The Turffontein Standside nine race meeting tomorrow is headlined by the Listed Swallow Stakes over 1160m and the Mike de Kock-trained Takingthepeace could be the one to beat from a nice high draw.
This Visionaire filly is big and scopey and would have matured a lot since her victory over this course and distance in June. She was still gangly back then and showed pace in a small field before finding extra and drawing clear of the talented London Secret, although she was receiving 3kg from the latter. She won comfortably over 1000m in October, proving she has pace, and she showed her class when staying on strongly from a wide draw for third in the R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Stakes. Winter’s Forge has beaten the classy Winter Watch twice at level weights, including by 5,5 lengths when finishing a one length second in the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery. She now receives 4kg from Winter Watch so must have a big shout if anywhere near her best after an eight month layoff.
Mike De Kock
Tamarina won comfortably on debut for a yard who are known to bring horses on steadily, so she could be anything. Winter Watch has always struck as a classy sort and is starting to come into her own as a three-year-old. She is officially the joint-second best in at the weights and has proven worthy of her 95 merit rating. San Fermin is an interesting runner as she was rumoured hard to beat on Summer Cup day in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile after showing an exceptional turn of foot in her debut over 1400m and winning by seven lengths. She went out like a light in the Fillies Mile and was found to be fatigued and striding short. She now has a tongue tie on over a sprint trip, so can’t be ignored, although she does have a low draw which could be unfavourable.
Covered In Snow beat the promising Schippers to win her maiden over this course and distance and then won a handicap easily over this same course and distance next time out off a merit rating of 78. She was raised to 85, but might prove better than that in time and she is also one to include in the exotics. London secret can’t be ignored as she is up with Takingthepeace on paper over this course and distance and followed up that run by running a 2,15 length sixth in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper over 1400m at Greyville. She returns from a 196 day layoff.
Jazaalah is better than her last run when a firecracker led from start to finish over 1000m. She will appreciate the step up to 1160m and can defy her lowly merit rating from a Standside draw, which is usually favourable over this course and distance. Frederico’s Dream has always been well regarded and is 2,5kg better off with Varsity Girl for a 0,7 length beating over course and distance so can make her presence felt. They are selected in the order mentioned.
The best bet is selected to be Excalibur’s Return in race five over 2000m. She goes for a hattrick and the form of her last race has been franked, so this filly by Golden Sword can progress further from a rating of a mere 77. She had a tougher draw than Emerald Bay last time, but beat her by 0,25 lengths and she now faces her on 0,5kg better terms and there is a reversal of draw fortunes in her favour too. Furthermore, she is a three-year-old and Emerald Bay is a four-year-old, so if weight for age is included she is actually 1,5kg better off.
In the seventh over 1400m The Puma has struck as a classy sort and jumps from pole position over an ideal trip with a 1,5kg claimer up. He is returning from a layoff of 121 days though, so the improved 1400m specialist Bold Coast, as well as Bonnie Prince, Al Fahad, Christofle and Full Of Attitude must also be considered.
By David Thiselton
