The Turffontein Standside nine race meeting tomorrow is headlined by the Listed Swallow Stakes over 1160m and the Mike de Kock-trained Takingthepeace could be the one to beat from a nice high draw.

This Visionaire filly is big and scopey and would have matured a lot since her victory over this course and distance in June. She was still gangly back then and showed pace in a small field before finding extra and drawing clear of the talented London Secret, although she was receiving 3kg from the latter. She won comfortably over  1000m in October, proving she has pace, and she showed her class when staying on strongly from a wide draw for third in the R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Stakes. Winter’s Forge has beaten the classy Winter Watch twice at level weights, including by 5,5 lengths when finishing a one length second in the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery. She now receives 4kg from Winter Watch so must have a big shout if anywhere near her best after an eight month layoff.

Mike De Kock

Tamarina won comfortably on debut for a yard who are known to bring horses on steadily, so she could be anything. Winter Watch has always struck as a classy sort and is starting to come into her own as a three-year-old. She is officially the joint-second best in at the weights and has proven worthy of her 95 merit rating. San Fermin is an interesting runner as she was rumoured hard to beat on Summer Cup day in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile after showing an exceptional turn of foot in her debut over 1400m and winning by seven lengths. She went out like a light in the Fillies Mile and was found to be fatigued and striding short. She now has a tongue tie on over a sprint trip, so can’t be ignored, although she does have a low draw which could be unfavourable.

Covered In Snow beat the promising Schippers to win her maiden over this course and distance and then won a handicap easily over this same course and distance next time out off a merit rating of 78. She was raised to 85, but might prove better than that in time and she is also one to include in the exotics. London secret can’t be ignored as she is up with Takingthepeace on paper over this course and distance and followed up that run by running a 2,15 length sixth in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper over 1400m at Greyville. She returns from a 196 day layoff.

Jazaalah is better than her last run when a firecracker led from start to finish over 1000m. She will appreciate the step up to 1160m and can defy her lowly merit rating from a Standside draw, which is usually favourable over this course and distance. Frederico’s Dream has always been well regarded and is 2,5kg better off with Varsity Girl for a 0,7 length beating over course and distance so can make her presence felt. They are selected in the order mentioned.

The best bet is selected to be Excalibur’s Return in race five over 2000m. She goes for a hattrick and the form of her last race has been franked, so this filly by Golden Sword can progress further from a rating of a mere 77. She had a tougher draw than Emerald Bay last time, but beat her by 0,25 lengths and she now faces her on 0,5kg better terms and there is a reversal of draw fortunes in her favour too. Furthermore, she is a three-year-old and Emerald Bay is a four-year-old, so if weight for age is included she is actually 1,5kg better off.

In the seventh over 1400m The Puma has struck as a classy sort and jumps from pole position over an ideal trip with a 1,5kg claimer up. He is returning from a layoff of 121 days though, so the improved 1400m specialist Bold Coast, as well as Bonnie Prince, Al Fahad, Christofle and Full Of Attitude must also be considered.

By David Thiselton

Ryker found one too good for him in the form of Sir David Baird in the KZN Guineas Trial but can get back to winning ways when he runs in the Soccer 13 Handicap at Scottsville on Sunday.

Gavin Lerena, who was aboard Sir David Baird for Mike de Kock, had the race susses before they even jumped, always a sign of a good jockey.

“I knew he was a difficult ride,” Lerena said post-race of Ryker. “I know that he pulls so I slowed it down and made it difficult for Anthony (Delpech).” Garth Puller, who saddled a double at Greyville last Wednesday, has brought Ryker back to a sprint and it may well prove to be a smart move although Delpech has jumped ship to partner Sunset Eyes, the horse he won on for Brett Crawford last time out.

Ryker

Sunset Eyes was making his debut on the poly and picked up a four-pound penalty for his efforts. A tongue-tie appears to have seen him turn the corner and he could well follow up.

Cumulus has consistent form and was a beaten favourite last run. His two best efforts have come on the turf so he cannot be ignored while top weight Amazon King has come down in the ratings. He has four-claiming apprentice Luke Ferraris up and they can upset to give the young rider his first winner.

Verdier made a smart debut for Mark Dixon after showing some useful Cape form in strong company. The extra tomorrow in the Racing. It’s A Rush Handicap should suit and he can go one better. Baltic Amber has been a soldier for Duncan Howells and his owners and is again over his best course and distance and could prove the main threat to Verdier.

Apprentice Ashton Arries is full value for his 1.5kg claim and that could just make the difference between first and second.

In the opening race the unfamiliar name of D Muscutt appears behind the name of Falkland, a winner of a barrier trail.

Peter Muscutt is the KZN assistant trainer to the powerful Brett Crawford yard and his son Daniel will be riding for their stable and Ivan and Darryl Moore. The twenty-two-year old has four rides, three for Crawford and one for the Moores. Daniel has ridden in South Africa before. He started in Cape Town early in his career as an apprentice and now rides in the United Kingdom for trainers James Fanshawe and Marco Botti and is in South Africa on a three-week busman’s holiday. Last season he rode 45 winners in the UK including two Listed races.

Muscutt may have to wait awhile for his first holiday winner as the lightly raced Shantytown races in blinkers for the first time and his two best efforts have been at Scottsville.

Staying races, and especially those in the higher divisions, often attract disappointingly small fields but punters will have their work cut out in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap where five of the six runners have obvious chances in the 2400m event and pace will be crucial.

Anthony Delpech is 17 winners clear of his nearest rival on the national jockey’s log, apprentice Lyle Hewitson, and seems well set for his second consecutive jockey’s championship. He more than likely had the choice of the two Kannemeyer runners, Mr O’Neill and One Man Show, and has picked the latter whose last win came over course and distance beating Techno Captain who is now 5kg better off in the handicap.

In theory that should be more than enough to turn the tables but the likes of Chicago Beat, Pyrenees In Spain and Mr O’Neill all come into the reckoning in what will be a tactical encounter.

By Andrew Harrison

Seasoned horseman Peter Muscutt is the KZN assistant trainer to the powerful Brett Crawford yard and his son, Daniel Muscutt, will be riding for their stable and Ivan and Darryl Moore’s on Sunday at Scottsville. The twenty-two-year old has four rides on the eight-race programme, three for Crawford and one for the Moore’s. Daniel has ridden in South Africa as he started in Cape Town early in his career as an apprentice. Muscutt rides in the United Kingdom for trainers James Fanshawe and Marco Botti and is in South Africa for a three-week busman’s holiday. Last season the youngster rode 45 winners including two Listed races. His first ride in a Group One was in America in the Arlington Million where he failed narrowly, flying up to run second, beaten a neck on Fanciful Angel.

By Warren Lenferna

The Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth, a weight for age plus penalties event, is always a good pointer to the Grade 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships and on Saturday all eyes will be on the Diadem defending champion Trip To Heaven.

Trip to Heaven (JC Photographics)

Trip To Heaven put up probably the performance of the season last year in the Cape Flying. He is a notoriously slow starter and was left tailed off after dwelling in the stalls. However, he has excellent cruising speed and a devastating turn of foot. He showed it that day, as he went within 0,3 lengths of catching the subsequently named Equus Champion Sprinter Carry On Alice, despite having experienced traffic problems. This 1200m trip is more down his alley as it gives him more time to make up the leeway as he does see out the distance. He disappointed in three runs subsequent to the Cape Flying last season, but made an excellent comeback recently over 1160m at Turffontein. He lost about three lengths in the latter race and was flying home for a 1,2 length third, despite carrying 61,5kg and giving the winner Kangaroo Jack 1,5kg. He looks to be back in form and the six-year-old Trippi gelding will be attempting to repeat his effort last year, when losing two lengths yet still cruising in by 3,75 lengths.

Sergeant Hardy has won six out of ten starts at Kenilworth and won the Listed Southeaster Sprint last time over 1100m with 61kg on his back by a comfortable 1,75 lengths. He has a lot of pace and is ominously drawn one. He was drawn one for the Southeaster and Bernard Fayd’Herbe took him straight to the rail which he used to his advantage throughout the race.

A most interesting runner will be the three-year-old Mujaafy. Officially he is way out at the weights, but is unexposed. This good looking, rangy colt will relish the step up to this trip and will be able to use his big stride, as he is drawn two so will be able to sit behind Sergeant Hardy.

Wonderwall and Dutch Phillip are two other three-year-olds with both speed and class and they are sure to be thereabouts.

Always In Charge is a Grade 1-winning sprinter who now dons blinkers. He is capable of winning and Anton Marcus is aboard.

The talented but enigmatic Attenborough can never be written off, for if things go his way he packs a strong finish.

Search Party is ideally course and distance suited and has his third run after a layoff.

Eight-year-old Tevez proved last time out he is still capable of producing his familiar flying finish and he finished second in this race last year.

By David Thiselton

Dean Kannemeyer is to take the unbeaten Hashtagyolo to Turffontein for the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and possibly for the SA Fillies Classic.

Hashtagyolo

He said: “Hashtagyolo is a November foal so we went the easy Durban route rather the Cape Town one. Her last win was impressive, she is a big rangey filly with scope and I know she will like Turffontein.

“So she will run in the Fillies Guineas there on 3 March. If she performs well and comes through it alright she will then go for the Fillies Classic (also sponsored by Wilgerbosdrift) five weeks later.”

The Dynasty filly is unbeaten in three starts, most notably in the Flamboyant Stakes at Greyville on New Year’s Eve.

By Michael Clower