Abashiri and Heaps Of Fun will have the support of many at Turffontein on Saturday where they will embark on the second legs of their Triple Crown and Triple Tiara missions respectively.

Abashiri will be hard to beat from a good draw in the Gr 1 R2 million SA Classic over 1800m. He had to be sent for home early in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas over too sharp a trip. The turn of foot he displayed surprised many as he was being rousted seconds earlier. Once he had hit the front he was always going to be difficult to catch as he has a giant stride and a big engine. He will likely be ridden more conservatively this time and should mow down those who attempt to get first run on him.

Brazuca has a nice stride on him too and will relish the course and distance and Anton Marcus will help him overcome a tricky draw of nine.

Liege is fancied for third over a suitable course and distance. Others who have to be considered for the placings are Champagne Haze, Muwaary and Suyoof.

Samurai Blade is also worth considering for a place as he has some class and should enjoy the faster pace of a Gr 1 race over an ideal course and distance. Heaps Of Fun ran with ears pricked in the front in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and held on courageously. She displayed her class and can be ridden from anywhere, so over this likely suitable trip she is going to be a tough nut to crack.
However, the Geoff Woodruff-trained Alexa is tipped to beat her as she caught the eye in the Fillies Guineas running on strongly. She had to continually switch inward as no gaps were opening and finished right on the inside rail. She was only 4,75 lengths back at the line and is now slightly better drawn in nine. She will relish the step up in trip and will be hoping for a quicker pace too.

Witchcraft, Negroamara, Frosty Friday, Princess Varunya and Christmas Carol will also enjoy the course and distance, while She’s A Dragon also has to be considered.

The other Gr 1 on the card is the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m. The KZN raider Ice Machine is a joy to watch as he has a pehenomenal turn of foot and this could finally be his day. He has a fair draw in a big race for a change and Anthony Delpech will be able to keep an eye on the only likely danger Legal Eagle. The latter showed how good he is over a mile when galloping them off their feet in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate. Captain America won this race in bottomless ground last year. This big horse proved when winning this season’s Green Point Stakes he can settle in front and can handle fast ground, so is still likely to be involved in the finish from the pole position draw. However, he is unlikely to get the soft ground which would given him his best chance.

The first race on the card is a fillies and mares handicap over 1600m. Wukkin’ Up is a courageous sort and will attempt to make it four wins in five starts, but is not going to have it easy. Bountiful Harvest and Star Of Love should make bold bids over a suitable course and distance.

The second is the GR 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m and Cloth Of Cloud, an exciting half-sister to Silver Mountain, is going to be hard to beat considering the manner of her six length win on debut.

In the third, the Gr 3 Man O’War Sprint over 1100m, Bull Valley is another one full of speed and class and back to the sprint trip he will be hard to beat receiving 2kg from the top two, despite not having run since November. Al Azraq and Isca are well regarded and could provide place value.

In the fourth, the Gr 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m, He’s A Var created a fine impression on debut with his speed followed by a kick and looks the one to beat. However, the filly in the race, Seattle Singer, has a weight advantage being still a maiden and on form she has a big shout.

The sixth, the Gr 3 Jacaranda Handicap over 1800m is the toughest race on the card. The talented Patchit Up Baby should now be fully acclimatised to the Highveld and looks ready to bounce back to her best. Peggy Jay is in fine form over further, but is effective over this trip too. Pennington Sands will enjoy the fast conditions and the others who make most appeal are front-running sorts Cassie O’Malley, Ahlaam and Dream Galaxy, as well as Gr 1 winner Bilateral, last year’s runner up Fortitude, who is only one point higher in the merit ratings, the course and distance suited Zrinski and the well drawn and distance suited Mamasita, who has Gavin Lerena up.

The ninth is the Gr 3 Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m and the class over this testing course and distance lies at the top of the weights with Cool Chardonnay and Storm Warning and with the only female in the race Marmalady.

The last is a tricky MR 84 handicap over 1160m and Captain’s Causeway looks to be on the up. Thrust keeps on defying the handicapper and should go well fresh. Manx Park has come into his own and has to be considered.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Abashiri (Nkosi Hlophe)