Turffontein Standside track stages a ten race card on Saturday and Prince Of Kahal could enjoy the step down in trip in the headliner, a MR 89 Handicap over 1160m, which constitutes the last leg of the Pick 6.

Arabian Beat

Prince Of Kahal is well regarded by the Roy Magner yard and has produced some good performances against useful opposition from 1200m up to 1400m. He finished three lengths behind Al Mariachi in the KZN Breeders Million over 1300m in July at Greyville. He had to be switched at a crucial stage and was finishing strongly, so could have got closer. As Al Mariachi is merit rated 101, so Prince Of Kahal looks worth his 93 merit rating. He is drawn six out of eight on a straight course which tends to favour high draws and as a progressive three-year-old colt should go close. Torre Del Oro won last time over course and distance from a tough low draw and this progressive sort looks to have a fine chance of recording a hattrick. He has to overcome a five point merit rated raise but looks up to it. Delpech rides from a middle draw of four.

The New Zealand-bred three-year-old Alwahsh by Sepoy was unbeaten in two starts as a two-year-old and had a tough task in his comeback against good opposition over this course and distance, especially from the low draw he had. He is now drawn one, but the field is a lot smaller and he can perhaps be held up further back than he was last time when handy throughout and then fading after being bumped. He should have benefited from that run and has a touch of class. Machismo is 4,5kg better off with Arabian Beat for a 2,25 length beating which should just about put them together on paper. He also has an in form 1,5kg claimer aboard. He will appreciate the step down to this trip and should be finishing strongly. He looks to be the dark horse in the race.

Arabian Beat won the Grade 1 SA Nursery as a two-year-old and has recently returned to form after a big drop in the merit ratings. On paper he has a fine chance as he is 3,5kg better off with Torre Del Oro for a 0,6 length beating over 1200m. However, the latter defied the handicapper again next time out from a tough draw so is clearly on the up and the breathing noises Arabian Beat often makes are always a concern. Donny G has overall been a touch disappointing but he has plenty of speed and stays up to 1450m so it would be no surprise to see him pop up in a race like this. Pure Blonde has a good course and distance record in three starts here for a win and a second but his last three runs have been uninspiring and he has to lug topweight. Seven-year-old Barbel Run’s last three runs have been well below par and he has not been given any relief from the handicapper. They are selected in the order mentioned.

The seventh is a Pinnacle Stakes race for fillies and mares over 1800m and Witchcraft could be the one to side with. She carries topweight but is the best weighted horse on official merit ratings. She is also having her third run after a rest. Trainer Sean Tarry said after Liege’s Summer Cup win that after the latter’s below par run in the Victory Moon he wondered whether he would have preferred to have Witchcraft in the Summer Cup instead of Liege, so he clearly holds her in high regard. Sylvan On Fire is a progressive sort who finished within a length of top class Nother Russia last time when receiving only 2kg. Nother Russia did need that run, but Sylvan On Fire is on the up and has a shout here. Cascapedia will also be a big runner if settling better than she did last time. In that race with first time blinkers on over this trip, she over raced but still won. This well-bred daughter of High Chaparral is also six months younger than her contemporaries, being Irish-bred, so will be improving all the time.

Witchcraft

The first two races are 800m scurries for two-year-olds. Corné Spies has a fine record in these races and in the first one of them, for fillies, he sends out Miss Boomerang, who is by Bold Silvano out of the speedy six-time winning mare Fun To Fly, who has produced the four-time winning sprinter Zip Line. She looks the one to beat.

In the second, Royal Delight is the selection, being a full-brother to Daring Diva. The latter won over 800m in December last year, before winning her next two starts, including a Listed race.

The best bet on the card could be Ensemble in the fourth over 1160m. She was undone by a tough low draw over course and distance last time, but is now drawn on the right side and if reproducing her run behind Shufoog can beat an uninspiring field under Gavin Lerena.

By David Thiselton