The postponed Listed Syringa Handicap over 1600m heads the Turffontein card on Sunday and Redberry Lane can end a run of five seconds on the trot.

This front-running sort was effectively raised three points for the last of those seconds. There is not much pace in the race so Lyle Hewitson should be able to overcome a wide draw without using up too much fuel, although Alileo might not be easy to get around as she is drawn two and has first-time blinkers on. However, if Redberry Lane does find the front comfortably she is the one to beat as she is ultra consistent and as a well-bred daughter of Western Winter should be coming into her own. Insignis is 2kg under sufferance on official merit ratings but is having only her fifth start and as a daughter of Go Deputy will definitely be improving. Furthermore, she is drawn in pole position with the astute pilot Marco van Rensburg aboard.

Lyle Hewitson

Oh My Darling has always struck as a classy sort and is ideally distance suited. However, on the downside she has a wide draw to overcome. Costa Da Sol was making good late progress last time from a wide draw on the Inside track and she can make her presence felt off a merit rating which has come down another two points. Kilauea has class and can do better than last time, in the Acacia over course and distance, where she was changing legs. Mar Del Seur also has class and will relish the step down in trip, having faded out in the SA Oaks. She has a tricky draw and races with a tongue tie on for the first time. Brigtnumberfive is on the up but it will be tough from a wide draw. Dame Kelly has shown glimpses of class and has won over the distance before. Those are the ones who make most appeal.

In race two over 1160m, a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies, Firdoas will be hard to beat. She only just failed on debut over 1200m and the form was franked when a horse beaten 5,2 lengths, Sally Called, came out and won next time out by 3,5 lengths. Che Bella could be the main danger as she showed pace second time out over 1200m on the Inside track. That was against a weaker field than Firdoas faced, but the runner up Colombina franked the form when winning by 5,5 lengths next time out.

In the first race over 1160m, Mojito Magic is by Captain Al out of the Grade 1 Thekwini winner Nania and made a good debut when staying on for a 2,3 length second on debut over 1000m. He is an immature sort with plenty of scope for improvement. Bien Venue caught the eye winning on debut over 1200m as he did it quite easily. He is by Fort Wood out of an Argentinian-bred mare who also won easily on debut. It would be no surprise to see him follow up but he does have to give Mojito Magic 3kg. The Mike de Kock-trained Sheik Hamdan-owned-and-bred first-timer Soqrat is also interesting being by Epaulette, who won two Group 1s in Australia over 1400m, out of a twice-winning Hussonet mare who is a three-quarters sister to Group 2 winner Colorado Claire, whose five wins were from 1200m to 1500m.

By David Thiselton