David Thiselton
TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE has a nine race meeting today and it provides a mixed bag of good horses and competitive racing.
The highest class race is a MR95 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m and the Candice Dawson-trained Sultanah will be an interesting runner from a fair draw of four. She is by Vercingetorix out of a Galileo mare who won over 2000m so it is not surprising she was stepped up to 1600m as early as her second career start. However, Vercingetorix has been shown to put plenty of speed into his progeny, unlike his superstar sire Silvano, so it is interesting to see Sultanah dropped in trip to 1400m as she has been seen to take a fairly strong hold over 1600m. Querari Ferrari is a big galloping type who will love the long straight but she is going to have a problem slotting in from draw eleven. Spice Market had to do too much too early last time. She is capable of galloping a field into the ground if getting a comfortable lead and she might get that here although the pole position drawn Golden Spoon did lead when winning her penultimate start over 1450m. Cordillera has two wins and four places in eight starts over this course and distance and has to be included despite a tricky draw of nine. Rouge Allure came from right near the back three runs ago when mowing them down over 1600m and she beat Sultanah by 6,50 lengths there so the latter will need to prove she wants this trip. Therefore, Rouge Allure has to be included as she is effective over this trip too, although she is four point higher in the merit ratings. Louis Gem also has to overcome a four point raise for her course and distance win last time. She jumps from exactly the same draw with the same 1,5kg claimer up and the form has been franked by the fifth-placed Ululate, who won next time out. Golden Spoon can also be considered with Yeni up.
The third race, a MR 93 Handicap over 1160m, sees the promising Tuscan Winter making his fourth racecourse appearance and he is the one to beat having only just failed to fetch the equally promising Full Velocity last time over 1200m. He does have a potentially tricky low draw but Gavin Lerena will be able to afford to drop him out as he can turn it on. However, the hard-knocking Bowie, whose only ever win was over 1000m, has to be included dropped back to sprints. The fit again and back-in-form Portico also has a shout.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 Sea Virescent is tried in blinkers for the first time and he is the one to beat considering he is highly regarded and only rated 82. However, beyond him it is wide open so punters will have to decide whether he is bankered or whether they go wide.
The second leg should be fought out by Mariposa and Lucky Shamrock. The former overtook the latter late last time over 1800m so is given the nod.
Sekhmet is a potential banker in the sixth race from a good draw having been caught late over 1450m last time. Me Time had no luck on Tuesday and from pole position here could be a threat, whilst Big City Girl is proving consistent and versatile so can also be considered.
In the eighth race Dance Lesson was running on late over 1200m last time for second and will relish the step up to 1400m. Chloris and Vertigo Again also make appeal.
In the last race over 1600m Leading Lad is the form choice but returns from a six month layoff, so more must be included and Eskimo Pie, Fifth Of July, Attentive and Dawn Of A New Era make most appeal of the rest.
