The Turffontein Inside track stages an eight race card on Tuesday and there look to be one or two potential bankers in the exotics.

The first leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m yields a banker opportunity in Aerobatic, who showed good pace over 1400m last time and finished just 2,25 lengths back against some promising sorts. She has very little to beat here and jumps from a good draw with Andrew Fortune up.

In the second leg over 1200m Prince Of War had his best run over 1000m at this course. He was staying on that day from a handy position, so can do well here from a good draw in his third run after a layoff. The two obvious choices are Brave Nation and Bandanna. The latter is better than his last run and is likely improving being by Silvano. Mr Rambo and Flying Russian are on top of those three on form, so also have to be considered.

The third leg is a typically competitive 1000m handicap, but the three which make most appeal are Kapitan, Magic and Captainofmyheart, who all have speed as well as fair draws and good jockeys. Rafa can’t be ignored, while Tommy Waterdevil is capable of running on from behind from a wide draw, and course and distance-suited Gun Fughter is only two points higher for his good last win. Topweight Fidelio is 1kg better off with Gun Fighter for a 0,5 length beating, but does have a tough draw.

The next leg is an E division handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m. Dancing Wall was well regarded earlier in her career and has dropped to a merit rating of 70. She over raced with blinkers on last time and they have been removed, so she is an interesting contender. Winning Sister goes well for Chase Maujean and if able to settle over a trip which is at the upper limit of her stamina range she could make a bold bid from a handy position. This looks sharper than ideal for Dawn Flight, but the strength of S’Manga Khumalo could give her a chance from pole position. However, to make sure of getting through, the whole field will have to be included.

The fifth leg is competitive, but Arlington impressed in his maiden win and with Piere Strydom up from a good draw could be a banker consideration. However, Bush Pilot, Just Cruised In, Smartifact, My Treasure and Patric could give him a lot to think about.

The last is a competitive fillies and mares handicap. Ribbonofmoonlight looks to be crying out for this trip and could score for Strydom from a good draw. Cosmo Russe Fish River Canyon, Bank The Bill, Spring Indeed, Cool Fantasy and Vogue’s Wood also warrant consideration.

By David Thiselton

The Listed Michael Roberts Handicap over 1750m at Scottsville yesterday fittingly saw a top ride by Anthony Delpech aboard the Dean Kannemeyer-trained gelding Mr Winsome.

Mr Winsome usually starts slowly, but Delpech wasn’t concerned, especially as he found himself sitting behind Anton Marcus’s mount Stormy Eclipse.

The horse showed a fine turn of foot in the straight and made up a lot of ground to convert 2/1 favouritism, getting up to beat 18/1 shot Open Heir. Run Rhino Run was third with Caribbean Day, who was 2kg under sufferance, next best and Stormy Eclipse fifth. Gr 3 Christmas Handicap winner Rikitikitana could only manage sixth.

Mr Winsome is yet another son of Silvano who is coming into his own as a four-year-old. He has also benefitted from the layoff he was given during last year’s SA Champions Season, which allowed him to overcome a few issues.

This was Delpech’s third meeting on his return from a broken collarbone and he has already had four winners in just ten rides.

In the first race yesterday, a Juvenile Maiden over 1000m, the Paddy Lunn-trained Sail From Seattle first-timer gelding Autumn Breeze won by 0,25 lengths under Athandiwe Mgudlwa from first-timer Calladdi, who was backed in to 7/20.

The second over 1000m was won by the Tony Rivalland-trained Tiger Ridge gelding La Ferrari under Anton Marcus. The horse is so named because all of his owners drive Ferrari’s and built on his good debut, even though the latter was over three months ago.

The third race over 1200m saw the favourite Danish Cross having to be scratched due to an incident at the start. The Paul Gadsby-trained Rebel King filly Sarabi, having just her second start, remained calm as the horses waited to be reloaded and won comfortably under Lyle Hewitson. Fortunately, the new favourite Fashion Quest came second to help exotic punters.

The fourth over 1200m saw a good win for the big Mark Dixon-trained filly Spiritofadventure, a homebred of Avison and Mary Carlisle’s who was ridden by Marco van Rensburg.

In the fifth over 1200m the course record holder Humidor proved in need of the run and faded late. The Chris Erasmus-trained Yellow Star Stud-homebred Panza, a five-year-old Right Approach gelding, just prevailed from the gallant Albert with Roy’s Airforce flying for third.

The small Dennis Drier-trained Toreador filly Plume del Toro showed the size of her heart to win the next over 1000m under Sean Veale.

The staying race saw the Duncan Howells-trained Golden Sword gelding Sabre Charge repeating his maiden win over this 2400m trip with Keagan de Melo up again.

Howells and De Melo made it a double by winning the last, a fillies 1600m maiden, with Mambo In Seattle filly Pippin.

By David Thiselton

The heavily backed Whisky Baron is beginning to remind Brett Crawford of his 2003 Met winner Angus.

Futura, his winner of two years ago, might seem a more logical comparison – like Whisky Baron, he was a constantly improving four-year-old – but Crawford said: “No, they are two different types of horse and Futura had already proved himself as a three-year-old when he was third in the July.

“But Whisky Baron and Angus have come much the same route even though Angus won the Premier rather than the Peninsula.”

The handicappers raised Whisky Baron seven points to 110 for his impressive two-length win in the Peninsula – ten points was the maximum permitted under the handicapping rules. Sun Met favourite Legal Eagle (123) has to concede 2.5kg of which half a kilo is weight-for-age.

“Whisky Baron started the Cape season off 96 and we still have to improve him another eight points to have a chance of beating Legal Eagle,” said the Philippi trainer. “But he is still improving and, although it’s going to be difficult, I don’t think it’s impossible.”

Whisky Baron, named after Ridgemont Stud owner Wayne Kieswetter who has substantially increased his bloodstock interests by purchasing Highlands, is the main Crawford runner but Queen’s Plate runner-up Captain America was only a length behind Legal Eagle when third in last year’s Met.

“He ran a great race that day – he never stopped,” recalled Crawford. “He has come out of the Queen’s Plate exceptionally well but his best performances have been at a mile.”

BLOB Miss Frankel, so far the only horse in training in South Africa by the undefeated wonder horse, will make her much-awaited debut at Kenilworth on Saturday.

By Michael Clower

Trip To Heaven fairly romped away with the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday but the good news for those left trailing almost four lengths and more in his wake is that he is far from certain to return for the Betting World Cape Flying Championship on Saturday week.

The 3-1 joint favourite has an alarming tendency to lose lengths at the start but S’Manga Khumalo made light of this and bided his time until inside the final furlong. His mount promptly put daylight between himself and the rest despite not even being shown the whip.

Khumalo said: “The plan was to ride him as confidently as possible, all went well and the gaps opened when I wanted them.”

Sean Tarry, calculating that this was his 100^th winner of the season, added: “From day one Trip To Heaven has shown us blistering talent and speed but unfortunately he has issues. I don’t want to detract from the horse by going into them. We’ll see about running in the Cape Flying – it’s not definite.”

Second-placed Tevez had the heavily backed Search Party a short head back third with Red Ray (3-1), racing for the first time for six months, less than half a length away fourth. All are due to renew rivalry in the Cape Flying.

Red Ray’s trainer Joey Ramsden said: “For me it was perhaps a little disappointing but Anton Marcus (“I thought it was a grand run”) was happy and he is the man that counts. He felt he could have been second had he sat closer.”

Lord Balmoral took the Fairview Wines Sophomore Sprint in the manner of a horse that could go close in next year’s Cape Flying when completing a treble for Vaughan Marshall with the Milnerton trainer declaring: “He is a serious horse with massive cruising speed and I think he breaks the others’ hearts.”

Rider MJ Byleveld even rued the absence of Grade 1 winner Cloth Of Cloud (she waits for Met day), saying: “I would love to have taken her on with this one.”

Marcus followed up Friday evening’s Greyville treble with two more winners including the Power King Maiden for Eric Sands who was so confident that he texted the four-time champion to book him for Choir Of Angels the day the entries came out.

Geese tend to become swans when they win – at least in the eyes of those closest to them – but nobody had a good word to say about the apparently inappropriately-named Saint Janine after she came home at 4-1 in the Solid Speed Maiden.

“She’s a real cow,” declared Derek Brugman and he was polite compared with members of the Candice Bass-Robinson team. Seemingly the little madam has a mind of her own and leaves the farriers in no doubt that she won’t have shoes on her hind feet. She takes a similarly violent view about tongue ties and injections. Only assistant trainer Mel Arnold can get near her.

Bold Respect showed his rivals a more conventional pair of heels under Corne Orffer to collect R50 000 for Delma Sherrell in opening Cape Speed Maiden and on Saturday week the Brett Crawford-trained colt will compete for R1 million in the Kuda Sprint.

By Michael Clower

Fairview Monday [Jan 16] tips by INForm

Selections:

Race 1. (11) WHAT A WINNER  (10) RUN FOR YOUR LIFE  (3) BRAVE ENDEAVOUR

Race 2. (9) LET HER FLY  (2) IN YOUR FACE  (10) QUINELIA

Race 3. (1) WARREN PLACE  (3) TRACK-KING  (8) TOUGH HARRY

Race 4. (2) ONE AWAY  (8) RUSH IN  (3) SEATTLE SWING

Race 5. (6) OCHONCAR  (2) TRUE MASTER  (3) GOGETTHESHERIFF

Race 6. (2) BEATABOUTTHEBUSH  (4) TREIZE  (3) SILVAN JAZZ

Race 7. (1) PACIFIC SPIRIT  (5) IN FULL REGALIA  (6) IMPERIAL GUARD

Race 8. (1) SWEETCHILD O MINE  (2) THORNBIRD  (3) ACROSS THE LAKE

Place Accumulator: (R48)

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 1,3

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 6,2

Leg 5: 2

Leg 6: 1,5,6

Leg 7: 1,2,3,7

Pick 6: (R405)

Leg 1: 1,3,8

Leg 2: 2,8,3

Leg 3: 6,2,1

Leg 4: 2

Leg 5: 1,5,6

Leg 6: 1,2,3,7,15

Jackpot: (R36)

Leg 1: 2,8,3

Leg 2: 6,2,1

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 1,5,6,8