Race Previews Turffontein Saturday Nov 5 by David Thiselton

Race 1:
Preview: FURIOSA is an Australian-bred by Fastnet Rock and his high draw could be favourable. ROMI’S BOY made a good debut over 1200m when beaten only by a classy sort. PILOU was not far behind Romi’s Boy in third on debut. (David Thiselton 5-9-8)

Race 2:
Preview: END GAME caught the eye on debut as a rangy sort who would relish the step up in trip, although a wide draw is a concern. AL HAMD has been right there in both starts and an improvement. OPTICAL ILLUSION is a Dynasty colt out of National Assembly mare who has produced a winner. (David Thiselton 15-7-10)

Race 3:
Preview: FORTISSIMA has her third run after a rest and should love this galloping track so can go close from a plum draw. INANINSTANT is course and distance suited and capable of rising above her current merit rating, but she has a tough draw. RUNALONG is progressive and course and distance suited but this will be her seasonal reappearance. GIRL ON THE RUN won a good race over this trip last time and has a fair draw off a five point higher mark. ANGELIC APPEAL is 1,5kg better off with Girl On The Run For a 1,25 length beating over this trip on the Inside track, but she has a tricky draw. POLYPHONIC, SHE’S A DRAGON, WORK ETHIC, PATCHITUPBABY, and PERSIAN RUG can’t be ignored. (8-7-6-11-10)

Race 4:
Preview: KINGMAMBO’S LEGACY went close over 2600m last time and now has Strydom up from a good draw. KINAAN should do well especially as the pace in this big field will be better than he got last time and the blinkers which might have caused him to over race there are off. THE ELMO EFFECT is consistently thereabouts in staying events off his current merit rating. ARCH RIVAL loves this galloping track and stays the trip so can’t be ignored despite top weight. SMART MART went close in the Gr 3 Gold Vase over 3000m at Greyville and is drawn well here off an attractive merit rating. NETFLIX is interesting if he stays as he is progressive and has a touch of class, while this course suits his come from off the pace style. (David Thiselton 6-3-10-1-8)

Race 5:
Preview: AFRICA RISING has some class and is distance suited but does have a tough draw. SAFE HARBOUR wasn’t disgraced last time against some of the best males in the country and was staying on late despite over racing a little bit early, so she as a chance if settling from a tough draw. UNAGI has also been impressive on occasion, but also has a tough draw. VISUALITY has a Gr 1 third over 1200m to her name and was doing good work late in a Gr 2 over 1450m last time, so has a chance if settling from a tricky draw. ACT OF LOYALTY has a tough task on official merit ratings but caught the eye last time running on well over 1450m behind a top class sort and he is well drawn with Marcus up. (David Thiselton 1-13-2-14-8)

Race 6:
Preview: AL DANZA stretched away impressively on debut when jumping from a wide draw in a moderate workrider’s event over 1200m and can follow up from a good draw as she looks full of class. ALWAYS A LADY won impressively on debut over 1400m and the form has worked out well so she has a shout from a good draw. MALEFICENT impressed when easily winning the Listed Devon Air Stakes over this trip at Greyville, beating subsequent Gr 1 winner Querari Falcon by 3,25 lengths so she will be a threat if close to her best after a layoff, although her wide draw is a concern. RETURN TO POWER moved up well under the hands on debut and then kicked well to win a 1600m event narrowly with the rest of the field beaten five lengths. AL HAWRAA finished strongly with long strides on the Greyville poly last time over this trip and should enjoy the long straight. SANTIBURI looks a progressive sort and can’t be ignored. (David Thiselton 6-10-1-13-5)

Race 7:
Preview: NEW PREDATOR went close in the Dingaans over course and distance in which he beat Abashiri by 3,1 lengths. CHAMPAGNE HAZE is a classy sort with a good turn of foot and this is his maximum trip so he will be going all out. MOGOK MASTER won his comeback from a year’s layoff impressively and also has a chance. MAC DE LAGO is likely the best miler in the country and his class should take him close despite having to carry top weight and returning from a layoff since July. RABADA is also a top class and is effective over a mile, but he has a tough draw to overcome. SARATOGA DANCER has a big race win in him and this could be his ideal opportunity from a good draw as a lot of the main protagonists will be using this as a preparation for the Sansui Summer Cup. (David Thiselton 2-3-14-1-5)

Race 8:
Preview: DOOSRA is an exciting prospect and this classy, long striding sort is drawn in pole over a course and distance which should be perfectly suitable for his third career start.  HEAVENLY BLUE is a much touted horse who has won both starts over 1600m and 1400m respectively comfortably. The form of the latter race hasn’t worked out well, but he was caught wide and won effortlessly by 3,6 lengths. He could be anything and coming from the De Kock yard should be fit enough in his seasonal reappearance, although his draw of seven is tricky in a 12 horse field. ORAPA looks to have some potential and cantered to victory over this course and distance when winning his maiden. He is well regarded and likely needed his last start. ROY’S MAGIC has impressed in his last two in KZN and should love the course and distance. AGGRESSIVE stayed on well to make it two out of two last time over 1200m and should get this trip from a plum draw. JIFFY was unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile, including one over this course and distance, and is the highest rated horse in the race, but has to give weight away and has a tough draw. (David Thiselton 5-4-6-7-3)

Race 9:
Preview: BULL VALLEY is full of speed and class and won a good race last time when returning from a layoff so can repeat the dose from a high draw, which is usually favourable on this day. TAR HEEL is 2,5kg better off with African Ruler for a 1,75 length defeat over 1000m on Grand Heritage day. It was an especially meritorious run as he had broken through the stalls and had to be reloaded. This speedy sort should come into his own this season. AFRICAN RULER is a Gr 1 runner up and from a high draw can carry top weight. RIVARINE would be a possible first choice if he had a higher draw. DONNY G is very speedy and is another one who has a winning chance if low draws turn out to not be disadvantageous. (David Thiselton 5-6-1-12-7)

Race 10:
Preview: FORT MEYERS won well with first time blinkers and is drawn well. FRONT RANK has a good darw and should be finishing strongly. EASY LOVER looks to be coming back to his best. (David Thiselton 2-8-7)