A MR 92 Handicap over 1900m heads a tricky nine race card on the Turffontein Inside track and Amsterdam looks the one to side with.
The six-year-old Windrush gelding finished second to French Navy in the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m as a three-year-old and was in good form between May and July this year, running four times and winning two races, both over 2000m. He has pole position and this trip looks ideal, considering he was doing his best work late over 1800m last time. He proved in that last race he is worth his 84 merit rating. Piere Strydom, whose was aboard for both those aforementioned wins, is now back aboard, another plus.
Piere Strydom
Wild Horizon could be the main danger. He is not drawn as well as he was last time when beating Stonehenge by 4,05 lengths over 2000m on the Standside track and he might prefer a more galloping track than this one. However, he did look to have a bit in hand when crossing the line that day, so can beat Stonehenge again, despite being 4kg worse off. Stonehenge is an effective handy-to front-running type who looks perfectly distance suited and Gavin Lerena is aboard. There is little between Stonehenge, Amsterdam and Wild Horizon. Bankable Teddy has a chance if repeating his runs in the Jubilee Handicap and the July consolation race.
Dawn Assault won a Graduation Plate in eyecatching fashion by 8,25 lengths over 1800m last time. Khumalo remains aboard, although they do have a tougher draw. Furthermore, he was weighted to win that race, whereas he is held by Amsterdam on previous form over 2000m, having lost to the latter by 2,2 lengths and now being 1,5kg worse off. Lee’s Pick is 2kg under sufferance according to official merit ratings, but there is not much between him and Amsterdam on their last meeting over 2000m, so he can’t be completely ignored. They are selected in the order mentioned.
Punters could get off to a good start in race one over 1000m with Hampton Court, a R300,000 Var colt who might outclass them. He is a half-brother to the useful speedster Horse Guards and made a good debut in May over this course and distance when finishing third behind two decent sorts and beating another decent sort. The concern is he made a breathing noise and hasn’t run since that debut race in May. The back up is Strikers Boy. He had bad luck in his first two starts, but last time showed what he can do when showing pace throughout over this trip at the Vaal and finishing a 1,5 length second to the hard knocking Wellspring. He is relatively unexposed and was still a touch green in that last start so can improve again.
Punters could be in the pound seats again in race two over 1450m with Ossetra. She caught the eye third time out when staying on for second behind the promising Awaafy and she did not have a lot of room at a crucial stage of that race either. She has a reasonable draw over a step up in trip she should enjoy.
S’manga Khumalo
Vacquero in race three over 1800m could also prove hard to beat, considering his fair debut over 1200m and his good staying on run over 1600m last time. However, Llandudo is no slouch and in his second run after gelding could be a threat from a good draw over a suitable trip.
Bandola is the choice in race four over 2600m. Firstly, she has a good form chance, secondly she is from the yard of the expert trainer of stayers, Weiho Marwing, and thirdly she is by Silvano, so will be improving and will likely relish the trip.
Race six over 1400m is a Pinnacle Stakes event and the classy Shatoosh is the one to side with. Last time she tracked She’s A Dragon over 1600m and the jockey under-estimated the kick and resolute finish the latter would produce and couldn’t catch her. That race proved she would prefer 1600m to this trip, but her class could pull her through.
Spring Indeed could also make amends for her last start in race seven over 1600m. She was continually baulked and just as the gap opened a horse flew up on the outside and she was unable to catch the latter. She was only raised one point and has another plum draw.
The eighth is tough, but Curbstone Shuffle, Cinnamon Slew and Shine Bright make most appeal.
In the last, also over 1600m, Shotgun Rider finished strongly over 1450m last time and is now drawn in pole off a two point higher merit rating. He can beat Nephrite, who goes notably well for Anthony Delpech.
By David Thiselton
