Turffontein Standside hosts a classy nine race meeting tomorrow, which includes three stakes event features.

In the Gr 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m, Bull Valley is right up with Trip To Heaven on paper and the latter has proved himself the best sprinter in the country. However, Bull Valley’s number one draw might be unfavourable. Dollar Dazzler can never be ignored over this course and distance. The lightly raced Graduation Day is full of ability. Gr 1 runner up African Ruler is in good form. The lightning fast fillies Wrecking Ball and Queen Laurie will likely attempt to steal it, but would prefer 1000m.

Trip to Heaven (JC Photographics)

The Gr 2 Colorado Stakes over 2000m is a nightmare to assess and punters might be best advised to include the top six in all of their exotics. The race is likely being used by most runners as a preparation for the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge. Furthermore, all of them bar Deo Juvente will incur a 1kg Gr 2 penalty if they win. Deo Juvente’s Gr 2 win was less than 18 months ago, so he has already incurred it. Twice Gr 1 winner French Navy has not won a race for 497 days. He was similarly well weighted in last year’s race and only managed third place. He beat Brazuca by a head in the Premier’s Champions Challenge last year and, if the standard weight for age scale is taken into account, is now 2kg better off. He is 6,5kg better off with Deo Juvente for a 0,4 length beating in the 2015 Summer Cup. Deo Juvente likely needed his last run when going close over 1800m and on paper holds Samurai Blade from that outing, as he beat him by 1,25 lengths and is now 1kg better off. On the other hand Samurai Blade only has 0,75 lengths to find on Brazuca from their meeting in last year’s Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m. Brazuca should have benefitted from his recent win over 1600m and although held by French Navy on Sun Met form, there is a reversal in draw fortunes here. Kings Archer is officially 9kg under sufferance with French Navy, but can’t be ignored in this muddling type of race as he is by stamina influence A P Arrow and tries the trip for the first time. He is out of sprinter by Fasileyev, but has been seen to run on resolutely over 1600m before. Front runner Stonehenge finished second in this race last year, but has been off form recently.

In the Gr 3 Sycamore Sprint over 1160m, She’s A Dragon was unlucky in the Bauhinia Sprint over 1000m, will appreciate the step up in trip and is taken to upset Joan Ranger.

The Listed Derby Trial has attracted a below par field and the class of Alaadel is sided with, although the up and coming Whosethebossnow will be a big threat and the promising Last Outlaw is an interesting blinkers strike.

The Listed Oaks Trial could also fall to a top weight, Belle Rose, at the expense of Balalaika, End Game, Emily Jay, Street Gaze and Trellis.

By David Thiselton

Dynasty’s Blossom is a confident choice for the Fillies Maiden Juvenile at Kenilworth tomorrow. This R4.5 million purchase looked a certain future winner when making a promising debut a fortnight ago and the extra furlong should be in her favour.

The Joey Ramsden filly ran on nicely after making a slow start and had the much more experienced Cosmic Dust over four lengths behind. She is drawn on the rails and is rated 2kg clear of the next best, Rings And Things.

Joey Ramsden (Kenilworth Racing)

The handicappers don’t normally release any two-year-old ratings until the handicaps start next month but on this occasion the results of their calculations slipped through the net.

The other two-year-old race is much more problematical. Pen-Chan, well beaten when over four lengths-second to the admittedly smart Valedictorian, is top-rated of those that have raced and would have to be the tip unless there is significant money for any of the newcomers.

Those that appear to be the choice of the top stables cost between R500 000 (Supreme Orator) and R100 000 (Pinwheel and the appropriately-named Endofmarch) although Querari’s Secret (R280 000) commands the most respect at this stage even though her pedigree suggests she wants further.

The sahorseracing computer goes for Pen-Chan – but it conveniently ignores all the unraced horses!

Dalibhunga, bred in the purple – by Var out of dual SA Fillies Sprint winner Joie De Grise, has a lot to make up on the top three in the finale on a strict form interpretation of his Valentine’s Day debut but there was a lot of promise about the performance. He lost several lengths at the start after playing up in the pens but he made up six lengths in the last 300m.  He should be good enough.

Arctic Green started favourite when fourth to Miss Stake a month ago – probably because rider Anton Marcus was on a roll – but she did suffer some interference and she finished only half a length behind Daring Miss who re-opposes in the Racing Association Maiden. The Tab sheet has her at 10-1 and at that price you can back her each way. Weston has some decent form but has been off since early January while the Inspired Choice form has not worked out that well.

BLOB Last year’s Woolavington winner Bela-Bela leaves Cape Town for Durban tomorrow morning and will have her first race of the KZN season in the City Of Pietermartizburg Fillies Sprint at Scottsville.

By Michael Clower

Anton Marcus and Anthony Delpech ride many a false favourite as their mere presence in the saddle trims much of the fat off returns, be it the tote or bookmakers. Piere Strydom is outspoken in this regard and has been vilified in some quarters as being a poor sport and just making excuses.

Anton Marcus (Nkosi Hlophe)

The simple fact is that riders of the ilk of Delpech, Marcus and Strydom are at the top of the pile because of sheer ability and as a consequence can cherry-pick rides. However, they may not necessary be on the best rides, but only on the best mounts they could secure as many stables also having preferred riders. Often in their defence a horse whose form suggests that it is say a 5-1 chance can start as short as 16-10 simply because of who’s been pencilled in to ride.

That said, Delpech and Marcus look set to fight out the first leg of the Greyville PA this evening where Delpech will be aboard likely ante-post favourite Georgina for Alyson Wright with Marcus in the saddle on Saint Karli for Jeff Freeman. The two fillies met last time out with Georgina shading Saint Karli so with two top riders in action and the balance of the field nothing to write home about we should be in for a tactical battle between two of the best.

Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

Beaten favourite Modesty can get the Jackpot rolling and make amends for her disappointing last effort when starting at a short-price. She was all at sea on the soft Scottsville track and a switch to the firmer poly could bring out the best in Duncan Howells’s filly.

Dean Kannemeyer’s runner Figaro makes his local debut in the Track & Ball Gaming Plate after showing some promise in the Cape and is the likely favourite. The Silvano gelding is rated far superior to anything else in the field and although this will be his first outing since gelding, if the ratings are correct he should be difficult to beat even if not at his peak. Of the opposition, Kali’s King improved with gelding and back over a more suitable trip could pose a threat.

Mr Hallo can round off the evening’s proceedings for Gavin van Zyl and stable rider Warren Kennedy. Since being relocated from Van Zyl’s Gauteng satellite yard, the Kahal gelding has put up two smart showings on the Greyville poly track and although he has picked up three pounds for his recent placings, his rating has dropped from a career high of 84 to tonight’s 67.

By Andrew Harrison

Meydan Selections  Saturday Mar 25

Race 1 (13) KAFUJI TAKE (3) Le Bernadien (8) Heavy Metal (include 2-6-7)

Race 2 (1) FAUCON DE LOUP (10) Sniper De Monlau (12) Handassa (include 11-9-13-7)

Race 3 (12) HEARTBREAK CITY (7) Big Orange (8) Kingfisher (include 1-11-3)

Race 4 (13) THUNDER SNOW (3) Lancaster Bomber (10) Epicharis (include 6-5-9-2)

Race 5 (6) ERTIJAAL (11) Limato (1) Amazing Kids (include 5-3-12)

Race 6 (14) MIND YOUR BISCUITS (11) St Joe Bay (5) Cool Cowboy (include 8-2-6)

Race 7 (2) ZARAK (4) Decorated Knight (6) Mutakayyef (include 13-1-7)

Race 8 (3) HIGHLAND REEL (7) Postponed (5) Prize Money (include 6-2)

Race 9 (9) ARROGATE (5) Gun Runner (12) Hoppertunity (include 7-4-14)

For downloadable Meydan racecards visit www.tabgold.co.za OR http://www.emiratesracing.com/node/3?id=2788

Featuring Paul Lafferty and Budgie Byrne