The nine races at Turffontein Inside tomorrow are named in honour of the victims of the Hennenman tragedy thirty years after the airplane carrying jockeys, trainers and officials from a meeting at Bloemfontein crashed into a mealie field.
A substantial pool of talent was lost that evening and the racing community still feel sad when recalling the devastating news which they woke up to the following morning.
Full Mast (JC Photographics)
The main race is the 30 Year Anniversary Hennenman Memorial Progress Plate over 1600m and Full Mast could be the one to side with. He will be coming into his own, being a Go Deputy in the second half of his three-year-old year who was gelded in December, and he is distance suited with Strydom up. Glider Pilot would prefer further and a more galloping track but he has class and from a good draw should be running on strongly. Ghost Town looks a class act in the making and his good action and relaxed style of racing coupled with his fine turn of foot should see him making a bold bid, although he has a tricky draw of eight to overcome. Warrior’s Rest finished a narrow third in last season’s Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes won by Eyes Wide Open. He pipped Monk’s Hood in that race so the form is strong and he is the best weighted horse here according to official merit ratings, half-a-kilogram better off than Glider Pilot. However, he is a huge horse so might need this run after a seven month layoff, especially considering he has to overcome the widest draw of all. Dan The Lad has a tough task at the weights but is drawn in pole and has a good turn of foot so could make his presence felt over a tight, quirky course which can throw upset results. Shukamisa also has a difficult task at the weights but will likely be coming into his own being a four-year-old by Silvano.
The next race is also interesting, a Pinnacle Stakes event for fillies and mares over 1000m. Wrecking Ball could be good value here. She is a classy speedster but the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes two weeks ago over 1160m once again proved she does not see out further than 1000m. She moved up well to hit the front in that race but then faded to only finish 10th . She has a fair draw tomorrow over a course and distance where she is one from one. Exquisite Touch has speed and class too and is in fact 3,5kg better off than Wrecking Ball according to official merit ratings. In her last start when returning from a five month layoff she only just failed over 1160m and should have benefited from that run. She does have a tricky draw of six in the nine horse field. Winter Watch is tipped to follow those two topweights home. She might have been a bit close to the pace early last time and this could have blunted her powerful finishing effort. This time she can be dropped out from draw eight and run on. Frederico’s Dream has a lot of pace and if able to get to the front from a wide draw without expending too much energy, she will be right there. Queen Laurie could be dangerous from draw two if bouncing back to her best as she has a lot of speed. Singing In Seattle is drawn in pole and could threaten a place too.
The best bet could be Dressed To Impress in the last over 1450m. This strongly-built Pathfork filly has a tricky draw, but last time over 1600m she had a worse draw and after being held up she quickened well and looked the winner. However, her finishing effort did not have enough steam. Therefore, she should relish this slight step down in trip. Marco van Rensburg has won on her before and replaces recuperating Gavin Lerena.
By David Thiselton
