Hopefully the evening thunder storms accompanied by terrific lightning that have disrupted recent night meetings at Turfffontein hold off tomorrow night where the mostly luckless Negroamaro should be good enough to earn her third career victory in the All To Come Conditions Plate, second race on the card.

Johan Janse van Vuuren looks to have picked the right race for his filly and victory would snap a long history of near misses. She has yet to score a victory this term but in three outings has met the likes of Querari Falcon, Tahini and most recently Intergalactic and Tahini in the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge. Under the conditions of tomorrow’s race she is well weighted and although likely to start at cramped odds, a change of fortune would not be out of turn for the grey daughter of Fort Wood.

Patchit Up Baby falls into a similar category having paid a heavy price for her third place in the SA Oaks two seasons’ back where she took a 19-point hit in the ratings for finishing a distant third to Pine Princess. She has been shuttled back and forth between Duncan Howells in KZN and Ormond Ferraris on the Highveld searching for a third victory but in nearly two seasons her rating has only dropped five points and she has been winless since February 2015.

She meets Negroamaro on level terms tomorrow where she is only a length or so out in the handicap and few would begrudge her victory.

Fort Ember is not well in with Negroamaro but did finish ahead of her in the Ipi Tombe Challenge and cannot be written off. However, the former is now 4kg better off and should be good enough to turn the tables. Zante has her first outing for the Geoff Woodruff yard and has been rested since moving from Neil Bruss who is no plying his trade in Saudi Arabia. She is useful on her day but may prefer it a bit further.

With only seven runners due to line up, a false pace is on the cards but Negroamaro is capable of a sprinting finish and she is a confident selection.

The balance of the card is way more testing headed by a Pinnacles Stakes over 1160m that sees the return to the track of French Navy. The former SA Classic winner has not been out since finishing down the field in the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July but prior to that was third to Mac De Lago and stable companion Trip To Heaven in the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge. Sean Tarry will more than likely have French Navy’s sights on the Gr1 Sun Met as this race is palpably too short.

A likely winner is Captain Aldo in what is a difficult race. St John Gray’s runner is not quite out of the top drawer but has shown good form in strong company. He is also a veteran of 30 starts and the fitting of blinkers got the best out of him to win his last start. If he can build on that he can go in again.  Will Pays was well beaten by Captain Aldo last time out but has done better and should not be far behind. Captain’s Causeway is lightly raced and returns from a lengthy break. He does have smart form in good company and could return at the top of his game. Splendid Garden was much improved in the soft last outing and any rain will enhance his chances while Arabian Beat returns from a very long break but comes from a shrewd stable and is one to watch in the market.

Just A Jet in the fifth is sure to be a popular exotic bet banker and likely to start at cramped odds. She meets a desperate maiden field with a highest rating of 49. A late starter, Mike Azzie’s runner made a smart debut first up over 2000m. She was a distant third from a tough draw next time out. She meets nothing of note here and looks a solid bet. The only threat is possibly Vogue’s Wood. Although she looks held by Just A Jet on their last showing she was not too far back and could possibly turn the tables.

Andrew Harrison