David Thiselton

The Turffontein Standside meeting on Saturday has three Gr 3 features and a Listed race.

In the Gr 3 Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m Cosmic Speed recorded his impressive 2,10 length Gr 2 victory in the Durban Golden Horseshoe last season over this trip. He made a winning seasonal reappearance over 1160m and is the best in at the weights here according to official merit ratings, despite having to carry a 2kg Grade 2 penalty. His draw of 8 is a concern, so he won’t have it his own way. Musical Score is relatively unexposed, but won a Graduation Plate in fine style fourth time out and could prove to be better than his 100 merit rating suggests. Gavin Lerena is up from a tricky draw of six. Greaterix is held in high esteem and showed why in his second, third and fourth runs, all of which he won easily. He was not disgraced in the Gr 2 Betway Dingaans as he was beaten five lengths into third by the filly phenomenon Quid Pro Quo. He found himself in the lead that day, which was not ideal and at home his bloods were found to be abnormal, so he could do better. He should be effective over this course and distance from draw four. Fire Attack won the Gr 2 SA Nursey and was second in the Dingaans. However, he does carry a Gr 2 penalty so is 2kg worse off with Greaterix for a 2,50 length beating, which puts him slightly ahead and he should enjoy the trip, but on the other hand he has a wide draw. Choisaanada is scopey and looks classy and would not be a surprise winner either, although he does officially have a tough task off a 98 merit rating. The Specialist is hard to ignore as he had a fine two-year-old career. He had excuses for his last two below par runs and now gets a compression mask on.   

In the Gr 3 Betway Mother Russia Stakes over 1400m Vulcanite is officially well in at the weights and will be hard to beat, having won her last two starts by wide margins over 1600m. There is not much between Miss Lia and Salenio Peninsula and they make most appeal as the dangers. Sonic Jet and Cocomelon could earn.     

In the Listed Wolf Power 1600 Truth looks the one to side with. This talented three-year-old Heavenly Blue gelding only has to carry 53kg off a 106 merit rating in the handicap event and is drawn well in four out of ten runners. The trip will be suitable. Last time he was caught late by Storm Brasco over 1400m but he might well have been sent for home too soon. He is now 1,5kg better off with Storm Brasco for a mere 0,25 length beating and he should be cherry ripe in his third run after a layoff. The chief danger could be Pomodoro’s Jet, who comes off an easy 5,50 length romp in the Grand Heritage over 1475m. He copped a nine point raise but has always been highly regarded and is said to be “flying” at home. He has won four times over this trip and Gavin Lerena is up from draw six. The four-year-old carries 57,5kg off a 105 merit rating. Storm Brasco showed what he is capable of last time and Serino Moodley now gets the ride from a fair draw of five. He does now have his second run after a nine month layoff though, but the four-year-old only has to carry 54,5kg off a 105 merit rating. Texas Red has copped a tricky draw of seven. However, he went close to Main Defender last time which shows he could be up to carrying topweight here off a 110 merit rating. It is also his third run after a layoff. Chestnut Bomber is a promising three-year-old who can rise above his 99 merit rating and he is well drawn over the trip of his only two wins. Command Pilot won well last time over course and distance and might have more to come, so he can’t be ignored from pole position. Savannah Storm has a tremendous turn of foot if it pans out well for him.

The features will be intriguing and will say something about the class of the three-year-old crop just three weeks ahead of the Guineas meeting.

RACE 1     

5 ZACATOO 7 EASY TIGER 2 PORRIDGE BOY 6 BRIGHT AND BRAZEN

Preview: 5 ZACATOO has run two good races and is the one to beat despite an unfavourable low draw by trends. 7 EASY TIGER is by Refeef and is a half-sister to three winners. 2 PORRIDGE BOY was not disgraced on debut. 6 BRIGHT AND BRAZEN is by Erupt and Gavin Lerena is an eye-catching booking. (David Thiselton 5-7-2-6)

RACE 2     

8 FLIGHT OF A CONDOR 7 DESERT CLOUD 3 BILINGUAL 1 ENDIZAYO

Preview: 8 FLIGHT OF A CONDOR has gone close in both starts and van get it right here. 7 DESERT CLOUD made a good debut when second to Rodeo Drive last May and hasn’t run since but Gavin Lerena is up. 3 BILINGUAL is usually involved in the finish. 1 ENDIZAYO has shown enough to earn here. (David Thiselton 8-7-3-1)

RACE 3     

6 JOHNNY APPLESEED 5 KING OF VENUS 4 ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHE 7 KINDRED HEART

Preview: 6 JOHNNY APPLESEED is very quick and should enjoy the course and distance. 5 KING OF VENUS has a form chance here too. 4 ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHES is off a competitive mark and should be involved. 7 KINDRED HEART can be involved if reproducing his penultimate run. (David Thiselton 6-5-4-7)

RACE 4     

8 TRUTH 2 POMODORO’S JET 7 STORM BRASCO 1 TEXAS RED

Preview: 8 TRUTH is full of class and might have gone for home too soon last time. 2 POMODORO’S JET showed his class when romping home in the Grand Heritage but now has to overcome a nine point raise. 7 STORM BRASCO beat Truth last time with a strong finish but is 1,5kg worse off for a 0,25 length beating. 1 TEXAS RED has run two fine races this season and can be involved despite having to carry topweight from a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 8-2-7-1) 

RACE 5     

1 VULCANITE 3 MISS LIA 4 SALENIO PENINSULA 6 SONIC JET

Preview: 1 VULCANITE will be hard to beat here under the weight conditions having won her last two starts over 1600m with consummate ease. 3 MISS LIA is distance suited and in good form and could give some cheek. 4 SALENIO PENINSULA is 1kg better off with Miss Lia for a 0,70 length beating and has a good draw. 6 SONIC JET goes for a hattrick over this trip. (David Thiselton 1-3-4-6)

RACE 6     

1 COSMIC SPEED 6 MUSICAL SCORE 3 GREATERIX 2 FIRE ATTACK

Preview: 1 COSMIC SPEED is full of class and his best win was over this trip. 6 MUSICAL SCORE beat older horses in eye-catching style last time over this trip. 3 GREATERIX is highly regarded and can do better than last time. 2 FIRE ATTACK is widely drawn but is a Gr 2 SA Nursery winner and ran a fine second in the Dingaans. (David Thiselton 1-6-3-2)

RACE 7     

6 CHASING HAPPINESS 5 MOUNT PILATUS 8 JUST BE LEKKER 10 TAXI TO THE MOON

Preview: 6 CHASING HAPPINESS won a Gr 3 last time over course and distance last time in good style and can go close from a high draw. 5 MOUNT PILATUS is in fine form but is drawn on the wrong side. 8 JUST BE LEKKER has speed and class but does return from a six month layoff. 10 TAXI TO THE MOON has a form chance here from a fair draw. (David Thiselton 6-5-8-10)

RACE 8     

5 RED MAPLE 1 CRIMSON KING 2 NONE OTHER 7 BREEZE OVER

Preview: 5 RED MAPLE is a classy stayer and can go in again. 1 CRIMSON KING has issues but has class on his day and should have come on from his seasonal reappearance. 2 NONE OTHER is an SA Oaks winner and should be finishing strongly. 7 BREEZE OVER is a talented stayer on his day but needs things to go his way. (David Thiselton 5-1-2-7)

RACE 9     

3 RADICCHIO 5 CYMRIC 1 BUSTER BARNES 8 DECEPTION PASS

Preview: 3 RADICCHIO is course and distance suited and looks well handicapped. 5 CYMRIC has class and should enjoy the step up in trip. 1 BUSTER BARNES has a harder task here but looked classy in his wins in Zimbabwe. 8 DECEPTION PASS is a progressive sort who could be a player here. (David Thiselton 3-5-1-8)

RACE 10    

6 BIG BOY BRUCE 3 SECRET CHORD 8 VIBE SA 5 ZANTHAR

Preview: 6 BIG BOY BRUCE is a progressive sprinter who should be thereabouts. 3 SECRET CHORD won easily last time and could follow up. 8 VIBE SA tends to throw it in if in the lead but has talent and got out of the maidens with an easy win last time. 5 ZANTHAR has a form chance here too. (David Thiselton 6-3-8-5)

Graeme Hawkins

The R160 000 Klawervlei Stud Class 3 Handicap over 1200m takes pride of place on a 9-race programme at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today. Billed as the eighth race on the card, this Class 3 Handicap has attracted a field of eleven runners and there is plenty of form to work with. Arctic Wizard has won his last two starts in a lower division and was penalised a hefty 7 points for his one-length victory over Cork Bay a month ago.

Cork Bay did little to frank that form over the past weekend, but Arctic Wizard may yet have further improvement to come. Grant Van Niekerk rides for the Greg Ennion stable but given the rise in class and the 7-point hike in his rating, there is little doubt that Arctic Wizard faces his toughest test to date. Talk To The Master is a very interesting runner with very good form over the course and distance. He has contested Feature races in his last four outings, the last three of which were over slightly further.

Talk To The Master has always shown a touch of class and he could make light of 60kgs here for the high-riding Vaughan Marshall yard. Sean Veale, successful in the same silks last weekend when taking out the Premier Trophy (Gr2) aboard Rascallion, has been booked for the ride and the KZN-based rider seldom leaves Hollywoodbets Kenilworth empty-handed these days. Talk To The Master should trip a very fit horse and being drawn on the right side of the track will help his cause. He could be the one they all have to beat.

War Chariot and Riverstone have strong claims on their recent form. For the services of Rachel Venniker, War Chariot comes into the race with just 52kgs on his back and he could prove a serious threat. Riverstone has made the frame in his last two outings and Richard Fourie retains the ride for the Gareth Van Zyl team. The 4yo United States gelding is raced by Gary Player and the golfing legend is enjoying a purple patch with his runners around the country.

Silver Crown fluffed his lines last time when returning from a break but is capable of a surprise here when judged on his best previous course and distance form. Surge Of Power is now starting to drop rapidly down the ratings and a sudden bounce back to form would not be a great surprise. Perhaps one to boost the Trifecta and Quartet dividends? It’s a very competitive heat but I am going to row in with Talk To The Master who could return to winning ways despite having to concede weight to most of his in-form rivals.

One of the more attractive bets on a challenging day’s racing could be Catch A Penny in the second race, a Maiden Plate over 1000m. I am of the view that the 3yo daughter of Vercingetorix will appreciate stepping back to the minimum trip and she should give us a very good run for our money, having been placed in all four starts to date. Flying Finley has been priced up the ante-post favourite with Catch A Penny on offer at 7/2 in the early exchanges.

The Andre Nel stable sends out just three runners at this meeting, two of which should be highly competitive in their respective races. Hoodia lines up against 12 rivals in the fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1600m, and the 4yo son of Ideal World is knocking loudly at the door having been placed in his last three starts over the trip. In his most recent start, Hoodia was beaten a neck by Rule Of Thumb, who re-opposes here and at the revised weights there should not be much between the pair, with a slight preference for Hoodia. Bounceback and Rich Folks Hoax have claims but are drawn badly which renders their task of finding the winner’s enclosure a touch more difficult.

Kebonalasedi was not far behind Rule Of Thumb and Hoodia and the 5yo son of Pomodoro should get the run of the race from pole position. Happy Days has done enough since winning his maiden to suggest he could be a factor in the outome. Not an easy race, but with a little bit of luck Hoodia could register his second career victory.

Nel saddles Kamchatka in the sixth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1600m, and the consistent 3yo daughter of Erupt should be in the mix but faces a tough task at the weights. Enchanting Choice is 3,5kgs better off with Kamchatka for a narrow defeat back in October and 2kgs better off for being a short head behind Nel’s filly on 19 November. On the plus side, Kamchatka may have more to offer as she matures against her older rival, but the form book suggests there should be little to choose between the pair. Family Power has come good of late over 1400m and is not without a chance of going back-to-back. She won her maiden way back in December 2023 over 2000m, so the extra 200m is not likely to pose a problem. Recent maiden winner Exquisite, who gets the services of Richard Fourie, is clearly heading in the right direction and is not without a chance of following up.

Racing at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth gets under way at 12:10 with an intriguing Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1000m in which only one length covered the leading five contenders when they met behind Wild Wild Green on 14 December. Perhaps Whatastar will confirm her slight superiority, but Music Of The Night has had one run since and the added experience could count in her favour.

RACE 1

6 LOVE HER MADLY ran a cracker on debut behind Wild Wild Green, she was very green in running and absolutely took off late to run a good third, she will improve tons from that performance and should go very close to winning. 2 WHATASTAR did everything right on debut, she showed pace and stayed on strongly to finish second, with natural improvement on the cards, she will have a good winning chance. 4 MUSIC OF THE NIGHT ran a good second behind stable companion last time, she was only beaten just over two lengths at the wire, she is undoubtedly getting better and stronger with every start, include her into all bets. 3 TAKE IT AS RED was only beaten just under two lengths on debut, watch her closely, she will be running on late. (Brandon Bailey: 6 – 2 – 4 – 3)

RACE 2

5 CATCH A PENNY moved up extremely well in her last start to run a great second behind Sohot Sowhat, she is nicely weighted in this Maiden Plate and should love the drop in trip to 1000m, she will be very competitive here. 11 FLYING FINLEY has run two very good seconds in a row, Jockey Richard Fourie sticks with this gelding after riding him last time, he will be right there in the finish on his best form. 9 WAVE OF GLORY showed tremendous pace in his last start when finishing second behind Heal And Soul, he really improved nicely from run one to run two, if he can build again on his most recent performance, he will have a serious winning chance. 10 KLEIN KAROO ran a lovely race on debut, he looks to be a nice big gelding that will appreciate a bit further in time, watch him closely. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 11 – 9 – 10)

RACE 3

5 KYALAMI GIRL quickened up in devastating fashion on the 18th of December to win a great race, she is highly rated by the stable, if she can bring her last performance to the races again on Saturday afternoon, she will be very hard to beat here. 8 MISS WORLD is as honest as they come, the form lines of her last race have worked out incredibly well, she will be a huge danger for them all in the finish. 3 MAI SENSATION has been very disappointing in her last few starts, she could improve quite a bit now that she has dropped in trip to 1200m, watch her closely at a decent price. 6 POLYNOMIAL has been rested for 63 days, she is a lot better than her recent run in the Grade 2 event over 1400m, she should appreciate the drop in trip, include her into bets. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 8 – 3 – 6)

RACE 4

1 SUMMER NIGHT CITY bounced back to form last time when running second behind Tothemoonandback, she is perfectly drawn here and is currently racing off a very competitive rating, she will get the run of the race and should go very close to winning. 3 MELA STRENGTH fought hard to the line last time behind Azzurri when finishing second, his recent form is very good, this looks to be a nice race for him to be right there in the finish again. 11 MY ONLY WEAKNESS has been very consistent since winning her maiden on the 21st of September last year, she loved the step up in trip last time when finishing a good second, if she can get some luck in running from a poor draw, she will go close to winning. 2 TOTHEMOONANDBACK carries a huge weight here, he might be able to sneak into the Quartets. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 3 – 11 – 2)

RACE 5

8 HOODIA has been in excellent form of late, he quickened up nicely from a long way back last time when running second to Rule Of Thumb, he has some strong form to his name and should remain very competitive again at this level. 3 RULE OF THUMB was given a terrific ride by jockey J P v’d Merwe on the 18th of December, he was patiently ridden and worked through the field smartly to win going away, with a similar performance here, he will go very close to winning. 4 CHOLLIMA wanted the speed to be a bit more genuine up in front last time, he was caught flat footed early and then stayed on strongly to the line in a decent field, on his best form, he always has a good each way chance. 12 BOUNCEBACK won his maiden well, he is still improving and could sneak into the places. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 3 – 4 – 12)

RACE 6

1 FAMILY POWER ran on powerfully to win a good race on the 4th of December, she gets the perfect draw of 1 here and she steps up in trip to 1600m, despite her rating going up quite a bit for winning well last time, she must have a good winning chance again. 3 KAMCHATKA never runs a bad race, she stayed on well to run a decent second in her last start behind Jet To The Sun, she should get the run of the race from a good draw, include her into all bet types. 2 ENCHANTING CHOICE ran a fair race behind Lickety Split on the 11th of December, if things work out for her in running, she could win a race like this quite easily. 7 GARDEN OF EDEN is highly rated by the stable, she had no luck in running last time, watch her closely, she will be right there in the finish. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 3 – 2 – 7)

RACE 7

4 ROUGAROUIN won a gutsy race on the 4th of December when beating Electric Feels in a driving finish, he was given 3 points for that win, at this level he will always be a massive runner. 3 PRINCE OF TIBET made up good ground late to run a nice second last time behind True Horizon, he enjoys the sprint trips in this grade, watch him closely, he will be running on late. 2 TRUE HORIZON finally got it right on the 18th of December up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, now that she has the confidence booster to her name, she could easily give them all a fright in the finish. 5 TRES CHIC can be quite a difficult filly to ride, she needs everything to go right for her, now that she drops back in trip, she will have a good winning chance on her best form. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 3 – 2 – 5)

RACE 8

9 ARCTIC WIZARD looks to be a very smart sprinter in the making, he has won his last two races in great style, despite going up a further 7 points in the ratings for his last win and stepping up in class on Saturday afternoon, he is very progressive and will be competitive again. 4 WAR CHARIOT ran a lovely race last time in a strong field, he needs a particular ride, if the race works out for him with no weight on his back, he will be flying at them late. 7 RIVERSTONE has run two very good races in succession, he has tons of ability, and the yard is in great form, include him into all bets. 3 TALK TO THE MASTER comes back to the races from a rest and gelding, he is the class package in the race, if he doesn’t need the run badly, he should be doing good work at the finish. (Brandon Bailey: 9 – 4 – 7 – 3)

RACE 9

6 KELP FOREST finished like a train to win a super race on the 11th of December at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, the blinkers stay on, with a similar performance of his last start, he will be very hard to beat in the lucky last. 8 MEANT TO BE has been rested for 105 days, he has been lightly raced, his form is excellent, if he doesn’t need the run, he will be a big danger in the finish. 14 HEAL AND SOUL could be anything, he showed plenty speed on debut and fought hard to win a good race, he looks the type that will get better and stronger with every start, include him into the play. 11 SUN DAZED absolutely took off into the closing stages to run 6th in his last start, he gets a further rating drop and the blinkers go on, he could be the value here. (Brandon Bailey: 6 – 8 – 14 – 11)

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