Turffontein Standside stages an eight race meeting today which kicks off at 12h15 with the last race due at 16h10 in order to cater for the Christmas Eve festivities.
The headliner is the fifth race, a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1600m, and the brilliant French Navy could make up for his possibly unlucky SANSUI Summer Cup defeat as he is well in at the weights and his powerful finishing run on this ideal galloping track should be too much for the opposition. Judicial finished half-a-length behind French Navy in the Summer Cup and is now 3,5kg worse off, but he tends to stay at his peak for a while and could surprise. French Navy’s three-year-old stablemate Lunar Approach is worst in at the weights on official merit ratings but is a progressive sort who could go places and he could finish next best.
French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)
The first race is a maiden over 1000m. Gimmeabreak looks to have plenty of ability. He started slowly on debut and was then a touch outpaced too over 1000m on the Turffontein Inside track but then finished strongly to be beaten just 1,5 lengths into fifth. The form has worked out well and if starting better he could mow down Fidelio, who has some pace and will be dangerous if starting better than last time when finishing second over 1000m at the Vaal. Former Cape Town campaigner Dragoon showed excellent pace on his Highveld debut over 1000m on the Inside track last month when overtaken late and finishing third. He is likely to have come on from the run, it having been his first since July, so he could also be a threat with a 4kg claimer up. First-timer Charltons Announce is a half-brother to the lower division six-time winner Antonius Charm. First-timer Watabout is by Seventh Rock out of a Clash By Night mare who won twice over 1200m.
The second is a MR 80 Handicap over 1000m and the Mike de Kock-trained three-year Wisnaam wouldn’t normally have an easy task off a merit rating of 89 against toughened older campaigners, but he faces an uninspiring field and as a horse who looks to be going places should score his third win in his fourth career outing. Benbow is an eight-year-old who has suddenly been dropped seven points by the handicapper to a mark of 64 so he could be a threat having scraped into the handicap with the minimum weight. Manx Park is an in and out sort but if he has a going day could also be a threat as he is only two points higher than his last winning mark.
The third is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1160m and Tracy’s Legacy makes her seasonal reappearance having been backed into odds-on on debut last May and running a fair third in a juvenile Plate race which has worked out well. The De Kock yard are sure to have her fit enough. The consistent mare Jay River stayed on well for a close third over this trip on the Inside track and should be involved as she looks to have come into her own after a layoff. Samarra is interesting dropped back to the trip of her good debut run, having been campaigned from 1450m to a mile and she, Pipkin and Welcome Home should also be in the shakeup. The most appealing first-timer is Dalley, who is by Ideal World and is a half-sister to Banbury, who won on debut over 1200m before going on to win the Gr 3 Fillies Mile.
Max The Man (Nkosi Hlophe)
The fourth race is a Maiden Plate over 1400m and the perennial bridesmaid Golden Man has more bad luck with the draw, having to jump from berth 16. The one to beat him this time could be Resolute Captain who has been backed in both starts, not doing badly on either occasion, and is now fitted with blinkers and jumps from draw three.
Emblem King ran well last time out over 1400m despite losing a length and is the third choice. Champions Cup, Shimmering Brook and Crimson Magic also have to be considered. The first-timer Urban Myth is by Judpot out of a Flaming Rock mare and is a half-sister to the like of Lady Kelpie, who has won five times in Cape Town from 1400-1600m.
The sixth race is a MR 68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m and Tobesuretobesure is an eyecatching sort who should be cherry ripe having her third run after a long break and although she stays further this trip should also suit from her good draw. Off The Mark should appreciate the step up in trip and is well drawn, so is the chief danger as an improving sort who looks to be off a reasonable merit rating. Paree won well from a similar draw last time over 1450m and is only four points higher so could follow up with another good run.
The seventh is a MR 72 Handicap over 1400m and the consistent Luca de Lago is widely drawn but should be running on strongly and he has the form to win this over a suitable trip. The up and coming Duke Nukem doesn’t have it easy off an 84 merit rating but has class on his side and could be the biggest danger. Max The Man is well drawn and in a good space so with a 4kg claimer up over an ideal trip he will also be dangerous.
The eighth is a weak Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m and Capricious could win it if repeating her last course and distance run three runs ago. Catwalk Tease jumps from a good draw and has gone close over this trip before. Queen Of Arts, Cambridge Choir and Beach Cottage could also be considered.
By David Thiselton
