David Thiselton

The Turffontein Inside meeting today has eight races and there are some opportunities for punters. 

In the third race over 2600m Understated is a rangy type who is improving. He stayed on well last time over 2000m and now goes over a 2600m trip he is proven over so he will be hard to beat from a good draw of two with Luke Ferraris up.

Whole Of The Moon stayed on well last time over 2000m and being by Elusive Fort and a half-sister to a winner over 2400m she looks to be the chief danger. 

In the fourth race over 1450m, I’m Al has his first run for the Paul Peter yard.  He has not run since January but his ability was shown on debut over 1160m when a close fourth to the talented Bartholdi with subsequent Grade 1 winner Battle Force a head further back in second.

I’m Al ran third when stepped to 1400m in his last start and does not have a lot to beat here so could make a winning comeback from a good draw. However, beyond him it is wide open.

Chief Rafeef will likely appreciate the step back down in trip and is well drawn. Right Choice and Signals have shown ability and hail from the top in-form yards of Mike de Kock and Sean Tarry respectively. Fast Draw and Regent’s Park also warrant consideration.

In the fifth race over 1200m, the progressive Royal Wulff is another potential Pick 6 banker. He is drawn in pole and after just getting up over 1450m last time the step down to 1200m should suit as he had previously won by 4,25 lengths over 1160m. His merit rating was raised only four points for his last win so he is probably now roundabout on the mark that he ran to in that penultimate start as he could only be given a maximum eight-point raise for that win. The dangers look to be the course and distance suited Oravar and the well drawn Down To Zero.

In the sixth race over 2000m, the highly regarded Reunion was tried with hold up tactics last time over 1800m and it worked well as he ran on strongly and just failed. It did not pan out perfectly and if he is able to be dropped out over this 2000m trip he will take a power of beating.

Ivalo’s Prince was caught wide in the same race as Reunion last time and not surprisingly faded. However, Muzi Yeni was absent for that run and is now back aboard from a good draw, from where he can run on well in his usual style and he should stay the trip.

In the seventh over 2000m, You Deserve It is knocking on the door and can go one better than her last two starts from a good draw over an ideal trip. Rabia The Rebel is capable and has dropped to an attractive merit rating so could surprise. Last Cheer, Senescence and Fasinada make most appeal of the rest.

In the last over 2000m, Lyrical Dance won well last time over 1800m and could follow up as a progressive three-year-old who enjoyed the step in trip last time and can do so again although beyond her it is wide open.  

Andrew Harrison

Alec Laird has seen opportunity at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today where he saddles two lively contenders in the Gr3 Track and Ball Derby and the Gr2 Track and Ball Oaks.

The races are Derby and Oaks in name only as both races are open to older horses with Pamushana’s Pride and Legitimate the only three-year-olds in the Derby and Jasmine the sole sophomore representative in the Oaks.

That said, Laird looks to have picked the right race for Pamushana’s Pride as the son of former Triple Crown winner Louis The King is rated way better than his older rivals – on paper at least.

The gelding stays well and only found Triple Crown winner Malmoos too strong for him in the SA Derby. Prior to that he had reeled off three straight wins against older opposition. Given that he is well in at the weights with a plum draw he must rate the horse to beat. 

Fellow three-year-old Legitimate ran a cracked in a sprint in his KZN debut after being a close-up second in the Politician Stakes at Kenilworth behind Kommetdieding. His Cape Derby run is possibly best ignored and one can expect a big showing from Dean Kannemeyer’s runner.

Of the older brigade, Silver Host stays the trip well and caught the eye last time out when running out of steam late behind Black Nap in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup. That was his first run back since the end of January and although the stable is off the boil at the moment, that last run should have brough him on nicely. This outing should also bring him on for the likes of the Gr2 Gold Vase and Gr3 Gold Cup later in the season.

Marchingontogether showed signs of returning to form last run and has been dropping steadily in the handicap while Share Holder has been racing in useful company. He does stay the trip and can feature.

Crome Yellow ran a disappointing race in the Lonsdale behind Black Nap but that was also his first run back from a lengthy break and he is likely to come on lengths from that showing.

Laid sends out the best weighted in the mare Chitengo in the Gr2 Track and Ball Oaks. Her last win came three runs back in the Aquanaut Handicap where she had Smoking Hot, scratched today, behind her. She was not able to keep pace with the progressive Puerto Manzano at the business end of her last race over a distance short of her best but she stays well and she rates a strong winning chance.

 Three-year-old Jasmine goes this trip for the first time but has been feature placed. She is lightly raced and if she stays, she could be a big runner given that she is the second best rated filly in the race behind Chitengo.

The Track and Ball Umlazi Pinnacle Stakes is a difficult race with many in with chances. Chantyman is a distance specialist and could get things his own way with a number of quick horses in the field. However, he is drawn towards the inside of the track and horses coming from off the pace have recently found serious traffic as runners shift in towards the inside rail.

Valyrian King his drawn one inside of Chantyman but Paul Matchett’s runner shows exceptional pace so will in all likelihood be in the vanguard inside the first furlong. He doesn’t stop either which could make things difficult for the opposition. A gate inside of Valyrian King is Constable making his KZN debut and he is also quick.

Good Rhythm is always game and goes very well this course and distance. With a 4kg claimer up he must also rate a strong chance. Vernichey is a class filly but does have a big weight. She will have been primed for the SA Fillies Sprint so a ‘flat’ race is a concern. Stable companion Candy Galore has a light weight and was close-up under a big weight last run over course and distance while the one-eyed Traces is no slouch in the galloping stakes.

Trainer Paul Matchett has withdrawn Triple Tiara and Gr1 Woolavington 2000 champion War Of Athena from next month’s Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.

Instead she will take on her own sex in the Gr1 Jonnson Workwear Garden Province Stakes on the same afternoon where she has drawn gate one.

She is likely to be up against dual Fillies Guineas winner Captain’s Ransom who has pulled a wide draw. She will be ridden by Muzi Yeni.

David Thiselton

Turffontein Standside hosts an interesting eight race meeting today and there looks to be opportunities for both exotic and on the nose punters.

The highest rated race on the card is the seventh, a MR 90 handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m and the progressive Lady Amherst can follow up on her last win, which was over this trip down the Vaal straight. That race did not pan out too well from an unfavourable low draw and she raced without cover in the front for the first half of the race and did not settle perfectly. It was thus commendable that the big filly, who has grown into her big frame, found extra to get up. In her previous start over today’s course and distance she appeared to have found a good position from draw six, one out and three back, but then pulled and S’Manga Khumalo had no option but to let her go and she thus rounded the few ahead of her coming up Turffontein’s energy-sapping hill. It was thus commendable she ran all the way to the line to be beaten just 0,40 lengths by Ululate. Three winners, including herself, have come out of that race. She was raised four points for her last win but now has a good draw of three and Khumalo would have learnt from those last two runs. It would be no surprise to see him taking her to the front and attempting to dictate. Querari Ferrari should beat Lady Amherst on a line through Ululate. Lady Amherst received 5kg from Ululate and lost to her by 0,40 lengths. Querari Ferrari gave Ululate 2kg in the Listed Syringa Handicap last time and beat her by 4,65 lengths. However, other collateral form points to Ululate having run below par in her last two outings and Querari Ferrari also has a tough draw to overcome. Sultanah gave Lady Amherst 2.5kg and a 0,40 length beating over this trip on the Inside track last November. There is now not only a reversal in draw fortune that favours Lady Amherst but the latter is also receiving 4kg. However, Sultanah proved how useful she is last time when going down narrowly over this trip on the Vaal Classic track to the progressive Paton’s Tears. She received 2kg from Ululate that day and beat her by 3,25 lengths which puts her ahead of Lady Amherst on that bit of form. However, on direct form between them Lady Amherst is ahead of Sultanah which might point to the Ululate form-line not being consistent. Now You See Me has a fine chance on paper with Lady Amherst as she is 2kg better off with her for a 0,40 length beating. She raced in front that day down the Vaal straight. However, she does not have as much scope as Lady Amherst and is also a touch one-paced so will need to find the front from draw six but might be kept out by Lady Amherst. Now You See Me sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and Chase Maujean knows her well. The topweight Rouge Allure is now seven years old but is still capable and enjoys this trip there days. She was beaten 4,75 lengths by Lady Amherst last time and is only 2.5kg better off. However, she does prefer going around the turn and is drawn in two so can’t be discounted off a mark that is now two points lower than her last win, which was on the Inside course last August. Making A Scene has a shout on paper on the grounds of her last run over this trip where she beat Lady Amherst by a short-head as she faces her on the same terms but in reality is 1kg better off if weight for age improvement is taken into account. However, there is a reversal in draw fortune that favours Lady Amherst. Ideal Angel goes for a hat-trick and as a typically progressive Ideal World four-year-old she is hard to ignore although Warren Kennedy is replaced by Ryan Munger and Kennedy rides the former KZN horse Nirvana Girl, who ran well over this trip first time out the maidens at Hollywoodbets Greyville. However, Nirvana Girl will likely find it tougher on the Highveld and she hasn’t race for five-and-a-half months. Golden Spoon represents the in form Mike de Kock yard and comes off a win over 1450m. However, she had previously been beaten 0,25 lengths over this trip by Ideal Angel and is now 2kg worse off in real terms and 1kg worse off if weight for age improvement is considered. That leaves Sweet And Spicy and Let There Be Light who will have to improve on their recent form and the former is returning from a layoff too. It is an open race but they are selected in the order mentioned.

In the previous race, a Classified Stakes race over 1600m, Encore makes appeal as a possible banker. She won a Classified event cosily last time over this trip and is the joint best weighted here and can follow up against uninspiring opposition. However, she does have a tricky draw of seven and the risk averse can also include Fifth Of July, who reverts to his probable best trip for the first time since his maiden win, and All Aglow, who is the joint best weighted and is distance suited and well drawn.    

 Andrew Harrison

The hunger for turf racing sees a ten-race programme at Hollywoodbets Scottsville tomorrow and punters are faces with competitive handicaps with mostly maximum fields.

This is a sure recipe for some upset results but the Tony Rivalland-trained Rain Wear could provide some protection in the exotics where she lines up in the fifth. She has been runner-up in her last three in what stacks up to be a fairly modest maiden field she should be able to go one better.

The balance of the card will keep all guessing.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Namaqua Dove has improved with every start and he gets a very much in form rider aboard that could make all the difference. Zuberi is drawn on the opposite side of the course when runner-up to the strongly fancied Mr Master Starter last time out but he has taken time to shed his maiden.

The sixth is a tough handicap but although Flying First Class was a narrow winner first up for her new stable she can come on from that effort and from a good draw can follow up. Top Me Up Holly took on stronger last run when recording back-to-back wins and has yet to miss a place so should be right there again. Rise has gone close at her last two and is in good form while Panna has her first run for a new stable. She took on stronger last run and is one to watch.

The seventh is another difficult handicap over ground but the mare Mrs Hotline looked a winner before Saint Phillip collared her close home last time out. She stays well and from a good draw can go close again. Dream Destiny has shown his best over course and distance and although he jumps from a tricky draw, he has a top ride aboard. Before Noon has his third run after a break and caught the eye last run and over his optimum trip. 

The final leg of the first jackpot could rest between Kapen Pride who has come on nicely at recent starts and has been taking on stronger. He does switch to the turf but has the best of the draw. Mr Gonzales is well regarded by his stable but not the easiest. He showed something like his best form last run and if he can get it together, he will be a threat.

Scottsville is a horse’s for course and Blaze Of Silk is just that. He is at his best over course and distance and was narrowly beaten at his last two. Should he not run up to expectations then there will be a host of challengers. Princekresh could be a threat as he was well supported in the betting last run over course and distance when back on the turf. The filly Wizz of Odds has taken time to come down in the handicap but goes well this course and distance while King’s Road has smart form on the poly and can follow up on his last win if he takes to the turf. Valiente is quick and goes well this trip and is a must include in all calculations.