David Thiselton

THE Turffontein Standside nine-race card today is headed by the  Listed Spook Express Handicap over 2400m and it could be won by the lightweight Illuminate.

This annual fixture is held in honour of the Henneman Disaster victims.  

This six-year-old Brave Tin Soldier mare is out of a mare by stamina influence Jallad and just over a year ago she finished a 4,25 length third over this course and distance behind Chitengo and Pomander. The latter have both franked that form since and Illuminate also went on to place third a further three times over this trip.

The last time she did so she ran off a 74 and she is now down to a 71. More importantly she has now joined the yard of Weiho Marwing, who is known for his expertise in preparing horses for stamina contests. So carrying just 52.5kg she could upset the applecart with Marco van Rensburg aboard from a good draw. She will have to defy odds at time of writing of 19-1 quoted by the earliest bookmaker to price the race up, WSB. Ocean Forest just pipped She’s A Cracker over this trip last time.

Both fillies gave their all in the finish and can develop into decent stayers. Ocean Forest is only half-a-kilogram worse off for the short-head victory but being by Duke Of Marmalade she should be improving nicely and there is a reversal in draw fortunes. 

Aryaam was a comfortable winner of the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial over 2000m last time and struck as one who would enjoy a further step up in trip. She jumps from pole position too. However, she was only a maiden when winning that race and the form has not worked out terribly well so running off a nine point higher mark this is going to be tougher, so she is selected to only finish third, one ahead of She’s A Cracker, despite being the favourite with WSB. 

The topweight Smoking Hot has to carry 60kg but does have staying class and would not be  surprise winner. If she is included then The Sash also has to be considered as she beat Smoking hot by 1,75 lengths in the WSB Allez FRance Stakes over this trip and she is now better off at the weights by 2kg if apprentice claims are ignored.

Kay Tee Perry has some class and also has to be considered, despite never having gone this trip before, as she enjoyed the step up to 1800m last time.

In the eighth race, a Progress Plate over 1600m, the progressive long-striding Puerto Manzano can take another step towards feature class. The chief danger looks to be Eliud who can have a line drawn through his last run as it just did not pan out well and he is better than that.

The sixth race is a Pinnacle event over 1800m and it all points to Lily Blue who ran a cracker last time in the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m, which was run in Vaal Classic course record time. She is now 1,5kg better off with Destiny’s Game who beat her in the Acacia by 0,35 lengths plus she is drawn in pole and will appreciate the step up in trip.