David Thiselton

PUNTERS were thrown a curve ball on Saturday when it appeared the going down the straight at the Summer Cup meeting appeared to be the opposite to what it normally is so it is tough to predict what will happen in the straight course races in tomorrow’s Standside meeting.

The high draws are usually favourable down the straight, especially when there has been rain, but on Saturday those drawn high appeared to be battling to go through with their efforts and low drawn horses if anything were at an advantage instead of their normal disadvantage.

Where the going will be today is of importance considering the last leg of the Pick 6 is over 1000m.

This is a Classified Stakes race so it is based on nett merit rated bands and females also receive a 1,5kg allowance. 

May Queen’s 74 merit rating is in the top band from 72 to 75 who are allotted 62kg, but the allowance means she carries 60.5kg. She won her maiden over this trip and followed up by winning over this course and distance by 0,20 lengths off a 70 merit rating. She is now four points higher but in that last win she beat Mind Reader by 0,80 lengths when receiving 2kg and the latter then came out and beat Touch Of Fate by 0,25 lengths when giving the latter 2.5kg. As May Queen only has to give Touch Of Fate half-a-kilogram tomorrow she should beat him on paper. She looks to be a solid progressive filly who possesses plenty of natural speed although the best scenario for her s a strong pace as she is usually not quickly away and she likes to take a sit while striding out. She should enjoy this course and distance then as it is a fast track so the leaders usually go at a strong clip.

Touch Of Fate is the second selection based on his suitability to the minimum trip and he is a progressive sprinter. In his penultimate start nothing went his way from the widest draw of all over 1000m at Turffontein Inside and the rider eventually did not persevere. The 5,50 length eighth did not tell the full story so he was allowed to go off at 12/1 odds last week over 1000m at the Vaal and he was just touched off by 0,25 lengths by Mind Reader. He has been given a two point raise for that run but as he finished second and the weights were already out he will run off his old mark so is effectively 1kg well in. The question is whether his low draw of two will be favourable as it was on Saturday, or will it revert to being unfavourable. The other negative is that the in-form Muzi Yeni, who rode him in his last start, will not be aboard but instead rides Winter’s Power. The latter finished a four length seventh in his first start out of the maidens in a 1000m handicap when well drawn on Turffontein Inside and he runs off the same mark again here. He does not have as good a chance as Touch Of Fate.

Three-year-old Gang Leader got a bad start over this course and distance last time, losing two lengths, and still finished just a length back. With Kennedy now aboard he has a shout as an improving sort whose nett merit rating of 71 falls at top of one of the bands. His connections will be going with the high draws which are favourable as he in barrier eleven out of the 15 runners. Track And Ball make him second favourite at 13-2.

Kwite A Trip, whose 75 nett merit rating puts him at the top of the topweight band, is a long-striding sort who has plenty of scope for improvement and he possesses plenty of speed so he is a worthy favourite. He finished just 1,55 lengths behind the decent Thumbs Up last time over 1100m when receiving 2.5kg plus a further 2.5kg claim and considering he made a breathing noise the drop down to 1000m should suit.

Afriel is the third favourite at 7/1 and is a most interesting runner considering he lost three lengths last time but was beaten only half-a-length. He was half-a-length ahead of Gang Leader and faces him on 1kg worse terms this time if the apprentice claims from last time are ignored, although that weight swing merely represents the weight for age difference between November and December, Afriel being a four-year-old and Gang Leader a three-year-old. 

Bridge Of Spies was also in the mix in that race and faces Afriel on the same terms, if apprentice claims are ignored, having been beaten by the slow starting latter by 0,20 lengths.

Florence will have a chance if producing her best as she is 1,5kg better off with May Queen for a neck beating over this trip, although if apprentice Syster’s claim, which has changed from 2.5kg to 1.5kg, is taken into account she is only half-a-kilogram better off. She is not the most consistent though.

Big City Girl is an interesting runner as she ran on well to score in her maiden over this trip, but this does look stronger. 

Soul Connection was disappointing last time when beaten 2,25 lengths by Gang Leader and 2,75 lengths by Afriel but he is capable and could bounce back. Ramsay won his maiden in his 8th start on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly so doesn’t make much appeal. 

Alex The Great beat Touch Of F three runs ago but was well beaten by him last time and if apprentice claims are ignored is now only 1.5kg better off for a 4,50 length beating, although he is always capable of popping up. 

Karin B is another who won her maiden on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly and it was in her 18th start, although officially she is the best weighted runner. 

Duet’s four lengths fourth to Written In Stone last time in his first stat on the Highveld under similar conditions was a fine effort although and he could earn with a repeat despite officially being 3kg under sufferance with Karin B if apprentice claims are ignored. 

Roksolana is raced wide last time so could do better and is another who can’t be ignored for a place as she finished only 1,50 lengths behind May Queen three runs ago over this trip.