In race one, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, Profit Ratio caught the eye making late progress over 1200m in his second start and is drawn towards the right side. Cherokee Grey has some nice formlines and is a full-brother to a Gr 2 winner over this trip, Chekilli, although one concern is the breathing noises he has made twice in three starts. De Lujo is a big, long-striding sort and despite this being his 20th run the course and distance and draw give him an ideal chance to get a place at a likely attractive price. Runalong was gaining late over 1200m in his second start and looks to have scope for further improvement but does have quite a tough draw. Kanonkop has been caught late in two career starts to date over 1400m and 1600m respectively, but the concern is that he has made breathing noises both times and is now drawn on the wrong side according to trends. Wine Country made a fair debut over 1000m and should improve over this trip especially as this will be Piere Strydom’s comeback ride from a long suspension. The two first-timers that make some appeal are Druid’s Temple, who is by Oracy out of a useful four-time winning 99 merit-rated Jet Master sprinter, but the number one draw makes it tough, and Encountered, who is by Count Dubois and is half-brother to a four-time winner who reached a merit rating of 99.
In race two, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1400m, Tricia Dupont, a long-striding sort, used her good pace to overcome a tough draw over this course and distance last time and was staying on well late when squeezed out, so she could make amends here from a good draw. Cosmo Russe has caught the eye over shorter and should relish the step up in trip so should go close from a favourable draw. Spring Dance is talented and found betting support on debut when having no luck and then beat Cosmo Russe over 1200m, so it depends on whether she can overcome her tough draw as she should stay the trip on pedigree. Tracy’s Legacy by More Than ready out of a Redoute’s Choice mare has plenty of natural speed and now tries 1400m so is an interesting runner from a good draw. Khetiwe is drawn on the right side and will appreciate the step down in trip after failing over 1600m having shown good pace on debut over this trip.
In race three, a Maiden Plate over 1000m, Watabout has a tough draw but faces an uninspiring field and could use his touch of class to overcome it. Minnesota is drawn well and has good pace so should be thereabouts. Rock On has been knocking on the door and is drawn on the right side over his ideal trip. Gimmeabreak is talented but he clearly has a problem jumping anything but slowly which in two starts to date has given him too much to do and he has also given the impression he would prefer further. Sister Mary has shown signs of ability over this trip and this is the first time she has blinkers on in a turf race.
In race four, a MR 72 Handicap over 1000m, Manx Park is an enigmatic sort but if having another going day could follow up on his win last time out because due to the apprentice weighing out 1,5kg overweight in that race he is effectively only one point higher in the merit ratings. Clean Cut has a fair chance if starting better than last time as he is having his third run after a rest over an ideal trip and has a fair draw. Daspoort has an attractive merit rating and his pace should be effective from an ideal draw and the jockey being carded to weigh in 0,5kg overweight shouldn’t be a significant factor. Gun Fighter should go close from an ideal draw over an ideal trip having made late headway when going close over this trip last time out, but he is only 0,5kg better off for a 1,9 length beating by Manx Park. The improved Atso Cool won his maiden well over this trip and the form has worked out well so he has a chance from an ideal draw despite quite a tough merit rating of 79.
The fifth is a Progress Plate over 1200m for fillies and mares and Silver Class is second best in at the weights, albeit by only 0,5kg and has been a bit unlucky lately over this sort of trip, which she has proven very talented over, so she could get it right here from a favourable draw. Swift Sarah’s last run can be ignored as she broke through the stalls and she could be better than her merit rating suggests so could have a shout here. Negroamara is best in at the weights and has class so can’t be disvcounted over a trip short of her optimum.
In the sixth, a MR 80 Handicap over 1200m, High Game has dropped to an attractive merit and should use his pace and ability to stay further effectively over this trip. Tabreek is interesting stepped down in trip off a lowered merit rating from a favourable draw as he has tended to over race over further. However, the entire field has a chance in this race so all should be included in the Jackpot and Pick 6 if possible.
In the seventh, a MR 72 Handicap over 1600m, Trees Of Green is suited to this trip and the form of his last close second has been franked in no uncertain terms, so he will be hard to beat from a reasonable draw. Hawaiian Sun is drawn well over what looks to be an ideal trip and he could be well handicapped on the form of his last run over this distance. Steelwing could earn over an ideal trip off a competitive merit rating. Reef Of Fortune has talent but has a tough draw. Mutakayyef, Analyse This, Regal Force, Lundy’s Star and Mann’s Inn have to be considered too for minor places.
In the eighth, a MR 72 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m, the progressive Khonza will be hard to beat as she put in a fine effort over this trip last time out from a tough draw at Turffontein and the form has been franked in no uncertain terms and she is now well drawn. Escudo has a chance having had to be eased late in that same race and finishing just a short-head behind Khonza, but there is now a reversal in draw fortunes. Miracle Rising is talented and bounced back last time when stepped up to 1700m so has a chance here. Miss Tweedy could earn as she was only about five lengths behind Khonza last time when caught too far back from a wide draw and she is now 2,5kg better off and has a favourable draw. Star Of Love won a good race last Thursday over 1600m at Turffontein off a 69 merit rating and has a chance if not given to much of a raise in the merit ratings, although the draw makes it tough.
David Thiselton
