The Turffontein  Inside track is often a tricky one for punters but on Saturday there should be some opportunities as one or two fancied horses are well drawn.

The highest rated race on the day is the second, a MR 86 Handicap over 1200m, and the one who makes most appeal is Miracle Bureau. This horse has won his last two attempts at this course and distance and that saw him raised to an 82 merit rating. However, he proved up to that mark when ranging up over this same trip at the Vaal despite having jumped from an unfavourable draw. He did not have the necessary extra to put his head in front, failing by a 0,5 lengths, and his next run over 1400m proved he is likely limited to sprints. Tomorrow he has a better draw than the main danger Duke Nukem, who won well from a good draw over course and distance last time out.

Andrew Fortune is still aboard and will help Duke Nukem overcome a tricky draw. An interesting runner is Mister Matchett, who has dropped from a 100 merit rating down to 86 and is now also dropped back to his best trip, having run three below par races over 1400m in his last two. In a sprint race before that he was beaten nearly 20 lengths, but that was in the Gr 2 Senor Santa Stakes where the winner was Talktothestars, who was subseqeunty named Equus Champion Sprinter. Mister Matchett is well drawn and if bouncing back to his best has a big chance.

Another relatively highly rated race is the sixth, a MR 82 Handicap over 2600m, and the field could perhaps be included in the Pick 6 because it looks wide open. The selection here is Talbec as he has run well twice over this course and distance and that includes his only win. Furthermore, he now has a tongue tie on for the first time after making breathing noises in his last three races.

Punters could get off to a good start in race 1, a fillies Maiden over 2200m, provided Vul Indlela settles from the off. Anthony Delpech is now aboard so she will have every chance of doing so. Last time out over 2000m she over raced a bit in the early stages, yet was still staying on strongest of all, so she should relish this step up in trip and looks to have more scope than Flying Myth, who settled well from a plum pole position draw last time and stayed on to finish a couple of lengths ahead of the selection.

In race three, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1450m, Pearl Valley caught the eye last time over course and distance as she jumped from a wide draw and had to go around them into a handy position and yet stayed on well to be just over a length behind a promising sort in Public Protector. She now has a plum draw of two. However, Over Stated could be a big danger as she clearly did not enjoy being in front last time and drifted around looking for company. The blinkers might work their magic on her and she also jumps from a good draw.

In race four, a Maiden over 1450m, the tall and rangy Skynight is a most interesting runner from pole position. On debut over 1000m he clearly did not know what was going on but when the penny dropped he made some good late progress. He could represent fair value. Immortal Secret plugged on last time over 1400m on the Standside track but is now drawn wide. However, Delpech has stayed aboard and he should earn in this weak field. Zeal And Zest is a nice looking horse but the concern is he was a bit keen on debut over course and distance so will need to settle better. If he does he will be a big runner.

In race 5, Awesome Adam is going from strength to strength and won going away last time, giving the impression he could handle another four point raise. However, Belenos quickened well over 1600m last time before being run out of it late, so might enjoy the step down in trip here and he has a plum draw. Cashin goes for a hattrick and can’t be ignored, despite being five points higher.

In the seventh over 1800m, American Tiger is capable of a strong finish and is now well drawn over an ideal trip.

In the eighth over 1200m Riverine Forest ran on well last time over this trip and the Vaal and is well drawn here over a course and distance she should enjoy.

In the last over 1000m Ronin Warrior is an improving sort with plenty of speed and he looks likely to make it a hattrick.

David Thiselton