Turffontein has an eight race meeting tomorrow night, which includes the first two Johannesburg 800m races of the season.
Punters could get off to a good start with Roma Aeterna, who runs in the first, a Workrider’s Maiden over 1400m. Last time over 1450m on the Inside track she over-raced when finding herself in front, but settled after a horse had come around her. She then stayed on well and was slightly unlucky in the closing stages as a fading horse shifted left, cramping her for room. She is up against the boys, which is never easy, but it is an uninspiring field and if she settles she should go close. Soldat is having his 20th start, but is consistent enough to be the main threat. Mike de Kock has a first-timer filly by Marchfield, who could do well as she is a half-sister to a six-timer winner by Dupont.
Corne Spies (Supplied)
The two-year-old races are next. Corné Spies often wins these early season 800m events so is taken to run one-two in the first of them, which is for fillies. He runs two Bold Silvano fillies. Miss Boomerang is out of the speedy six time-winner Fun To Fly and is a half-sister to the four time-winning sprinter Zip Line, so she is taken to beat her stablemate Mazari. The Paul Matchett-trained Brave Mzaya is speedily bred, being by Eightfold Path out of a Windrush mare and she could also make her presence felt.
The first 800m race on the Highveld last year was won by the Barend Botes-trained King Of Kings filly Daring Diva and he sends out her full-brother Royal Delight in the second of the 800m events tomorrow night. The Spies-trained Ashaawes colt Cyber Special will give a lot of cheek as he is a full-brother to Cyber Magic, who finished third in the Grade 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m last year in just her second career start before finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m. The Mike Azzie-trained Heavenly Risk should also have a lot of speed being by Var out of Divine Nymph, who finished runner up in the Allan Robertson.
The fourth race over 1400m could go to the De Kock-trained Sweaty Betty, who was run out of it over 1200m last time by a well-bred first-timer Penny Royal, who is a Captain Al half-sister to Princess Victoria. Sweaty Betty has a nice stride and should love the step up in trip.
Down To Zero is the best weighted in the fifth over 1000m and has plenty of speed so can beat the progressive Mujallad, from whom he receives 3kg. Whorly Whorly is a lot better than his last run and beat Mujallad by two lengths at level weights over this trip in April and is now 1kg better off. However, Mujallad has improved past him since then and is by Redoute’s Choice, with whose progeny the De Kock yard have a fine record.
Spring Poetry looks likely to relish the step up in trip to 1800m in the sixth and Shenenigans will relish stepping back to his winning distance of 2000m in the seventh. They are the respective selections.
Emily Jay has always struck as one with a touch of class and she can be followed, having won her seasonal reappearance over the too sharp 1400m and now stepping up to 1600m off a four point higher mark.
in the last race over 1600m Shogun did well to finish fifth over 1400m on Summer Cup day considering he ran wide into the straight. He will relish the step up in trip and has Gavin Lerena up so is the one to beat.
By David Thiselton
