David Thiselton

TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE hosts the Listed WSB Wolf Power 1600 today, a tricky handicap event on what is a tricky meeting overall.

Youcanthurrylove finished third in the Grade 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile over course and distance and is only two points higher in the merit ratings so looks to be the one to beat from a fair draw of six. Last time out the Summer Cup trip might have stretched him so he could well appreciate dropping back to this distance.  

Pack Leader has impressed in both of his Highveld starts over this trip. He has a wide draw but S’Manga Khumalo will know him well by now and always gets the best out of him. 

Cornish Pomodoro was beaten 2,80 lengths by Youcanthurrylove in the Charity Mile but nothing panned out well for him that day and he is now 3.5kg better off. He improved immediately after gelding and has likely not shown his full potential yet, so should be a big runner from a good draw under national log leading jockey Lyle Hewitson.

Green Haze is one point lower than his last winning mark which came in the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m in March last year. He comes off a good third in the Grade 3 London News Handicap over 1800m where he beat Divine Odyssey by five lengths. He enjoys this trip too and has a plum draw of two so would not be a surprise winner.     

Golden Pheasant is a big good-looking horse who is in a rich vein of form. He has won his last two attempts at this trip but does have to overcome a five-point raise for his last win over 1400m. He does have a plum draw of three though and Muzi Yeni gets on well with him. 

Whorly Whorly has been a revelation since stepping up in trip to between 1400m and 1475m. He now tries a further step up in trip and if he takes to it he should be right there. However, he does have a tricky draw of nine.  

Divine Odyssey is back to the 114 mark of his last win which was in the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m. He would prefer the latter trip but is effective over this trip and has a fair draw.

Approach Control has proved capable of running off a 108 mark which remained static for over a year but he has now been dropped two points at last and this could see him involved in the shake up, although he has a tricky draw.

Full Mast proved he stays further than a mile last time when winning over 1800m. This is a stronger field though and he has to overcome a two-point raise. He finished more than ten lengths behind Whorly Whorly in the Grande heritage over 1475m and was more than nine lengths behind Golden Pheasant.

Captain Of Tortuga sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight He looks held by Full Mast and Whorly Whorly on 1800m and 1400m form. He enjoys this course and distance but has a tough draw.

D’Arrivee is 2,5kg under sufferance but has struck as one who has not lived up to his potential and he is drawn in pole, so he can’t be written off in this open contest.

In the other feature on the day, the Non-Black Type WSB Allez France Stakes the Zimbabwean Derby winner Lily Blue goes over the 2400m distance of the latter race for the first time since arriving in South Africa. She has class and on a difficult day is made a banker in the Pick 6 but only because there has to be a banker somewhere on such a competitive card. In the Jackpot it is advised that Smoking Hot and Pomander are also included.