The Grand Heritage has been postponed for two weeks but a nine race meeting will go ahead in its place at Turffontein tomorrow.
Three Non-Black Type races provide the highlights.
In the R150,000 Heritage 1200 Handicap Prince Of Kahal looks the one to beat. He needed his last start over 1200m but proved too classy for a field which included some useful sorts. The key race in his form is the Drill Hall Stakes in which he was unlucky against some of the best in the country but still finished sixth.
Prince Of Kahal (JC Photographics)
Considering that run he looks underrated on a mere 87 merit rating. He should have come on from that last run too and in form Gavin Lerena can help him overcome a tricky draw of eight in the ten horse field. Winter’s Forge has class and although this race has been called a handicap the special conditions allow her a 2,5kg gender allowance so she comes in well weighted over an ideal trip and is well drawn. She will be a big runner. The progressive Mount Keith has a light 52,5kg to carry and he can defy the handicapper again.
In Cahoots showed some class as a two-year-old and has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight of 50kg, although his rider Luke Ferraris will carry 0.5kg overweight. Just As I Said’s low draw will suit his front-running to handy style and he could be dangerous off a reduced merit rating. Catkin is always thereabouts in his Cape Town races from 1200-1400m and could run well fresh from a good draw over a trip which is sharper than ideal. Professor Brian has a nice big stride and if it pans out well he will be finishing strongly. Clever Guy wasn’t disgraced last time against Chimichuri run and could earn. Tar Heel has speed but disappointed from a good draw last time. Peppermint Tea has a tough task at the weights.
The Heritage 1200 Fillies and Mares handicap sees Regal Graduation and Schippers renewing rivalry after a close battle over course and distance two weeks ago. Regal Graduation is 1kg better off for a 0,75 length beating but she moved up like a winner in that last race before suddenly becoming one-paced so she likely needed it. Schippers also had a right to need that last race, especially as she is a more robust sort than Regal Graduation, so it will be an intriguing contest. La Bastide is chosen as the main danger to them as she won nicely over this trip in her penultimate start when making her seasonal reappearance and now has her third run after a layoff.
In the Sophomore 1000 Dewali had good form as a two-year-old and won in impressive style first time this season over this trip on the Standside track. This well bred Var colt has a tough draw to overcome but looks the one to beat after the scratching of Big Blue Marble.
The filly Dalai’s Promise was not disgraced in two starts in Cape Town and proved how strong the racing is down there when trotting up on her Highveld debut. Those two should get punters through.
The rest of the racing on the day is competitive but the exotics look the way to play as they all look catchable.
By David Thiselton
