Turffontein Inside stages a low key nine race meeting on Saturday, a week before the Highveld feature season starts in real earnest.
One of the toughest races on the card is a MR76 handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m and the well-bred Best Kept Secret is the tentative choice. The Captain Al filly now has her third run after a layoff, but on the other hand she does not have as good a draw as last time, when a bit keen and run out of it. However, she will likely be allowed to stride more freely than last time and this could win her the race. The consistent mare Last Girl Standing is widely drawn and often loses ground at the start, but is capable of a strong finish. Secret Vision is well treated on her best form and is well drawn. Amoretta is represents the flying Paul Peter yard and off a 61 merit rating could make her presence felt running with a low weight from a good draw. Polly Wolly Doodle could run well fresh over a trip short of her best and Elusive Strike can’t be ignored from pole position.
Gavin Van Zyl
In the first leg of the PA, a maiden over 1600m, Harlan County will be hard to peg back from a good draw as she stayed all the way to the line last time and can now go one better. La Scala was green around the turn last time and then jostled between horses at a crucial stage in the straight, so could have got closer than a 3,7 length second. He will also ran all the way to the line and from another good draw will be a threat. Volcanic Sunset had useful two-year-old form is now having his first run as a gelding, but the concern is he is drawn wide in his return from a layoff.
Pilgrim’s could give the Gavin van Zyl yard a quick double in the first leg of the Pick 6, a MR 83 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m. She showed an effortless turn of foot from way back over 2000m on this course last time and looks to be going places, so can handle her six point higher merit rating of 83. This time she is well drawn too. Tundra Taita is likely still improving coming from the Lucky Houdalakis yard and will be staying on again. Aldebaran over raced in her maiden win but still won easily, so has the talent to be a contender here too.
The first leg of the Jackpot is a tough one but Monarch Air’s best recent run was over this course and distance from a similar draw, so he is the choice. Flowing Gown is one from one over course and distance and Iridium Silver is a five-year-old Silvano mare who is currently well handicapped.
The selection for the next race over 1600m is Walter Smoothie as he impressed with his resolute finish when winning his maiden and is drawn well. Mambo Symphony and Edisson are the back ups.
Queenie impressed early in her career with her ability to sustain a gallop and she faces a weak field in the eighth from a good draw over a 1200m trip which should suit. She proved she is back in form last time with a win over 1600m.
In the last over 2600m Sputnik Plain did well in his first try at a staying event and being by Ideal World can progress further. He is selected ahead of Stunned and Dromedaris, who have also proved they enjoy staying races.
By David Thiselton
