David Thiselton
The Turffontein Standside meeting today is headlined by a MR 100 Handicap and Max The Magician could be the one to side with presuming his number one draw is not disadvantageous.
The straight course used to favour high draws but seems to have ironed out lately and the five-year-old What A Winter gelding was unlucky in his last start when full of running and having nowhere to go. He eventually switched in for a run and was beaten 0,90 lengths into fourth. Gavin Lerena keeps the ride and the horse is 1,5kg better off with the winner of that race Vibe SA for the 0,90 length beating.
Vibe SA was held up that day and ran on very well and Kyle Strydom is back aboard. He should make a bold bid although considering Max The Magician was unlucky and has a weight turnaround the latter is preferred.
Antonio Gaudi is tipped to finish second ahead of Vibe SA, because he looks to be coming into his own, although he does have a five point raise to overcome and he also won’t have the 1,5kg allowance of Mickaelle Michel that he had last time. Echo Check looked promising at one stage before going off the boil, but headgear has helped and a drop in merit rating should help him too, so he will be a threat.
Pumpkin Pie has some class and ran a good second on debut over this trip, so returning from a seven month layoff he could be effective running fresh over this trip. Dante’s Bond ran on well over course and distance last time and meets Vibe SA on the same terms for a neck beating but he is officially 1,5kg under sufferance, although Mickaelle Michel ‘s 1.5kg claim will help.
In the first leg of the Pick 6, Boundless Love has a better draw than last time when caught wide early and maybe wasting some energy. He will also prefer this slight step down in trip. The Playboy Bomber is in fine form and has a chance off a three point higher mark for a good win last time, although he has a tricky draw. Best Candidate was game in victory last time and the form has been franked, although the concern is he did make a respiratory noise and he was also raised seven points. He sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and has a plum draw of two.
In the fifth race over 1800m, Heal And Soul had some decent middle distance form in Cape Town and should have come on from his Highveld debut when running on well for third over a too sharp 1450m. In December he finished just a neck behind Note To Self over this distance and he has got pole position. Dr Strangelove won well when stepped up to 2000m third time out and he starts off on a reasonable 78 merit rating, so will be a threat from a fair draw. Page Boy has always looked to be a promising sort, so now that he won nicely last time, his second career win, he could have a chance of following up. However, he does have a tough draw.
In the sixth over 1600m, Brave Waam looks to be a progressive sort and can do well from a good draw off an opening handicap mark of 79 in his fifth career start. Knowmore stayed on resolutely to win his maiden over this trip and he should be staying on from a wide draw off an opening mark of 74, because the form has worked out well. Redlightgreenlight is a nice sort who is beginning to mature and his last run looks worse on paper because he ended up right at the back from a wide draw. If he breaks better than in his penultimate start, when third over this course and distance, then he could go close from a plum draw of two under Rachel Venniker, whose 1,5kg claim will be handy.
In the eighth over 1160m, Gunboat has a fine chance as he beat Ready Set Fire in his penultimate start giving the latter 4,5kg and now gets half-a-kilogram from him. He didn’t have much room last time when fifth and is better than that form appears and the winner was the decent Catfish, so he has a good chance in this field. Geostorm is a full-brother to champion sprinter Buffalo Storm Cody and has his third run after a layoff here so should go close off an 80 rating as he has scope for improvement. Evening Parade came through to win comfortably second time out and this two-year-old can do well under Gavin Lerena off an 84 merit rating.
In the ninth over 1400m, Winston’s Wonder ran on well from the back in first-time blinkers last time after being dropped out from a wide draw and he is now well drawn. Life In Colour is 1kg under sufferance but this well related two-year-old, who is by Malmoos and is a half-sister to the high class Duke Of Marmalade sprinter True To Life, can do well here over a suitable trip from a fair draw. Drivelikeamaster hit the front too soon down the Vaal straight last time and can do better.
In the third race over 1000m Umizngeli Wenyathi is in fine form and with Rachel Venniker’s 1,5kg claim can go close. In the second over 1160m Rivera made a good debut and will be hard to beat. In the first over 1160m, Rising Eagle is the one to beat after making a good debut from this same number one draw over course and distance.
