There is a feast of racing around the country over the Easter weekend and there will be feature race action at both Turffontein on Saturday and Scottsville on Sunday.

At Turffontein French Navy should make amends for his disappointing last run by winning the Gr 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m, where he is well weighted. He had been freshened up for his last race over 1800m in order to not peak too soon for his ultimate target, the R4 million President’s Champion Challenge. He consequently over raced behind an unexpectedly slow pace, so emptied out quickly in the straight. He will be more forward now and is well drawn so should mow them down in the long straight in his normal resolute style. Judicial and Mac De Lago will also be staying on over a galloping 2000mm they will relish and are the chief dangers.

Mooghamir (Kenilworth Racing)

The Gr 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m could be won by the ever improving Moofeed, who packs a powerful finish and was unlucky in the Gr 3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap over 1000m last time out. He probably found the 1400 of the Hawaii Stakes last time a touch far and this is likely his ideal trip. Trip To Heaven is second best in at the weights and is likely to have come on from his decent effort in the Hawaii, where it didn’t pan out well for him. He will be right there and so will the filly Lazer Star, who is the best in at the weights. She looked the winner of the Hawaii last time, but the photo finish showed otherwise.  In her last two runs over this course and distance saw she was a facile winner of both a Listed and Gr 3 race.

The Listed Derby Trial, a handicap over 2000m, hasn’t attracted a very good field and a pair of Mike de Kock-trained horses, Mooghamir and Jubilee Line, could fight it out. They are both returning from layoffs and have to give weight away, which makes it a tricky betting race. Mooghamir is by Ideal World so is likely to still be improving and he will enjoy the course and distance. He has a tongue tie and blinkers on having made a breathing noise when running disappointingly in the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m at Kenworth last time out. That run followed a fine win over the same course and distance. Jubilee Line has to carry topweight, but is a classy sort who should enjoy the trip, although he hasn’t run since finishing fifth in the Dingaans last November. Count Tassilo is officially 2kg under sufferance, but could be the main danger as one who will likely relish the step up to this trip.

The Listed Oaks Trial could be won by Inaninstant, who impressed last time out by beating Trophy Wife over 1800m. The latter is a leading representative of a brilliant crop, so Inaninstant could be well handicapped off just a 77 merit rating. If she does not win it is wide open and the ones which make most appeal to pick up the pieces are Intergalactic, Bondiblu, Estimation, Bajan Fantasy, AP’s Lily, Song Of Happiness, American Story and Kelly Firth.

French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Gr 3 Sycamore Sprint over 1160m for fillies and mares is a wide open affair. Lumya caught the eye running on well over 1000m in the Listed Bauhinia Handicap last time. She is tipped to beat the pacey and likely improving Spring Wonder. Ha Lucy will be running on strongly over an ideal trip and is tipped for third, but Easy Game, Tiger’s Touch, Silver Star, Perfumed Lady, Silver Class also have to be considered and Drifting Dusk and Swift Sarah are hard to ignore.

The best bet on the card could come in the last race as the up and coming filly Shatoosh looks to have plenty of scope. This long-striding sort should relish the Standside 1400m, having caught the eye running on strongly over 1200m on the Inside Track in just her second career start last time out.

In the third race Count Red could represent some each-way value. He has caught the eye as a likely progressive sort. On the evidence of his last start over 1600m at the Vaal he should relish this galloping 1400m course and distance from a plum draw.

At Scottsville, the Listed Easter Handicap over 1950m could see Way Of Light running on well and only just fending off a flying Solar Star.

The Easter Dash is extra intriguing this year, having been reduced by 100m to 500m. Jade Bay has excellent gatespeed and early pace and is tipped to beat home the speedy Viva La Var. However, Trip Tease will be hard to beat if managing to ping the gates.

By David Thiselton