Two sprint races are the highlights of a nine race Turffontein meeting today, which falls three weeks before the real fireworks of the Highveld Spring season begin.

British Royale won a fine race over 1200m on the Vaal Classic course last time, especially considering he had to race wide on the turn from draw 6 out of 7. He has plenty of speed and in tomorrow’s third race, a MR 98 Handicap over 1000m, he jumps from pole position. He has scraped into the handicap with the minimum weight. He is on the up and is selected to make it three on the trot. Trip Tease has run a bit below par in his last two. However, he has now dropped to an attractive merit rating and the Louis Goosen yard have shown signs of a form return in the last couple of Highveld meetings. He should make a bold bid from a good draw over a course and distance he has one win from one run. However, it won’t be easy having to carry 64,5kg and give British Royale 12,5kg. Furthermore, Isphan is 4kg better off with Trip Tease for a 0,2 length beating in the race on Grand Heritage day. Isphan had to jump from the worst draw of all that day too. He is off an attractive merit rating and is tipped to run second with Trip Tease third.

The sixth is a Progress Plate over 1200m and the topweight Buckland looks to have it at his mercy. He is officially 5,5kg better off with any other horse according to the official merit ratings. He likely needed it in the Spring Spree Stakes over course and distance last time as it was his first outing since June and also his first after gelding. He was far from disgraced in finishing three lengths behind the top class Kangaroo Jack. His low draw of three will be particularly advantageous due to his speed and Piere Strydom up is another bonus. He is well regarded and should be capable of carrying 61kg to victory. His younger stablemate Penultimate did not have his last race pan out well for him and is a lot better than the bare form suggests. It will only be his third career start and he has to race off an 86 merit rating, so it will not be easy. However, his debut was impressive and he should be given a chance to redeem himself here from a fair draw. Duke Nukem is a consistent sort who is should be capable of running on from behind, which he might have to do from a wide draw. He is the second best in at the weights but the drawback is the breathing noises he makes. Front Rank ran on strongly from the back in the Grand Heritage, having had to track over from the inside to the standside, and finished second. He should be running on again, but this is a touch on the sharp side and he is 9kg under sufferance with Buckland on official merit ratings. Call Kelly is a capable sort and is well drawn over a suitable trip. However it is his second run after a five month layoff.

Buckland has to be considered a banker.

At first sight there could be another fair bet in the seventh, despite it being a MR 82 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m. Fortissima is held in high regard and proved her class when finishing second in the Gr 2 SA Oaks. She needed her seasonal reappearance, when finishing second. She was confidently expected to win that MR 76 2000m race, despite carrying 62kg, and the slow pace did her no favours. However, she now faces stronger opposition. For example Inaninstant also looks capable of rising above her current merit rating of 84. Proof of that is she beat Intergalactic in the Listed Oaks Trial over 2000m in April. She was receiving 4kg that day, but if they faced each other today she would receive 9kg, so that was a good performance and she certainly looks the part too. On the downside she is returning from a five-and-a-half month layoff. However, coming from the Sean Tarry yard, she should be fit enough. Angelic Appeal, Gain Ground and Bajan Fantasy make most appeal of the rest.

Another horse who initially struck as a possible Pick 6 banker was Bold Coast in the last race over 1600m. After winning his maiden in commanding style over 1200m, he stayed on well in a strong Graduation Plate over 1450m and on paper ran a little bit above his 77 merit rating. He was a touch outpaced in that race and this son of Bold Silvano should relish the step up in trip. However, his maiden win over 1200m has not worked out at all well and there must then be a few question marks. The solid sort Hawaiian Sun thus becomes the selection, despite having to carry top weight, and the four-year-old Rownak, who was green on debut before running on strongly to win over 1600m, is tipped for second with Bold Coast third. Street Flyer and Nawra make some appeal too and can also be included in the Pick 6.

A race which at first sight appeared to be a Pick 6 stumbling block was the eighth, a MR 68 fillies and mares handicap over 1800m. However, a closer look reveals Tambalang to be a reasonable  banker prospect on a difficult card. She starts handicapping off a reasonable looking merit rating, considering she won her maiden easing up by 4,3 lengths over course and distance. Tricia Dupont was done no favours by a slow pace over 2000m last time and can also be included in the exotics.

David Thiselton