Turffontein has an intriguing eight race card today and the those who do their homework could be rewarded with some healthy exotic dividends.

The highest rated race on the card is a 2600m Pinnacle Stakes event. It is not easy to find a best bet on the card, and staying events are not usually the races to find them in, but nevertheless the Galileo colt Kinaan is the nomination. He is officially 3,5kg under sufferance with the long striding filly Zafira.

Furthermore, the latter hails from the stable of Weiho Marwing, who has an outstanding record in staying races. Lastly, Zafira is by Silvano, so should be coming into her own now as a four-year-old. Kinaan beat Zafira by 3 lengths in the Gr 2 eLan Gold Cup over 3200m and is now 3,5kg worse off, which should put the filly slightly ahead on paper over this trip.

However, there are two factors which hand the verdict to Kinaan. Firstly, he was caught wide the whole way in the Gold Cup, while the filly had the rail. Secondly, he has a good recent run under his belt over the too sharp 1450m, where he ran a surprise second at odds of 28/1. Zafira, on the other hand, is making her seasonal reappearance.

Kinaan looks to be on the up and on a card where bankers are not easy to come by he is the one who is also nominated for that award. However, the less brave should include Zafira, because another aspect in her favour is she loves this course and is unbeaten in two starts here. Kissimee is 2,5kg under sufferance with Zafira, but actually comes out ahead of her on their last meeting over 2200m in January, so she must be considered. Storm Warning beat a disappointing Kissimee by six lengths over course and distance last time and they face each other on the same terms. However, Storm Warning now has a wide draw to overcome, while Kissimee is well drawn again.

The Elmo Effect faces Storm Warning on the same terms for a mere 0,2 length beating in the aforementioned race, so has a shout again, despite officially being 5,5kg under sufferance with Zafira. Coby is not far behind The Elmo Effect and Storm Warning on the form of that last race, but has a worse draw now. Joint topweight Arch Rival can never be ignored, although he is best suited to the more galloping standside track. Penteliko has Anthony Delpech aboard over a suitable course and distance from a good draw, but looks held by like of The Elmo Effect and others.  Royal Honour and Talbec look to have impossible tasks at the weights.

The meeting opens with a very interesting maiden over 1600m. The hard knocking Fish River Canyon is proven over the course and distance and is drawn well in five. She looks to be an improving sort too. However, she up against two fillies in Orchid Island and Written who will both definitely relish this step up in trip. They will likely improve on their debuts too, having both finished like trains over 1200m on debut for respective close up placings.

Orchid Island is beautifully bred being by Silvano out of a stakes winning daughter of Ilha da Vitoria, Ilha Grande. However, she faces a tough draw of 12, so Anthony Delpech will have his work cut out. Written is by Western Winter out of a Saumarez mare and looks to have plenty of scope, being quite immature in appearance. It will be interesting to see whether experience or class decides the outcome, as the latter pair might be the better horses in the long run. However, Fish River Canyon is given the vote to beat Orchid Island and Written.

The value bet on the card comes in the seventh in the form of the Alec Laird-trained Judpot mare Endearing. This is a suitable course and distance and she is now a whopping nine points lower than her last winning mark. In her last start over 1200m she was caught wide at this course against the boys, so it was not a bad effort. She is three points lower here and is back against her own gender from a plum draw. Furthermore, she looks likely to appreciate the step up in trip as she has been staying on lately over shorter.

It’s not a fantastic field and the main danger could be Might As Well, who did well from the front last time over this trip at the Vaal and is now better drawn and two points lower in the merit ratings. The favourite might be Warm White Night Alice, who converted short odds second time out over 1200m at Scottsville on July 23. However, she showed a lot of pace there and her speedy pedigree also creates a stamina doubt, so from draw ten here in her seasonal reappearance there are question marks.

Mythical Magic will be coming into her own being by Silvano and if dropped out from a very high draw she looks a sort who has the class to turn it on in the straight. Gold Shades was not disgraced against a fair sort last time over 1400m and Piere Strydom is an eyecatching booking. Ladies Club is fairly handicapped on her best form and might be looking for this trip now, having run on well late over 1200m last time out. She can’t be ignored from a plum draw.

David Thiselton