David Thiselton

The Gr 3 Betway Lebelo Sprint heads the ten race Saturday meeting at Turffontein Standside and Truth could give another boost to a family who have been in the news lately.

Truth, by Heavenly Blue, is a full brother and stablemate to Trust, who downed Jan Van Goyen in the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans and the latter followed up by annihilating the best three-year-olds in the Cape in the prestigious Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. Truth possesses a lot of pace and could emerge as a leading player for the season’s biggest sprint events. He was a touch disappointing in the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Merchants over 1160m last time out, but he had a big weight in soft conditions and led close to home before fading late. He might appreciate the step down to 1000m and will hopefully get faster going. He faces Merchants winner Pistol Pete on 3kg better terms for a 3,75 length beating, so the latter has his measure on that evidence, but in fact the previous time they met was in the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and in that race Truth gave Pistol Pete half-a-kilogram and an 8,45 length beating and before that in the Gr 2 TAB Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m the pair had faced each other at level weights and Truth had finished ahead by 0,30 lengths. Pistol Pete was running with blinkers on in those two aforementioned races and they were dispensed with after he was given a nice layoff of three-and-a-half months. His latest run followed a layoff of over two months too. He looks to have benefited from the layoffs and would not be a surprise winner as he has shown a lot of ability at various points in his career. William Robertson is a former Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner over Saturday’s 1000m course and distance and he still retains ability at seven, although he will have to bounce back from two recent runs that have been a bit below par over 1160m and 1400m respectively. Karate Kid is a hard-knocking sort who will be running on strongly as usual and he also has a winning chance. Whistle The Tune is a talented filly and she has a shout too. She is drawn one, but the Turffontein straight course has been running without the bias it used to have.

The Listed War Of Athena Handicap over 1800m is the other black type feature at the meeting and could see the talented Hazy Dazy earning more black type. She comes off a fine win in the Gr 3 Ducat Africa Fillies Mile. This tall filly is progressive and will enjoy the step up in trip. She copped a seven point raise for that win, but she carries bottom weight of 52,5kg anyway and is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance. On the downside she is drawn widest of all in the 13 horse field. Gerbera has run well twice in her last three starts, proving she is up to her current 94 merit rating. She will relish the step up in trip on pedigree and has Richard Fourie up, but she does have a tricky draw of nine. Soldier’s Eye has a fine chance from a plum draw of two considering she comes off a 5,10 length third in the Betway Summer Cup Consolation over 2000m. Willy Meet Again finished a decent 4,30 length fifth in the Gr 2 Mike de Kock Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m last time out and as she is by William Longsword out of a Philanthropist mare who is out of a Candy Stripes mare she should enjoy this trip. The Alyson Wright-trained raider Charge It was beaten just a length by Hazy Dazy at level weights in the Fillies Mile and faces her at level weights again and has a reversal of draw fortunes in her favour, so she could be a big runner even if she is officially 4,5kg under sufferance.

The Non-Black Type Sophomore 1000 could be won by the filly Anchorage, who downed the exciting prospect Manyeleti last time out over this trip and that might turn out to be a good feat in the long run because the latter is ultra quick and possesses a kick. African Pride has also put in some fine performances this season over 1000m. Charming Cheetah was way ahead of a below par African Pride when third in the Merchants last time but before that was beaten 0,70 lengths over this trip by African Pride at level weights in the Listed Golden Loom. Constellation is on the up and can’t be ignored. Kaalvoet wasn’t disgraced in Cape Town and could earn.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1600m Musical Score has his peak run and should be cherry ripe over an ideal trip. The Equator is a relentless galloper and will not be easy to peg back. Fiery Pegasus is full of class and should make a bold bid over a suitable trip in her second run after a layoff. Argo Alley is in good form and has a chance here over a suitable trip. Callmegetrix comes off a 2,80 length third in the Ipi Tombe and is a contender if able to overcome a tricky draw.

In the seventh over 1000m Rafa Bay has fine form over this trip and should go close again. Gimmethegoodlife might enjoy stepping back down to the minimum trip. African Prince brings some fair Cape Town form. Espinoza should finish on top of Gimmethegoodlife on form. Black Egret has the form to contend but might need it.

In the eighth over 1160m Play With The Wind won impressively second time out and wasn’t disgraced last Saturday. Umzingeli Wenyathi has some good Cape Town form and should be in the shake up. Magic Carpet Ride won nicely last time and looks to be off a competitive mark. Western Wishes won a nice race last time and can handle a five point raise. Hathighwaytothesky won third time out and Gavin Lerena is up.

In the ninth over 2000m Naretoi gets a good opportunity here but has a tough draw. Inclusion enjoyed the step up to this trip last time but also has a wide draw. Heroic Act, drawn seven, can earn if repeating his penultimate start.Kavomolka has run well since stepped up to middle distances and has a fair draw of six. Emerald City has run well over 2400m in his last two, having had moderate form before that from 1000m to 1800m, and Richard Fourie is up from a plum draw.

In the first race over 1160m Stay Tuned looks hard to beat presuming the number one draw is not disadvantageous. Continental King is the back up.

In the second race over 1160m Master’s Lady and Sakura Hanami should fight it out.

In the tenth over 2000m War Talk went close when stepped up to 1800m, so will be hard to beat in this field from pole position over 2000m, although Codeword could improve and Blood Of Eden is hard to ignore.