Tomorrow’s meeting has been moved from the Vaal Classic track to Turffontein Inside as the latter track is not in good condition at present.
The highest rated race is a MR 92 handicap over 1800m. Jamra is a progressive filly and will be hard to beat from the front carrying a light weight for an in-form yard. She has won with authority from the front in her last two starts over a mile and should enjoy the step up in trip being by Trippi out of a Galileo mare. The wide draw is a bit of a concern but the tight track should play into her hands if she does get to the front without using up too much energy. Saragon looks to be the chief danger. She is 2,5kg better off with Being Fabulous for a 2,1 length beating over 1450m last time, but more importantly this Ideal World filly has always been looking for this trip. Her only attempt at it was in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic where she was well beaten.
Saragon (JC Photographics)
However, the fact she was entered showed she is well regarded and that was just her fifth career start too. She has subsequently been unbeaten in two starts over a mile and was doing her best work late in both. She has a plum draw of two. Being Fabulous has always had a touch of class and has become more reliable lately. She proved she stays this trip when finishing third in the East Coast Handicap over 2000m at Greyville in May. Tammany Hall has been a touch disappointing but did run well last time over 1600m. However, she was well weighted in that Assessment Plate and back in a handicap it will be tougher. Littlewood is drawn in pole and stays this trip. This is a step up in class but she is in the handicap carrying only 52,5kg so is the dark horse. Bondiblu would prefer further and Beautiful Shay has an impossible task on paper being 9kg under sufferance.
In the first leg of the PA Coyote Girl looks to be a banker. She has plenty of pace and was not disgraced last time when a four length runner up over this 1000m trip to the promising prospect Dewali. The danger could be the first-timer Light On Her Feet as this Pathfork filly is a full-sister to the decent six-time winner Secret Star and has a nice draw. Secret Star has speed and a fine kick so if her sister is anything like as good she will go close.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1450m the expensive R1,1 million Var mare La Roquette looks to be the one to side. She was beaten two lengths by Zulu Dawn last time but had a bad draw and it was her second run after a long layoff. She should now be cherry ripe and has a plum draw of two. Those two are taken to get punters through the exotics.
In race 5 over 2400m Sailor Girl, who is a daughter of the Gold Cup winner Colonial Girl, has relished the step up to staying trips and can make it a hattrick despite having been given five points for her last win. Cranberry Crush is 1kg under sufferance but carrying a light weight she can be a threat if repeating her fine run over 3200m last time. However, she is only 0,5kg better off with Sailor Girl for a four length beating in a previous race over this trip. Santa Vittoria has struck as one who will enjoy this trip, Knysna Rose must be included and so must Glamarous Scandal.
The next two races are unusual events, maiden handicaps. In the first of them Nuntius Oratorion should enjoy the step up to 2000m. He has scope and does not have much to beat plus he gets weight from three horses.
In the next race, also over 2000m, Stormbourne Thunder looks hard to beat as a hard knocker who will be getting 2kg from the other hard knocker in the field Pachanga. The latter is a touch one-paced but always tries hard and should be right there. Candela finished strongly over 1450m two runs ago and has been tried up to 2600m, so is interesting here carrying a nice galloping weight of 55kg.
In the last race over 1600m Sovereign Reign’s second place finish over this trip in his penultimate start, when beaten narrowly by Come The Day, has worked out well and he followed that up with a good performance over 1400m. He has always been well regarded but does have a tough draw to overcome. Endofmarch could come in well handicapped as horses coming from the strong centre of Cape Town often have suppressed merit ratings. He hasn’t run since his running on second in July over this trip and also has a tough draw. Seventh Of June carries topweight of 61,5kg but is in fine form and has a plum draw so should be thereabouts.
By David Thiselton
