The Turffontein Inside track stages a nine race meeting tomorrow which should produce rewards for those who do their homework.
The ninth race, a Graduation Plate for fillies and mares over 1 450m, is the most fascinating contest of the meeting as it sees some good horses turning out.
Wylie Wench is way out at the weights on official merit ratings but has not had a chance to prove herself yet.
She caught the eye when winning her maiden over this course and distance as she was caught wide in the running, yet still managed to move into the lead effortlessly. She then wandered around, so clearly does not yet know what it is all about, but she surged when given a backhander to win cosily. She has considerable scope for improvement and might upset Rio’s Winter, who comes off two excellent runs in the Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic.
This might be a touch sharp and does come quite soon after those tough races. Wisteria Walk has a lot of talent and this is her probable optimum distance but this is her first run back from Cape Town.
Kayla’s Champ has ability and is capable of finishing strongly. Golden Belle also warrants respect.
In the first race over 1 450m Forever Light opened up the biggest outsider in this race but he faced a relatively strong field on debut and was not disgraced when staying on for a 9,75 length seventh to the fair sort Karnallie. He finished just a length behind The Contractor in that race but was finishing stronger, so the World Sports Betting opening odds of 33-10 for The Contractor and 28-1 for Forever Light do not make any sense at all.
Forever Light should be improving all the time being by Duke Of Marmalade.
He is out of the Jallad mare Murmering Sky, who won twice as a two-year-old from 1 200m to 1 450m and later finished second in the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1 600m, so he should relish the step up in trip and has a fair draw. The gelding will be ridden by leading apprentice Dennis Schwarz. Stablemate Champingatthebit was slowly away and outpaced on debut over 1160m but was staying on at the finish. He has a plum draw here and could earn. Takagari was narrowly beaten by The Contractor when making his debut over this course and distance. However, he was dropped out from the widest draw of all and made up a lot of ground from way back so he could reverse the form.
The Contractor and The Eighth Lord both come out of that race and can earn here.
The second race over 1 450m is tricky. Swiss Bank faced a strong field on debut over 1 160m and beat the like of Rabbedoe, who went to be feature race placed.
Powder Puff moved up last time over course and distance but appeared to not try very hard and was reported not striding out.
The blinkers now come on and this could wake her up so she is tipped to reverse form with Mynage and With Our Blessing. Mynage does look to have scope so should be improving and it will be no surprise to see her win despite having to jump from a tough draw.
In the third race over 1 450m Dice The Bullet looks to have plenty of scope and was moving up well last time over this course and distance when she was put off by the sudden outward shift of Stunning. She could reverse the form here from another good draw.
Stunning was bumped at the start in that race and was later carried out.
She finished just a length behind the promising sort Wylie Wench, although the latter didn’t have the run of the race and still won comfortably.
She has a fair draw and Strydom stays aboard.
Hot Gossip went for home too soon in first time blinkers last time over this course and distance and was overtaken and beaten six lengths by the promising Viper Jet. With a more conservative ride she could be in the shake up from a fair draw.
Psycho King has a good form chance in the next over 1 600m having been beaten just a length by Nebraas last time over 1 800m. The latter went on to finish second in the Listed Derby Trial over 2 000m.
Psycho King should be bothered by the step down in trip as he hit the front early last time and was caught late.
Crank It Up went close over 2 000m in his penultimate start and then after gelding went close over 1 400m.
He now gets blinkers on over a step up in trip he will appreciate and should be a big runner from a plum draw. Waltzing Al can place here on form.
In the fifth over 1 600m the much touted Marshall sneaks into the handicap carrying the minimum weight and could make a bold bid, although he remains disappointing considering his sparkling homework. This could well be his ideal trip.
Indy Go was beaten 1,45 lengths by Marshall the last time they met over this trip and is now half-a-kilogram worse off. He is officially 1,5kg under sufferance but has the ability to still be right there.
The talented Dan The Lad easily win over 1 450m here last time and enjoys this course but this trip stretches him a touch. However, he is drawn well and at the age of six might start enjoying this trip so has a chance.
In the sixth race over 2 000m Marshall Foch is in fine form and although given a seven point raise for his comfortable win over 1 800m in yielding going last time Christopher Robin came out of a well beaten position in that race to win the Listed Derby Trial.
Fact is just three points higher for his good win over this trip last time and has a plum draw.
The long-striding Glider Pilot would probably prefer the Standside track but enjoys this distance and has a shout.
In the seventh race over 2 000m Gentleman’s Wager has always struck as a progressive sort and he has a fine turn of foot. He is versatile and will enjoy this trip. Major Return will have a chance if breaking well as he is a touch one-paced but is effective from the front or a handy position.
Zeal And Zest ran well behind Marshall Foch last time considering he lost three lengths and he has won a win and a second in two starts over this course and distance.
In the eighth over 1 000m Waimea showed good pace when winning his maiden over 1200m in second time blinkers. He now has pole position over 1 000m and runs off a reasonable opening mark of 76. Undisclosed has a similar profile, having won his maiden over 1 200m by 2,50 lengths when showing pace and he runs off a 77 merit rating from a fair draw so there won’t be much in it.
However, they might be split by Pearl Of Siberia who returns to his favourite course and distance.
• Due to the Coronavirus outbreak and in line with Government regulations, all race meetings around the country will take place behind closed doors until further notice.
The general public will not be allowed access but all races will be shown live on Tellytrack, DSTV channel 239.
• To take a bet go to TABgold.co.za
By David Thiselton
