The July in Jozi meeting at the Turffontein Standside track is an exciting one to attend and starts off with some good class juvenile events over 1400m.
In the first of them Green Haze could upset two more high profile horses in Bold Eagle and Cirillo.
Bold Eagle (JC Photographics)
Green Haze was stepped up to this 1400m trip last time in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes at Greyville. He took a while to get going in the straight but at the finish was running on in eyecatching style for a 3,25 length second to the exciting R2,6 million Gimmethegreenlight colt Barahin, who is the second favourite for the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over this trip at Greyville. Green Haze runs at level weights with Cirillo and receives 4kg from Bold Eagle. He has a tricky draw of six in the seven horse field but can be dropped out before staying on.
Bold Eagle can be forgiven his last disappointing 1,7 length fourth in the SA Nursery when starting 16/10 favourite. He missed his intended next start, the Grade 1 Gold Medallion, so there was clearly something amiss. He is laid back type who possesses a good turn of foot and he is bred to go this trip and more so can bounce back from a fair draw. Cirillo beat Bold Eagle in the Nursery but before that was beaten by him over 1100m despite receiving 5kg. He beat a maiden field easily last time over 1160m and the form has been franked. He should enjoy this trip being by Pomodoro. It looks to lie between those three and should be an exciting tussle.
In the next race the exciting Return Flight takes on some good fillies and has to give them all 2kg. She has put a combined margin of 19,5 lengths between herself and the opposition in her last two starts and has done it pretty effortlessly. She is a front-running sort so has an ideal pole position draw for her style and she can make it a hattrick. Railtrip has caught the eye as a progressive sort and she was extending when thrashing them by 4.5 lengths in a maiden when stepped up to this 1400m last time. She has plenty of scope for improvement and looks to be a lively threat. Dagmar can also make her presence felt, having run a good fifth in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson last time. She has pace but should stay this trip on pedigree so in the fast conditions could attempt to run then off their feet. Saints Alive won easily last time in the maidens and could earn. La Lucia won well on debut and is another contender, although she has a tough draw. Storm Destiny can’t be ignored either after a good win on debut.
Johannesburg fans could be cheering after the big one as Majestic Mambo is topped to use his electric turn of foot from behind and mow them down. Do It Again was a bit flat last time out in the Daily News and looks the main danger. African Night Sky is well weighted on his Met run and has enjoyed a fine preparation. White River has improved with gelding, especially temperamentally and should be right there. Made To Conquer is a laid back classy type who has more to come and has Greyville expert Jeff Lloyd up, Dark Moon Rising is tipped to also fill one of the first six places and Matador man and Coral Fever should be included in the wider exotic plays.
It should be a fun filled day so make your way to Turffontein.
By David Thiselton
