David Thiselton

 

The Turffontein Standside meeting today has ten competitive races and the highest rated of them is a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1600m in which there is one of two interesting imported horses running on the day for owner Willem Ackerman.

 

The entire Deepone is by the Irish-bred Deep Impact stallion Study Of Man and he won his first two starts in Ireland for trainer Paddy Twomey and in his fifth start won a Gr 2 race over a mile at The Curragh. In his final start overseas he won a Listed race over seven and-a-half furlongs at Tipperary on October 5, 2025. He was purchased by Willem for 30,000gns at a Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale. Willem Ackerman is a partner of Advocate Nigel Rily in Heversham Park Stud and Deepone is likely to join the stallion ranks there at some stage. He is being trained out here by Stuart Pettigrew and runs off an opening mark of 119, which sees him carrying joint topweight of 60kg in this Pinnacle. He has drawn well in three in this 1600m contest. He will likely need this run, but it will be exciting to see him taking to South African conditions well as his form proves him to have obvious class.

 

The hard-knocking Money Heist looks the one to beat jumping from pole position and carrying a nice galloping weight of 54kg. If Texas Red produces his best he can go close despite carrying joint topweight.

 

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m Korcula has been knocking on the door and can get out of the maidens at the 8th time of asking under Craig Zackey. She is by Hawwaam so will be improving all the time, although she does have a tricky draw of six out of nine. Flying World only has 1,40 lengths to make up on Korcula from their last meeting over this trip on the Inside track and she is drawn well in three so should make a bold bid under Keagan de Melo. Vixeninthevineyard has the form to be a contender and is drawn well in two.

 

In the sixth race over 1600m Bay Empire is well drawn and can go close over a suitable trip. He over-raced last time when caught one wide without cover over this trip at the Vaal Classic track so if getting cover from his good draw this time he should be right there. Michael Faraday is drawn in pole and has the ability to go close over course and distance. The Mightiest beat Bay Empire by almost three lengths in the aforementioned race at the Vaal Classic track and can bounce back from his disappointing race over 1800m last time as he is just half-a-kilogram worse off with Bay Empire from that previous race and he has a fair draw.

 

In the seventh over 2000m Dual Prophecy is well drawn and should be cherry ripe to deliver his best over an ideal course and distance. He did well at this time last year and this full brother to four-time Gr 1 winner See It Again is much better than his recent form suggests. Hat Furious is knocking on the door and can do well over an ideal trip if able to overcome a wide draw. Itsnowornever should enjoy the step back up in trip but also has to overcome a wide draw. Play With Fire has become a reliable mare and should be thereabouts from a good draw. Guerilla Warfare is interesting stepped up in trip from a pole position draw that suits his handy running style.

 

In the eighth over 1400m Father Christmas was unlucky last time when a gap closed on him and he had to be snatched up. He can make amends from a fair draw here. Blizzard Quest was third last time to a promising two-year-old and over this suitable trip should be in the shake up from a good draw. Ariovistus is drawn well and is interesting taking a step down in trip.

 

In the ninth over 1400m Longsword did not have much luck last time over 1450m and from a pole position draw can make amends. Shoreybomba is back to his winning trip category and has a good draw. Kotinos has the ability to be in the shake up here from a fair draw of five out of nine.

 

In the tenth race over 1160m Maverick Queen is favoured by the Classified Stakes conditions and should be in the shake up. Whatsdamatterwithu won well last time and is an interesting two-year-old running off a reasonable 85 merit rating. Quiet Winter has run well in her last two and under the Classified Stakes conditions is only half-a-kilogram out with Maverick Queen, who is the joint best-weighted runner.

 

In the third race over 1500m Mission To Mars is the first of the interesting Willam Ackerman imported horses. This Irish-bred Sea The Stars five-year-old gelding finished second on debut when flying home from last over 1500m and he should take a power of beating from a plum draw over 1600m here. Truro Legacy looks to be improving and could be the main danger.

 

Minerva Fae looks to be the one to beat in the second over 1100m having made a fine debut as she is likely to improve and has Gavin Lerena up.

 

In the first over 1100m Queen Leila has the form to win and is the first choice.