Turffontein Inside track stages a nine race card tomorrow where the racing is generally competitive and finding winners will be rewarding.

The sixth is a Conditions Plate over 1450m for fillies and mares and the progressive Alec Laird-trained Polyphonic looks the one to beat. She has always been well regarded and looks to have come into her own lately. She is the best in at the weights and has to carry a mere 52,5kg. In her last start in the Gr 2 Ipi Tombe over 1600m her jockey lost the rein late yet she still went down by just 0,4 lengths.

On the downside Polyphonic has a tricky draw and would prefer a touch further, so can’t be regarded as a banker. Bella Sonata on the other hand is perfectly course and distance suited and being by Silvano this always well regarded filly will also be coming into her own. She is capable of a strong finish, so the wide draw might not be too much of a concern and she should go close.

Crystal Glamour will be dangerous in this race over a suitable trip as she is an improving front-runner and has a plum draw. Shaama is considerably out at the weights, but can’t be ignored. She started favourite for the Gr 1 Allan Robertson two seasons ago, but disappointed and then continued to disappoint.

However, after being given nearly a year off, she came back with a fluent win over 1200m where she produced a sustained finish. She could well be better than her merit rating of 88 suggests and she is likely looking for this sort of trip.

Sensible Lover is unbeaten in two starts over this course and distance.  She disappointed last time and now has the blinkers on, which is most interesting because in her day she mixed it with some of the best of a vintage crop.

The seventh is an intriguing MR 90 Handicap for three-year-olds over 1600m and the topweight Unagi could be the one to beat.  He is unbeaten in two starts over course and distance and has shown glimpses of real class. He has had excuses for a couple of his disappointing runs and the blinkers didn’t work last time. However, he is now back to a merit rating of 90 and has a plum draw over his probable optimum trip.

Shukamisa should be involved in the finish too. He is by Silvano and from the yard of Ormond Ferraris, so should start stepping up to the plate now on the eve of the Johannesburg Autumn season. He has certainly shown signs of being of feature class. He does have a tricky draw of eight.

Military Award has plenty of ability and should be distance suited. He only carries 53,5kg and has a good draw, but on the downside he makes respiratory noises. However, with a first time tongue tie on last time he was running on late over 1400m, so that augurs well for his future. He has the ability to win this off his mere 77 merit rating.

Arlington disappointed last time after catching the eye in his maiden over this trip. However, that latter race was over 1800m and he over raced, so he is interesting back at this trip and cannot be ignored. Qeyaadah is another one who has to be considered as he has ability and now has his second run after gelding and second run with blinkers. Pagoda is another one who has shown signs of ability and could earn from a plum draw.

The second race will be the first leg of the Bipot and the interesting horse here is Tharoos. He is by More Than Ready out of a Danehill mare who won from 1000m to 1700m and he is a full brother to a Gr 2 winner in Australia over 1200m. He has done well in two decent fields over 1160m and does strike as more of a sprinting type, so from a good draw here he should give a good account of himself in his first start around the turn.

Racing Free and Mess look the chief dangers. The former has good form in two races over sprints and was backed in both starts. However, he finished lame in his last start and hasn’t raced for about 18 months. Mess has been thereabouts in three starts from 1160m to 1400m and should be improving coming from the yard of astute trainer Candice Dawson. S’Manga Khumalo is an eye catching booking and from pole position he should make an impact.

By David Thiselton