There is some interesting racing around the country over the weekend with five meetings in all and there look to be some opportunities for punters.
In Greyville’s first race tonight Paddy Lunn could score the trifecta. At Variance is a form choice and Roy’s Past, who ran on Wednesday, is still learning but looks to have scope. Lord Luton is moderate but could sneak into third place, although Long Walk and Le Monde should also be considered for the third spot in the trifecta.
Simla (Nkosi Hlophe)
The second is an interesting race over 1000m and the in form Kumaran Naidoo yard could score again with Simla, who has plenty of pace and is progressive. The Lunn yard said the talented Timeous would have needed it if it had been over 1200m but could get away with it over this trip, although on the other hand it might be a touch sharp for him. There is a lot of pace in this race, so it could set up nicely for the closer Ginger Brown.
In the third two impressive sorts clash. Overly Impressive is the choice as one who knows what it is all about, but Mater Familias looks to have plenty of scope and jumped well in a schooling session on Monday so could be a threat.
The fourth is a potential stumbling block as it is open beyond the likely favourite Do Be Snappy. He has a good sand pedigree being by Miesque’s Approval and having arrived from the strong centre of Cape Town a few runs ago he could still be ahead of the handicapper. A possible value play here could be each/way on Royal Zulu Guard, who has come down to an attractive merit rating. Last time out the going wasn’t suiting horses coming from off them and it seemed to blunt his usual strong finish.
The fifth could see Anton Marcus making all the difference to Cyclone Sassy, who cost herself last time by pulling. Nyangan is another horse who arrived from the Cape with a possibly suppressed merit rating and it would be no surprise to see her following up on her easy win over course and distance last time. Peace Again always used to catch the eye over this trip but then seemed to have a number of flat runs, so now that she is back in form she will have to be watched.
The sixth over 1900m is quite open on first sight but assistant trainer Byron Foster of the Andre Nel yard was bullish about the chances of the hard knocking Jet Ntombi, who once finished close to the Gr 2 winner Gallica Rose over 2000m at Kenilworth. Nel’s Jet Turbine is in a difficult situation as she has a common low merit rating, so the yard have declared others slightly higher in the ratings ahead of her in these races, meaning she has missed out. However, she has been working upsides many of these other colleagues so is definitely fit enough, despite her last race having been in September. She could be a value each/way bet, although the bulk should be put on the place as she is unlikely to beat her stablemate.
Royal Zulu Guard (Nkosi Hlophe)
In the seventh over 1900m, Little Chapel is yet another Cape horse who could win as she is a typically progressive daughter of the outstanding sire Ideal World. She won going away last time and that is the sign of a horse who can defy the handicapper again next time out. Alpine Ridge has always had ability, proved by the fact she won on debut over 1200m, and she will be a threat alongside Barcelona Babe, who got quite close to a classy sort last time despite being way under sufferance.
In the last over 1900m Classe Mondiale could provide Marcus with another winner as she will appreciate the step down in trip, but Roy’s Lioness looks to have some promise, while Lady Ami deserves a change of luck and could get it off a now attractively lowered merit rating and Anthony Delpech in the irons.
At Turffontein on Saturday the best bet could be in the first race. Ultimate Survival made up ground rapidly a long way out last time out over 1700m at the Vaal and her run not surprisingly petered out. Gavin Lerena would have learnt from that race, which was the horse’s first over ground, and the Greys Inn filly should relish the 1800m Inside Track course and distance.
Scottsville hosts a stand alone meeting on Sunday and the stand out bet will be in the sixth on the Duncan Howells-trained Jay Peg filly Wind Singer, a long-striding sort who created a fine impression when winning effortlessly last time out. The handicapper looks to have been lenient on her. Another horse worth considering is Delirious Nomad in race five as he is a long-striding sort who relaxes well in the running before producing a good finish so he should appreciate running over this 1600m trip on grass.
By David Thiselton
