There is a quality ten race meeting at Turffontein Inside track on Saturday and a number of big guns are stepping out.

Juxtapose is one of them and could get punters off to a good start in race 2, a conditions plate for fillies and mares over 1600m. This four-year-old by Judpot is drawn widest of all, but it should be no problem as she likes to come from off the pace. She is full of class and could mow them down in the straight, the only slight concern being this is her second run after a five month layoff. The dangers are the three-year-old Querari Falcon and the four-year-old Negroamara. Small field races like this one, in which there are only seven runners, tend to favour front runners. Querari Falcon used this to her advantage on 27 September over course and distance, dicating and then stealing a march on Negroamara to win comfortably by 2,75 lengths.

However, Negroamara is now 3kg better off and the highly professional Anton Marcus, who replaces the equally astute Gavin Lerena, will have a reference point from which to work. The wily Marcus is likely to do all in his power to prevent a repeat. However, if the end result is a faster paced race, it will play into the hands of Juxtapose. It is sure to be an intriguing race, one for the purist, and it looks to lie between those three runners. On paper Negroamara is the one to beat, being 3,5kg better off with Juxtapose on official merit ratings. She is also 4kg better off with latter for a mere 0,4 length beating in last season’s Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m. Querari Falcon is the highest merit rated horse in the field, but taking the weight for age scale into account she is a whopping 7kg under sufferance with Negroamara. However, Juxtapose is the choice as it the race could pan out in her favour and she looks to be the one who could ultimately be the best of the three this season.

There are some good sorts turning out in race 5, a MR 90 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m. The Great Britain three-year-old filly Wrecking Ball looks to have plenty of class and is interesting with a first-time tongue tie on. She is the selection to beat the pole position-drawn top weight Easy Game, who has dropped to a competitive merit rating and has Anthony Delpech up. There is very little between Easy Game and her Mike Azzie-trained stablemate Announcing Rain on their last meeting over 1000m down the straight at Turffontein. The latter was undone by a tough draw on Grand Heritage day and could make amends here from a plum draw. The in-form Johan Janse van Vuuren is represented by Seattle Lady, who won comfortably over 1200m on rand Heritage day from a plum draw. Her merit rating was not effected as she was well weighted in that race. She is held by Easy Game and Announcing Rain on a 1000m event down the straight, but her draw could well have been against her that day and is now drawn five, which is better but still tricky. Bonnie Dawn won her first two races over this trip and the form looks strong, but she disappointed on Grand Heritage day over this same trip and has a tough draw to overcome here.

In race 6, a MR 91 Handicap over 1450m for three-year-old fillies, the Mike de Kock-trained Australian-bred New Approach filly Dame Eleanor has her second start after winning in eye-catching style on debut from a tough draw over 1200m at Scottsville. She will relish the step up in trip and can follow up from a good draw under Anthony Delpech.

In race 7, a MR 96 Handicap for three-year-olds over 1450m, De Kock runs a classy Australian-bred colt by Redoute’s Choice called Al Fahad. His maiden win is probably the form race of the season to date. He beat Doosra by 0,2 lengths, with the promising Matador Man 2,45 lengths back, and there was then more than ten lengths back to the rest. Doosra has since won impressively and had the field spread out like the washing. Mexican Sun, who was beaten 12,25 lengths by Al Fahad, has also won. Al Fahad should be up to his 89 merit rating and is drawn well over a step up in trip he should relish with Delpech aboard.

In race 8, a MR 100 Handicap over 1450m, Lunar Approach looks to be back to himself and is well drawn off what could prove to be an attractive merit rating.

David Thiselton

Kenilworth Saturday (old course) Race Previews by Warren Lenferna

1

Preview: LLOYD’S LEGACY is by a very good stallion and could well be anything – trainer Dennis Drier has not taken him to the Cape to see Table Mountain! He must be there for business – watch the betting – he could make a winning debut. SCRIPTWRITER showed good improvement last time and of the raced runners looks the right one. GLORIOUS GOODWOOD returns from a rest but does have the form to be competitive if not in too much need of the run. (Warren Lenferna 9-10-1)

2

Preview: COUNT HENRY has run two good races thus far and now looks ready to score. COPPER FORCE returns from a rest but did make a good debut before that – he came back from well off the pace to finish fourth – big runner. The exact same thing can be said about VERDIER. (Warren Lenferna 7-6-12)

3

Preview: PRIMROSE LANE clearly has tons of ability as she is unbeaten in two starts. She has an incredible turn of foot and I can find no reason why she cannot reel off the hat trick and remain unbeaten. MAKE IT RAINE has won two from three and also clearly has tons of ability. She is returning from a rest and if not in too much need of this run should be able to go very close once again. ROCK ON BABY was impressive when winning her penultimate start but disappointed last time – she is in Cape Town for the season and whatever happens today she will be one to watch for the future. (Warren Lenferna 8-7-4)

4

Preview: ROYAL GINGER has been knocking hard at the door recently and today looks to be his day – he should be very hard to beat in this field. PADDINGTON can improve to find a place and SEA PASS improved when tried over this trip and is a must for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 1-10-6)

5

Preview: STAR CHESTNUT has very consistent form, the best draw and a lot points to him winning this race – he is the firm first choice. He also seems best over this distance. If he does not win – he should be right there. BRILLIANT CRIMSON got going when the race was over last time and the extra distance today should suit him down to the ground – big runner. ROYAL BADGE ran a cracker last time but has been rested since. If he is not too much in need of the run he should be very competitive – blinkers helped last time. (Warren Lenferna 4-5-3)

6

Preview: AFRICAN NIGHT SKY was very impressive when making a winning debut 24 days ago and should be even better over the distance he tries today. He has been confidently selected to remain unbeaten after this race today. FREE AGENT and SUMMER SKY have solid form and they both have undeniable chances – it would be silly to ignore their chances for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 6-1-8)

7

Preview: COLOUR MAGIC is holding her form well and has a very strong each way chance and could well be the horse they all have to fear most. ESSENCEOFLIFE has improved with racing, won well last time and if she were to follow up it would be no shock at all. TENDER TRIP did okay in KZN – she will have to do a bit more to win this race but nevertheless she can be given a very strong place chance. (Warren Lenferna 1-10-3)

8

Preview: FRANCIA has won two out of her last three starts and looks very much on the up – she could be a hard horse to beat this afternoon. MY WORLD is always there and thereabouts and nothing should be different today – strong chance. CIGAR BOY is coming to form again and is worth including in the quartet in a small but fairly competitive race. (Warren Lenferna 3-4-6)

9

Preview: CORKER has solid form and has shown in her last two starts that she is ready to win her second career start. HARAKIRI gets four valuable kg’s off her back from the apprentice and this should put her right there at the finish – chance. STATE BALLET is lightening fast and bidding for the hat trick – if she were to win it would be no shock at all. (Warren Lenferna 7-2-1)

Turffontein Saturday (inside track) Race Previews by David Thiselton

Race 1:

Preview: CIDADA by Galileo has her third career start over a step up in trip she will relish and she could now be ready to show the promise her pedigree suggests she should have. VOGUE’S WOOD had some fair Cape Town form and should have come on from his last run which followed a layoff of over a year. CAITLIN’S ANSWER is knocking on the door over this trip and doesn’t face an inspiring field. (David Thiselton 4-1-2)

Race 2:

Preview: JUXTAPOSE is full of class and was flying late over 1450m last time in her seasonal reappearance, so is the one to beat from pole position over a step up in trip she will appreciate. QUERARI FALCON is 3,5kg under sufferance with Juxtapose on official merit ratings, but won well over course and distance last time and is progressive. NEGROAMARA is 3kg better off with Querari Falcon for a 2,75 length beating so there shouldn’t be much in it. (David Thiselton 1-4-5)

Race 3:

Preview: CAPTAINOFMYHEART has been knocking on the door off this merit rating and loves this course and distance so can go close from a good draw. MORPHEUS is only three points higher than his last win and is drawn well with a 1,5kg claimer up. MR MULLINER won the last time he tried this course and distance, albeit off a six point lower mark, and has a fair draw. (David Thiselton 11-1-3)

Race 4:

Preview: RACETHEGREENLIGHT has gone close in both starts and should be improving being by Gimmethegreenlight. He was doing good work late last time over 1000m and can overcome a wide draw here with Marcus up. STEAL A MARCH was also making inroads in that 1000m event to finish just a length behind Racethegreenlight. He now has a better draw than the latter. UNREHEARSED is by New Appproach out of a Danehill mare who has produced a five-time winning sprinter by Hussonet. (David Thiselton 9-4-10)

Race 5:

Preview: WRECKING BALL looks a fair sort in the making and can prove it here with a first-time tongue tie on. EASY GAME is topweight but is drawn in pole over course and distance with Delpech up and she has dropped to a competitive merit rating. ANNOUNCING RAIN had a tough draw to overcome on Grand Heritage day and can do better here from a good draw. SEATTLE LADY won comfortably last time over 1200m and represents a very much in form yard. At the weights she looks held by Easy Game and Announcing Rain on their meeting over 1000m down the Turffontein straight, but on the other hand her low draw might not have been favourable that day so she can’t be ignored. BONNIE DAWN disappointed on Grand Heritage day, but the form of her first two career starts, both victories over 1000m, is very good. PERFUMED LADY is one point lower after running a fair race over course and distance last time. (David Thiselton 4-1-8)

Race 6:

Preview: DAME ELEANOR won well on debut over 1200m from a tough draw at Scottsville and has a good draw here over a step up in trip she will relish. SWEET LADY JADE is going the right way and is well drawn over a suitable trip. INTRIGUING LADY has disappointed twice when stepped up to 1400m, but on pedigree she should enjoy it, so is worth another chance.  (David Thiselton 3-5-2)

Race 7:

Preview: AL FAHAD beat a good sort on debut over 1200m and should appreciate the step up in trip. BOLD VIKING, who won well on debut over 1200m, has a light weight to carry over a step up in trip he will appreciate and can do better than last time when slow away and casting a shoe. OOMPH hasn’t displayed his best since leaving PE, but should come on from his decent last run and this is also his second run after gelding. (David Thiselton 2-5-1)

Race 8:

Preview: LUNAR APPROACH is back to himself after a necessary rest and in his third run back is the one to beat off an attractive merit rating, a good draw and the blinkers on. MOOFEED ran well over course and distance two runs ago from a similar low draw and a repeat should see him involved. DEPUTY JUD should run well fresh over a trip too sharp from a good draw as he is handy type who can gallop on resolutely. JANOOBI has class and will appreciate the step up in trip, so is interesting in his reappearance, but on the downside he is 1,5kg under sufferance on official merit ratings. MASTER N’COMMANDER could do well from a good draw over a trip he has won over, although it is his second run after an eight month layoff. (David Thiselton 8-5-4)

Race 9:

Preview: TRICIA DUPONT disappointed last Saturday over 1800m when finding no finish. However, she is now one point lower than her last winning mark and her best performances recently have come over this trip and beyond. COOL FANTASY ran an improved race last time out over course and distance when drawn well for a change. She is now drawn in pole and the same jockey is up. FLIRTING AROUND, SEAL MY FATE, BRIGHT BRONTE, CRANBERRY CRUSH and CONSEQUENTIALLY also have to be considered in an open race. (David Thiselton 3-10-4)

Race 10

Preview: BLUE DIAMOND ROAD is drawn in pole and proved his suitability to this trip last time. SINGAPORE SLING doesn’t face an easy task carrying topweight against older horses in just his second career start, but he looks classy and faces an uninspiring field.  KING GERARD has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight and is drawn well over a trip he can handle. (David Thiselton 2-1-12)

 

The highlight of yesterday’s eight race Greyville meeting was a Graduation Plate over 1200m and it produced a thrilling finish with the Dean Kannemeyer-trained four-year-old Trippi filly Impala Lily denying the favourite Dawn Calling, having been brought from well off the pace by Anthony Delpech.

Dawn Calling, who was officially the best weighted horse in the race, appeared to have it wrapped up when catching the second-best weighted horse Free State close to home. The latter had been taken to the front from a wide draw. However, Dawn Calling could not find any extra to repel a flying Impala Lily, who was officially 2kg under sufferance with the runner up.

Punters got off to a good start when the even money favourite Terabyte held on to win a maiden for three-year-olds over 1600m. The Dennis Drier-trained Jay Peg colt’s headstrong antics were solved by a noseband and a decision to take him to the front. He settled beautifully and jockey Sean Veale later allowed Storm Outgoing to take it up. Terabyte held on by 0,5 lengths despite being green in the straight.

However, three-year-old males in major centres are not allowed to be rated less than a net 64 if they win their maiden in their first five starts, even if it’s a weak polytrack event, so the minimum rating Terabyte will be awarded is an 80. This will make it tough for him in his first handicap.

In the second, a maiden for three-year-old fillies over 1600m, the Duncan Howells-trained Kahal filly Miss Suey came with a storming run from off the pace to win by 1,5 lengths under Keagan de Melo, despite starting odds of 100/1. She had been beaten 21,9 lengths over 1200m on debut. However, Howells had told De Melo to expect a good run in the parade ring. The 22/10 favourite Queen Diva finished second. This saved place accumulator and bipot punters, as the winner’s 40/1 shot stablemate Roy’s Kaitrina finished third.

In the third, a maiden over 1200m, the Gareth van Zyl-trained Sail From Seattle three-year-old gelding Zloty Potok was given a finely judged ride by Warren Kennedy, coming from off them to sweep past the favourite Prince Myshkin and win by 1,75 lengths at odds of 4/1.  Gareth will be acquiring his own official licence in a week’s time.

In the fourth, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m, the Michael Roberts-trained three-year-old King’s Chapel filly Go With Flo built on a fair debut by wearing down the leader Sonic AP and winning by a length. She started 22/10 second favourite. Sonic AP finished second and the 16/10 favourite Gusheshe was third.

The sixth, a MR 62 handicap over 1200m, was won comfortably by the Dennis Bosch-trained 33/10 favourite King Django, a typically improving four-year-old colt by Go Deputy, who was ridden by Anton Marcus.

The seventh, a MR 74 Handicap over 1400m, saw a deserved win for the Gavin van Zyl-trained eight-year-old Australian-bred Hussonet gelding Tipo Tinto and this clinched a double for De Melo.

The eighth, a MR 74 Handicap over 2000m, was run at a crawl and the Alyson Wright-trained Brave Tin Soldier colt Jama ridden by Brandon Lerena just got the better of the Dean Kannemeyer-trained favourite Tanjiro. Jockey Anthony Delpech objected on the grounds of interference in the closing stages, but it was overruled.

David Thiselton

The Vaal stages the first leg of the three-legged 2016/2017 Workrider’s Challenge on Thursday. The eight races are all relatively weak maidens, but this will not diminish the annual excitement this meeting generates. There is a prize of R5,000 for the leading rider at each of the three meetings and the overall Challenge prize money is R20,000 for first, R10,000 for second and R5,000 for third. The points format is weighted in favour of consistency. A first place finish earns ten points, a second place seven points, third five points and fourth three points. Last year’s runaway Challenge winner was Sam Mosia on 131 points, beating Francis Semela on 72 points, Chamu Mabaya on 59 points, Joe Gwingwizha on 51 points and Charles Ndlovu on 47 points.

The accomplished Tshepiso Matsoele could get off to a good start. In the first race for fillies and mares over 1200m he rides the Visionaire filly Secret Vision, who ran on well over this trip last time for second, despite having earlier broken through the starting stalls. Mosia rides the hard knocking Goodness Me in this race and she should go close too. In her only unplaced effort last time she still finished close despite jumping from the worst of the draw. She now has the pole position draw going around the bend. There are two interesting first-timers in this race. Ahajeez should have speed and class being by Western Winter out of a promising Australian-bred mare who only ran six times, but won three of them over trips from 1600m to 2400m. She is from the Mike de Kock yard who are famous for having all of their horses fit enough. Al Danza by Captain Al is a full sister to the useful The Captain’s Tune, who has won three races from 1400m to 1600m. Her other siblings are the fair sprinter Night Editor and the sprinter to 1400m horse Due And Payable, so she looks likely to have plenty of speed, but she has a tough draw to overcome. Chimese Whisper has fair form at first sight, but looks to be a moderate sort who is going to struggle to ever win a race.

In the second over 1000m Collabro is by Var and is a half-brother to none other than Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle. He made a good debut on Grand Heritage day over 1200m considering he jumped from the wrong side of the track and had no cover for most of the journey. He finished 8,6 lengths back, but was in fifth place of 16 horses and the winner was the highly promising Doosra. Goodman Dadamisi, who has a fine recent strike rate, is in the irons. Matsoele should be involved in the finish again as he rides the hard knocking Lebanese Tractor. Plum British is one to watch here as he dislodged his jockey on debut, having found some betting support before that.

Ndlovu, who finished second in the Challenge to the now high flying Lyle Hewitson two seasons ago, could win the third over 1000m for fillies and mares aboard the hard knocking and improving At A Glance. Lily Love is an interesting runner here as she has exceptional speed and it didn’t work last time when they tried to hold her up. If allowed to use her pace she can go close. Silver Jay has been backed both starts and must be considered, Berdanine, with Mosia up, would be no surprise winner having run well in her last two. Street Affair, Sea Revenant and Truth Of Beauty are three others who can’t be ignored.

Mosia is aboard the probable best bet of the day in the next race over 1600m, the Ormond Ferraris-trained Rubybay. This weak fillies and mares event over 1600m should be at the her mercy from pole position as none of the others have shown enough to be considered winners. She was a touch disappointing the last time she ran over this trip, but she had to overcome a wide draw that day and will likely be more handy this time. African Rhumba looks the main danger after a fair debut.

The fifth over 1800m is the most competitive race on the card and the whole field might have to be included in the Pick 6. Voodoo is the selection to win as he showed improvement over 2000m last time under this same rider Beto Mundluvo.

The sixth over 2000m for fillies and mares could go to Mosia as he is aboard the hard knocking and improving Malala, who is well drawn over an ideal course and distance.

The seventh over 1450m for fillies and mares is an interesting event. The one who looks to have the most promise is Bi Pot, who ran on well after being green on debut. However, she has a tough draw to overcome under Goodman Dadamisa. Third Dan and Doubly Attractive make most appeal of the others. However, Aerobatic can also be considered and an interesting runner is Pretty Popular, who ran well on debut and now, in her third start from pole position, has the blinkers on for the first time.

The meeting could be wrapped up with an upset win in the 1450m event for fillies and mares by Ndlovu aboard the long time maiden Kings Landing. She caught the eye running on strongly over 1200m last time and does not have a lot to beat here from a good draw. The front running Brave Nation could be dangerous and Payne’s Grey might enjoy the step down in trip. Queen Anne and Just As Frisky also have to be considered.

David Thiselton