David Thiselton

There are plenty of decent horses running in the nine-race meeting at Turffontein Standside today.

The highest rated race is the fifth, a MR 104 Handicap over 1600m. Sean Tarry has three of the six runners and the progressive Ndlamu could follow up on his fluent win last time when stepped up to this trip for the first time. Rock The Globe is off a competitive mark at the moment so might be the chief threat and the 1400m specialist Putontheredlight has to be respected from pole position.

The eighth is a fillies and mares MR 93 handicap over 1400m and the Alec Laird-trained Spice Market will try and score a quick double over course and distance. This front-running Flower Alley filly was run out of it in her penultimate start over 1450m but the gelding that beat her by two lengths, The Contractor, has gone on to win his next two starts.

Last time against her own gender in a Pinnacle Stakes event she couldn’t be caught and romped in by 3,75 lengths under 4kg claimer Mfanelo Zuma. The latter is aboard again and she is not going to be easy to catch. Lee Express ran on well to win over 1400m last time and this filly is lightly raced so the best has probably not been seen of her yet. She has a chance from pole position carrying just 52.5kg.

Chloris chased her home last time to finish third, beaten just 1,50 lengths, and has her third run after a layoff so can go close. The wide draw should not bother her as she came from last in the aforementioned race. The topweight All Of Me is a decent ten-time winner and stays this trip but does have to deal with a seven-point raise for her recent win over 1200m and she has to lug 63.5kg so it will be tough despite a good draw of three. Ululate disappointed last time in a Listed race over 1600m but she was a bit keen early when being asked to overcome a wide draw and will be a threat here from a fair draw. 

The seventh race is a MR 90 handicap over 2000m and the admirable seven-year-old Zeal And Zest could be the one to side with. He is drawn in pole which will suit him ideally as he enjoys leading and his last start over this trip, when finishing just half-a-length behind Vodacom Durban July contender Johnny Hero, reads well. Trend Master was stepped up to a middle distance for the first time in over a year last time and won by a quarter of a length from Reunion, who romped home by 5,30 lengths next time out.

Three other winners also came out of Trend Master’s race so he has a fine chance here despite having been raised five points. Irish Wonder Girl proved her liking for this trip last time when taking off late to get up and she is just three points higher and has a good draw. Category Four is capable of running on if ridden well i.e. ensuring he is covered even if that means dropping him out to the back.

Topweight Tyrus Express is capable of winning a race like this too but on collateral form looks to have a hard task with Trend Master.  

The sixth is an interesting Progress Plate over 1600m and the talented Nartjie could bounce back. He is drawn three under Luke Ferraris and his record over this trip reads an easy win, albeit in the maidens, and a narrow second to Tree Tumbo. He should be cherry-ripe and the first-time cheekpieces might help over this shorter trip too. Sound of Summer has only had three starts for two wins and is on the up so might be the chief threat from draw two. Gee For Go won the Grade 3 Fillies Mile over this course and distance so has obvious ability. However, she was beaten 1,80 lengths by Nartjie last time they met over this trip and is only half-a-kilogram better off and she has a wide draw too. Ecstatic Green showed a good turn of foot when proving she stays 1450m a couple of runs ago but she has to now prove she stays this trip. Promiseofamaster is the joint best weighted but has issues and this is the second time he returns from a long layoff, this time of over a year.   

In the first race Mufasa looks talented and could follow up on his easy debut win.

Paul Peter could then make it a double in the second with Bathing Beauty who caught the eye in her winning debut in March, although Warren Kennedy is interestingly aboard Freed From Desire.