A competitive MR 88 handicap over 2000m heads an eight race card on the Turffontein Inside track on Sunday and The Rising Legend could still be ahead of the handicappers.

This three-year-old gelding is well regarded and is fast gaining a reputation for his sterling finishing efforts from well off the pace. His last win over 1800m at this course earned him just a two point merit rated raise and he is well regarded so can rise above his current mark of 84. Callan Murray stays aboard from a fair draw of seven. Big Parade, who is by Dynasty out of Summer Cup winner Flirtation, has been disappointing in two runs on the Highveld since a fair campaign in Cape Town, which included a close second to one of the July’s most fancied horses, Made To Conquer. He now has his third run back on the Highveld and it follows a three month layoff and gelding. Gambado won a good race over this trip in his penultimate start and followed with a fair 3,7 length eighth in the SA Derby. He is drawn in pole with Strydom up and should be involved.

Callan Murray

Top Shot has been consistent lately and having been lowered one point from his last run should be thereabouts especially considering he has won his only start over this course and distance. Kremlin Judgement, stablemate of Big Parade’s, looks to be the yard elect according to jockey bookings. He is well drawn and 1kg better off with The Rising Legend for a mere half-a-length beating over 1800m. That was his first outing with blinkers and they are on again. However, he was reported to have made a breathing noise in that race, which does not augur well for this step up in trip. Notting Hill has dropped to a competitive mark and this big front-running type will have more chance of keeping his nose in front carrying just 53,5kg. Bold Viking is talented but has breathing issues and usually starts slowly.

The best bet on the card looks to be Parental Control in the second race over 1450m. This Judpot filly ran on strongly from midfield over 1160m last time having caught the eye on debut over 1000m before that. Long Pond could be the danger. She was a bit below par last time over this 1450m course and distance when beaten 11,25 lengths into second by Return Flight, but had a shoe attended to that day. Before that she was close up to the decent Cloud Break on debut over 1200m. She has a fair draw and horses from the Houdalakis yard continually improve.

In the fifth race Hirohito should be improving being by Ideal Word. Weiho Marwing is an outstanding trainer of stayers, so he should now be cherry ripe to step up to 2600m having done well in three races over 2400m before staying on well for second over 2000m last time. Smart Deal is also by Ideal World and was beaten by a promising sort over 2400m last time so should also go close.

Exotic bets look to be the best way to approach the day.

By David Thiselton