Turffontein Saturday (inside track) Race Previews by David Thiselton

Race 1:

Preview: CIDADA by Galileo has her third career start over a step up in trip she will relish and she could now be ready to show the promise her pedigree suggests she should have. VOGUE’S WOOD had some fair Cape Town form and should have come on from his last run which followed a layoff of over a year. CAITLIN’S ANSWER is knocking on the door over this trip and doesn’t face an inspiring field. (David Thiselton 4-1-2)

Race 2:

Preview: JUXTAPOSE is full of class and was flying late over 1450m last time in her seasonal reappearance, so is the one to beat from pole position over a step up in trip she will appreciate. QUERARI FALCON is 3,5kg under sufferance with Juxtapose on official merit ratings, but won well over course and distance last time and is progressive. NEGROAMARA is 3kg better off with Querari Falcon for a 2,75 length beating so there shouldn’t be much in it. (David Thiselton 1-4-5)

Race 3:

Preview: CAPTAINOFMYHEART has been knocking on the door off this merit rating and loves this course and distance so can go close from a good draw. MORPHEUS is only three points higher than his last win and is drawn well with a 1,5kg claimer up. MR MULLINER won the last time he tried this course and distance, albeit off a six point lower mark, and has a fair draw. (David Thiselton 11-1-3)

Race 4:

Preview: RACETHEGREENLIGHT has gone close in both starts and should be improving being by Gimmethegreenlight. He was doing good work late last time over 1000m and can overcome a wide draw here with Marcus up. STEAL A MARCH was also making inroads in that 1000m event to finish just a length behind Racethegreenlight. He now has a better draw than the latter. UNREHEARSED is by New Appproach out of a Danehill mare who has produced a five-time winning sprinter by Hussonet. (David Thiselton 9-4-10)

Race 5:

Preview: WRECKING BALL looks a fair sort in the making and can prove it here with a first-time tongue tie on. EASY GAME is topweight but is drawn in pole over course and distance with Delpech up and she has dropped to a competitive merit rating. ANNOUNCING RAIN had a tough draw to overcome on Grand Heritage day and can do better here from a good draw. SEATTLE LADY won comfortably last time over 1200m and represents a very much in form yard. At the weights she looks held by Easy Game and Announcing Rain on their meeting over 1000m down the Turffontein straight, but on the other hand her low draw might not have been favourable that day so she can’t be ignored. BONNIE DAWN disappointed on Grand Heritage day, but the form of her first two career starts, both victories over 1000m, is very good. PERFUMED LADY is one point lower after running a fair race over course and distance last time. (David Thiselton 4-1-8)

Race 6:

Preview: DAME ELEANOR won well on debut over 1200m from a tough draw at Scottsville and has a good draw here over a step up in trip she will relish. SWEET LADY JADE is going the right way and is well drawn over a suitable trip. INTRIGUING LADY has disappointed twice when stepped up to 1400m, but on pedigree she should enjoy it, so is worth another chance.  (David Thiselton 3-5-2)

Race 7:

Preview: AL FAHAD beat a good sort on debut over 1200m and should appreciate the step up in trip. BOLD VIKING, who won well on debut over 1200m, has a light weight to carry over a step up in trip he will appreciate and can do better than last time when slow away and casting a shoe. OOMPH hasn’t displayed his best since leaving PE, but should come on from his decent last run and this is also his second run after gelding. (David Thiselton 2-5-1)

Race 8:

Preview: LUNAR APPROACH is back to himself after a necessary rest and in his third run back is the one to beat off an attractive merit rating, a good draw and the blinkers on. MOOFEED ran well over course and distance two runs ago from a similar low draw and a repeat should see him involved. DEPUTY JUD should run well fresh over a trip too sharp from a good draw as he is handy type who can gallop on resolutely. JANOOBI has class and will appreciate the step up in trip, so is interesting in his reappearance, but on the downside he is 1,5kg under sufferance on official merit ratings. MASTER N’COMMANDER could do well from a good draw over a trip he has won over, although it is his second run after an eight month layoff. (David Thiselton 8-5-4)

Race 9:

Preview: TRICIA DUPONT disappointed last Saturday over 1800m when finding no finish. However, she is now one point lower than her last winning mark and her best performances recently have come over this trip and beyond. COOL FANTASY ran an improved race last time out over course and distance when drawn well for a change. She is now drawn in pole and the same jockey is up. FLIRTING AROUND, SEAL MY FATE, BRIGHT BRONTE, CRANBERRY CRUSH and CONSEQUENTIALLY also have to be considered in an open race. (David Thiselton 3-10-4)

Race 10

Preview: BLUE DIAMOND ROAD is drawn in pole and proved his suitability to this trip last time. SINGAPORE SLING doesn’t face an easy task carrying topweight against older horses in just his second career start, but he looks classy and faces an uninspiring field.  KING GERARD has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight and is drawn well over a trip he can handle. (David Thiselton 2-1-12)