Stakes on his last start –when conceding the winner, who beat him half a length, 2kgs.

The Garth Puller trained Real Vision (Visionaire) hackedup on debut and could be anything, while the same could be said of the Robbie Hill trained Elegant General (Brave Tin Soldier) who also won first time out.

Cape visitor Sir Frenchie (Choisir) was not disgraced when third on his KZN debut and is from a yard who has been firing on all cylinders in Natal. The Mike de Kock runner Mujallad (Redoute’s Choice) lacks nothing for pedigree and impressed when defeating subsequent 2 time winner Whorly Whorly (Great Britain) on debut. However, G1 SA Nursery runner Whorly Whorly then turned the tables on Mujallad next time they met. Gauteng form tends to be stronger than that of KZN, however, and Mujallad should be respected here.

Woljayrine (Jay Peg) was sixth on his only outing and needs to improve to feature, while Argo’s Magic (Argonaut) appears held by Autumn In Seattle on their run in the Sentinel Stakes.