Turffontein Standside stages a ten race card tomorrow and the exotics could yield good dividends for those who do their homework.
The Graduation Plate in the ninth is the highest class event of the day and could be fought out by Punta Cana and Full Mast, although Tammany Hall also has to be respected. Punta Cana has always had a touch of class and in his third run after a layoff and gelding is tried with blinkers again. Last time he moved up well from the back over 1600m but couldn’t find any extra so will likely appreciate the step down in trip and is well drawn. Full Mast was handy in the latter race and stayed on well to only just be cut down by the classy Royal Crusade.
Punta Cana (JC Photographics)
He is effective over this trip too and Lyle Hewitson aboard is a bonus. However, there is a reversal in draw fortunes and Punta Cana should be cherry ripe so he is taken to make up the 1,5 lengths despite being half-a-kilogram worse off. Tammany Hall has shown glimpses of class and looks distance suited. The blinkers are off after she disappointed last time over 1200m. Aurelia Cotta has been disappointing since a good start to her career so after a decent effort last time could be coming back into her own and can’t be ignored.
The two-year-old Louis The Seventh was staying on well last Saturday over 1400m to be second in a classy Juvenile Plate event, so has to be considered with 4kg claimer Luke Ferraris up, despite a wide draw. Winter Forge is interesting stepped up in trip as she has finished strongly in sprints before. Mutrib returns from a layoff since January. He made a good debut over this trip but disappointed second time out when producing a somewhat laboured finished over 1600m. The rest could have done him good and he can’t be ignored.
The exotics look the best way to play this tricky card. The PA Banker is chosen to be Smart Deal in the second leg over 2400m as he is an improving son of Ideal World and has finished second in his two staying race starts, both times to promising sorts. However, Imoto should also be included in the Pick 6 as a son of Traffic Guard who will enjoy the step down in trip from 2600m to 2400m.
The rest of the Pick 6 legs are all competitive, although Rebel Renegade, Singaswewin and Tripod could get punters through the fifth leg and Punta Cana, Full Mast and Tammany Hall could get them through the last leg.
The best bet on the card is taken to be Arctica in the second race over 2000m. He was produced too late last time when failing to reach Divine Oddyssey over 1600m. Before that he was staying on well over 1800m in the Jubilee Handicap, so he should enjoy this trip and Hewitson can get him home. Top Shot is proven over the trip and is knocking hard so is the main danger. Heavenly Blue is the class of the race but returns from a second successive layoff of greater than six months so has problems.
The value bet is chosen to be Time To Be Great who is an effective front runner and should relish the fast conditions over his ideal 1400m trip. He has a good draw which will help him get to the front and also has a 1,5kg claimer up.
By David Thiselton
