DAVID THISELTON

TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE hosts a meeting today which features four stakes races and this will whet the appetite ahead of the WSB SA Classic and Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic meeting next Saturday.

The first of the four features is the Listed Ruffian Stakes over 1000m and the topweight Naarah is the one to beat despite having to give 2kg to the one-time winners and 5kg to maiden Veneta. She has showed fine pace to win both of her starts. However, the list of precocious youngsters who win their first two starts well before failing at the first feature race hurdle is a long one as two-year-olds mature at different rates and the others can suddenly catch up. Bella Chica, for example, looks to have some scope and has Piere Strydom aboard so could be a threat. She is only 2kg better off with Naarah for a four length beating but last time the apprentice jockey might well have sat for too along as Bella Chica was doing good work late. Under Your Spell won easily on debut and also looks to have some scope. Heaven’s Girl improved third time out to win from start to finish over 1200m and is 2kg better off with Naarah for a 2,75 length beating over 800m. Supreme Quest stayed on well to win last time so is also not out of it. Veneta lost her race at the start on debut over 800m but seemed to have a fair stride and receiving weight from the rest can’t be ignored.

The next race, the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m, is just as open. Social Image improved second time out and quickened well off her strong pace so is the one to beat with her 2.5kg female allowance. Captain’s Run was just half-a-length off Naarah over 800m on debut and followed with a good win. He showed good pace in the latter race and quickened well to repel the challenger Heaven’s Girl. Hope Is Power did not record a great time on debut but won easing up and looks to have scope for improvement. Arctic Skyline was a bit green when finishing second last time out so could still improve. The first-timer Sheela is by the miler to middle distance Group 1 winner The United States (Galileo) out of the Listed-placed Trippi sprinter Trip To India. 

In the Listed Bauhinia Handicap Sweet Future is the selection. This long-striding daughter of Futura has plenty of scope and has good cruising speed. From a nice high draw she can mow down the field late. Tropic Sun broke through the stalls last week before a 1200m event and so not surprisingly faded late after showing her usual good pace. She is now over a fast 1000m so her pace will make her a dangerous contender. The small four-year-old Risk Taker might get a tow from the big horse Sweet Future towards the outside and she has a blistering turn of foot so she could be a danger too. Rapid Fire is 7.5kg better off with Anna Capri for a mere 0,75 length beating so is also in it. Anna Capri can’t be ignored as she is capable of blitzing any field. Last time she was tardily away so did not lead and yet still won. If she gets a good break this time she could follow up despite it now being a handicap which makes her task a lot tougher than last time. 

In the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap the lightweight Destinys Game is progressive and if she starts on terms can mow the field down in the straight. Wisteria Walk has blossomed and has been impressive in her two prep runs over 1400m and 1500m. Rio’s Winter has plenty of class and is distance suited and competitively merit rated. Magic School is classy and capable of carrying topweight from a good draw and will want to be more handy than last time. Mount Laurel is course and distance suited and well drawn. Wylie Wench and Seehaam are both officially under sufferance but look to have the ability to go close.