Turffontein Saturday Tips and Race Previews by David Thiselton

Race 1
Preview: POP ICON (8) has good pace and has a fair draw over an ideal trip. ETCHED IN BLUE (6) can go close if improving a bit on his last start, which was over 1400m, and being by Oratorio he should be improving. INSIDE POLITICS (1) has a form chance here. (David Thiselton 8-6-1)

Race 2
Preview: INITIATOR (8) made a fine debut and can mow them down from off the pace from a similar draw over the same course and distance. BEFORE THE DAWN (3) has a fair draw and on the form of her first three races will go close. KYRU (9) is by Wylie Hall out of a three-time winning full sister to Grade 1 winners Solo Traveller and Redberry Lane. (David Thiselton 8-3-9)

Race 3
Preview: MACHALI (6) made a fair debut over 1200m and over this more suitable trip and receiving 3kg from the winners she can go close. RISK TAKER (2) is by Frankel and caught the eye when winning second time out over the too sharp 1200m. CARRY ME CARRIE (4) has shown some ability and can earn over a suitable trip. (David Thiselton 6-2-4) 

Race 4
Preview: PERFECTLY PUTT (8) finished strongly on debut over 1450m and has a similarly wide draw from a trip which should suit. JOHNNY HERO (2) ran quite well against a good two-year-old last time over 1400m and is drawn in pole over a step up in trip which should suit although as a winner he does have to give 3kg to Perfectly Putt. ARAPAHO (1) has also faced good sorts without being disgraced and being by Elusive Fort should enjoy the step up in trip. (David Thiselton 8-2-1)      

Race 5
Preview: AMERICAN INDIAN (3) has run two cracking races in his first two starts for this yard and is well drawn over a suitable trip, although he does have to overcome a four point raise for his last win. JET START (2) is a talented filly and has her first run for an in form yard from pole position over a suitable trip. GIFT FOR THE GAP (4) struck as one with plenty of scope from day one and this trip should suit, although he is four points higher for his last win. (David Thiselton 3-2-4) 

Race 6
Preview: PRINCE JORDAN (2) bounced back to his best last time and although given the maximum eight point raise he can follow up as he is also suited to this trip and is well drawn in an uninspiring field. MASTER BOULDER (6) is capable of popping up at any time and he is only two points higher than his last win and running over a course and distance he has a win and a second in two starts. CHAINSAW (5) has a wide draw but is distance suited and in good form and Hewitson is an eyecatching booking. (David Thiselton 2-6-5) 

Race 7
Preview: GIMMETHENIGHT (5) ran well over this trip last time and is drawn in pole. LAKE KINNERET (1) is an honest sort and he will appreciate the drop back to this trip. GIMME HOPE JOHANNA (3) has a form chance over an ideal trip, although it is never easy against the boys. (David Thiselton 5-1-3)   

Race 8
Preview: MIGHTY STORM (4) is well drawn and on best form could earn here. DOGLIOTTI (3) showed some ability in his last start and now has his first run as a gelding so the booking of Gavin Lerena is interesting. AFRICAN ADVENTURE (6) produced the fastest 400m to  finish time on debut over course and distance but he has another wide draw so will likely have to come from near last again. BLANCO (1) has been a disappointing type but he could earn in this field. CROSS FROM GOA (7) will improve over this trip. (David Thiselton 4-3-6-1-7) 

Race 9
Preview: PRINCESS PENELOPE (1) is by Silvano out of the multiple Grade 1 winner Princess Victoria and on pedigree she should enjoy this trip and should be improving. FOREVER FLAME (9) is a R320,000 two-year-old filly by Mambo In Seattle and she is a half-sister to the promising three-time winner Saragon. THE JOCELYN TREE (2) can place if repeating her last run over 1600m. (David Thiselton 1-9-2)

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Kenilworth Saturday Tips and Race Previews by Warren Lenferna

Race 1
Preview: BAYBERRY (2) caught the eye on debut and should relish the extra distance. If he is not in need of one more run to strengthen even further, then he could be a hard horse to beat – one cannot help get the feel that he has ability. IT’S COMPLEX (6) is another that caught the eye on debut and can improve to get even closer now – big runner. SEVENTH EXPRESS (9) has a place chance. (Warren Lenferna 2-6-9)

Race 2
Preview: YORKTOWN (12) ran a fair race on debut and has tons of scope to improve. He gets the services of visiting rider Anton Marcus. He looks hard to beat. BENICARLO (1) ran very well on debut and looks to be talented – he should go close if not still a bit green. TWILIGHT ZONE (11) is nicely bred and could go close to making a winning debut. The trainer and jockey combination do well together – respect. (Warren Lenferna 12-1-11)

Race 3
Preview: LUMIERE (5) won at only the second time of asking and won very well. She looks to have scope and a bright future – follow. VICTORIA TOWER (8) is taking on winners but should run right there based on her good last run – include in most bets. KATHLEEN (4) surprised last time judging by her odds that day, she could place here and might well have more to offer. (Warren Lenferna 5-8-4)

Race 4
Preview: DESTRUCTION BOY (2) looks ready to go one better and is the first choice. The two year olds STOPALLTHECLOCKS (9) and VERATRUM (11) look to have a lot more to offer and should be right there at the finish fighting out the places and in fact, if one of them had to win, it would be no shock at all! (Warren Lenferna 2-9-11)

Race 5
Preview: BOLD ASSASSIN (1) has to carry top weight but has been winning well and has a very big chance of reeling off the hat trick and is the firm first choice. THE SILVA FOX (2) is always there and thereabouts and he deserves to win his next race – he has strong each way claims as always and TROOP THE COLOUR (6) has a place chance. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-6)

Race 6
Preview: PLATINUM CLASS (1) is in tremendous form and winning form at that! She has class and won the feature last time by an easy length – she looks tough to beat today and is the confident first choice. PEARL JAM (5) is holding her form and can never be ignored – she has a big chance and is the exacta choice and LIBRA (3) is way better than her last effort and is a must for most bets. (Warren Lenferna 1-5-3)

Race 7
Preview: RUN FOX RUN (5) has run four times and won four times – need we say much more? She thrashed the opposition in a feature last time and is the selected banker on today’s card. DYNAMIC DIANA (1) has been beaten by the first choice before – she is classy and can never be ignored – she has a chance but will have to go some to beat the unbeaten filly. NASTERGAL (8) should finish in the money. (Warren Lenferna 5-1-8)

Race 8
Preview: LIP SERVICE (4) ran a good race last time finishing second and can go one better. OVER AGAIN (5) also finished second last time but at much bigger odds – she will have a bright chance again if she repeats that effort – respect as could be the value in the race. ATHALIA (6) could be anything and might well be worth including. (Warren Lenferna 4-5-6)

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The Turffontein Inside track stages a nine race meeting on Saturday and playing the exotics looks the way to approach it.

In the first leg of the PA Machali will dwarf the likely favourite Risk Taker here and also has the advantage of a slightly better draw and a 3kg lighter weight. She caught the eye on debut staying on well over 1200m and should relish the step up in trip. Gavin Lerena significantly stays aboard. Risk Taker was outpaced for much of the way over 1200m on debut before taking off in the final 200m and getting up. She should relish the step up to this 1600m trip and although she is not the biggest of fillies and has a wide draw she does not face a strong field here. Those two should fight it out.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1450m Perfectly Putt was dropped out from a wide draw over this trip on debut and made up good ground in the straight. He gets 3kg from the winners but will likely have to run on again from behind as he is widely drawn again. One-time winner Johnny Hero was not disgraced against stronger last time and if settling from pole position should enjoy this trip. Arapaho, also a one-time winner, has been facing stronger and was staying on over 1100m last time. He is by Elusive Fort so should enjoy the trip although he has made a breathing noise before. 

In the first leg of the Jackpot American Indian is doing well for the Pettigrew yard and although he has to overcome a four point merit rated raise he could follow up on his last win, which was over this trip on the Greyville poly. Jet Start is talented and is interesting over a suitable trip in her first start for the flying Paul Peter yard. Gift For The Gap has always struck as one with plenty of scope and this trip should suit.

In the sixth race Prince Jordan showed what he is capable over 1600m last time and although having to overcome a maximum eight point raise he looks to have turned the corner and this 1200m trip is equally suitable. Master Boulder enjoys this course and distance and looks the main danger.

In the seventh over 1450m Gimmethenight finished just two lengths behind the decent Running Brave over 1400m last time when receiving just 2kg and is drawn in pole, so is the one to beat. Lake Kinneret should enjoy the step down in trip but has a tricky draw. The filly Gimme Hope Johanna has a form chance here over her favourite course and distance from a good draw. 

In the eighth race over 1450m Mighty Storm has shown some ability and is drawn well over a suitable 1450m trip so is the selection in an uninspiring field. Dogliotti doesn’t have much form but ran a fair race last time over 1600m and now in his first run after gelding has a good draw and Gavin Lerena is up. African Adventure was the fastest from the 400m to the finish on debut and can be involved if closer to the pace this time, but he has another wide draw to overcome. Blanco has been disappointing but has a chance here. Cross From Goa can also be included.

In the last the well bred Princess Penelope should be improving and gets a good opportunity. The Jocelyn Tree and the first-timer Forever Flame could be the dangers. 

By David Thiselton

It might sound sacrilege to say so but the unbeaten Run Fox Run could be worth opposing in the Champagne Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Brett Crawford warned earlier in the week that he would not risk the rising star if yesterday’s rain turns the ground soft but, even if it is not enough to keep her away, she could be vulnerable – and at yesterday’s 4-10 it makes sense to look elsewhere.

Lesedi La Rona may not be the most obvious on adjusted merit ratings – she comes out 5kg behind both Dynamic Diana and Canukeepitsecret – but she showed signs of fulfilling her two-year-old promise with a smooth win in a pinnacle last time and, highly relevantly, she made light of the good to soft ground. “She is back to her best,” confirms Candice Bass-Robinson. Her current 15-2 looks attractive.

Furthermore, while the favourite has won three of the last six runnings, the last three years have seen a succession of upsets with the winners being returned at 11-1, 25-1 and 8-1.

Glen Kotzen is the most successful trainer in this race with four winners and he is represented by the double-figure priced pair Too Phat To Fly and Ostinato. The latter has won twice when the word soft has appeared in the going description.

Only once in the past 15 years has the Champagne seen a smaller field than tomorrow’s nine but the six in the Final Fling is the smallest this century with Justin Snaith responsible for half the runners and Glen Kotzen (two) and Mrs Bass-Robinson the only other trainers represented.

Platinum Class is well-nigh unbackable at 2-7 but Richard Fourie’s mount is hard to oppose despite three of the last four favourites getting beaten. She comes out over three lengths better than the next highest-rated (stable companion Miss Katalin) and she has won in the soft. She was third in the Prix du Cap and the Olympic Duel and in the Ladies Mile last time she had Pearl Jam over a length back third and here she is 8kg better. Miss Katalin and Libra are also well held on that run.

If you are looking for a long shot then Coral Bay, the rank outsider at 22-1, just might be worth an interest. She appears to have completely lost her form but she is a Listed winner, she goes in the ground and Kotzen has won this race four times before.

BLOB The Durbanville meeting on Tuesday, July 30 has been switched to Kenilworth.

By Michael Clower

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The Highveld Hawks, defending their title for the third time in succession, are set to get off to a smart start in New Turf Carriers Rider Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. Muzi Yeni has drawn the plum ride on the Sean Tarry-trained Over The Limit while ‘stable companion’ Gavin Lerena will be aboard first timer Sacred Blues for Garth Puller, second and third favourites in the first leg and third race on the card.

Early favourite for the opening leg is Glacier Girl, Richard Fourie also having landed a plum draw on Alyson’s Wright’s filly. A close-up second in a work rider’s race for Mike de Kock last time out, Glacier Girl has her first run for Wright and the blinkers come off.

Over The Limit boasts some consistent Highveld form and with Tarry and Yeni both contenders for their respective national championships, both will be keen on a victory.

With riders and runners having been drawn out of the hat, nothing can be read into the riding arrangements but the bonus is that we have a dozen of the country’s premier riders in action.

Duncan Howells holds a strong hand in the second leg with Mocha Rose and La Valette, Lyle Hewitson and Keagan de Melo doing duty for the stable. Mocha Rose did not get the best of passages when down the field behind stable companion Barinois last time out with her recent form over course and distance more than useful.

La Valette started at long odds when making her poly track debut and appeared to take to the synthetic surface, staying on well behind the older Missibaba. A win for Hewitson would be further good news for the Hawks.

Sean Veale can strike back for the KZN Falcons aboard the Howells runner Barinois in the next. The synthetic surface seems to bring out the best in her, her last effort coming over course and distance when coming from last to win going away.

Miss Sabina looks a likely danger while Imperial Royal has a tricky draw to contend with but was a close-up third when up against stronger at her last start.

The final leg of the Cup could see the giant Haddington record the eighth win of his career. He is back over his favourite course and distance and Bernard Fayd’Herbe is sure to get the best out of Louis Goosen’s runner.

At around 13-1 in the market he looks fair value for money with Gimme A Cohiba and Anton Marcus weak 3-1 favourites in the early betting with O’Reilly and Don Pierro 6-1 chances according to bookmakers.

Punters are reminded that there is tote betting on the outcome of the Cup “twelfth” race on the card, there will be win, place and swinger options on the outcome where the jockey who accumulates the most points will be declared Victor Ludorum. The pools close at the start of race 3 (13.25).

By Andrew HarrisonTo take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za