David Thiselton
The Listed Secretariat Stakes for three-year-olds over 1450m is the headliner at Turffontein Inside’s nine race meeting today.
The race is run under handicap conditions and the suggestion to win it is the Candice Dawson-trained Flying The Flag gelding Salute The Flag. This horse is having his first run out of the maidens, so might not be prominent in the betting. However, he won in fine style last time out over 1400m on Turffontein Standside jumping from the same draw of two he has here. He quickened quite effortlessly from a handy position and then stayed on resolutely before drawing clear in the final stages. His 83 merit rating looks reasonable and S’Manga Khumalo stays aboard, although he does have to ride half-a-kilogram overweight. Sabre Strike is an interesting runner as one with obvious talent. He won easily first time out and second time out finished 2,75 lengths behind the classy Barbaresco in a Graduation Plate over this trip when receiving just 3kg. His official merit rating is 90, but he can rise above that, although he does have a tough draw. The topweight Presley is classy and is well enough regarded to have run in the Gr 1 SA Derby. He also has a wide draw, but should be running on strongly over the distance category he won his maiden over, beating the promising Marauding Horde. Master Christmas has a touch of class and is on the up. He is distance suited and only has to carry 55,5kg off a merit rating of 89. However, he is another fancied runner with a tricky draw, eight out of 12. Max The Magician had some useful early form, including being just 1,75 lengths behind Lucky Lad over 1160m on one occasion. He was beaten 12,50 lengths by Presley over 1600m the last time he ran, but now has his first run as a gelding and off a merit rating reduced to 86. Longsword is also an interesting runner. Sean Tarry is in good form and this horse has always struck as one with ability. He turned it on impressively over 1200m in his penultimate start and should stay this trip. However, Richard Fourie rides 1kg overweight from a draw of six off an 83 merit rating.
The first leg of the Pick 6 is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m and this looks like a race in which the talented Savannah Storm can pop up. He was not disgraced last time in the Hawaii Stakes, finishing six lengths behind Sandringham Summit. He now has to carry just 52kg from and is only 2,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Lady Of Power and he is only half-a-kilogram out with the top-weighted Bingwa. The latter is classy on his day but needs things to go his way and he has a tricky draw of six out of eight. Scallywag won well last time from the front, despite returning from a layoff, but will have it tougher here. Lady Of Power won the Gr 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas but is not reliable and also needs things to go her way, although draw three will give her a chance to get the easy lead she likes. Eye Of The Prophet was the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas winner, but needs to bounce back from some below par form.
In the fifth race over 1800m Darling Harbour will have a fine chance if repeating her penultimate start when finishing just 1,40 lengths behind Frances Ethel in the Listed Oaks Trial over 2000m when receiving just 3kg. Say It With Roses had some eye-catching maiden form before an easy win over this trip and looks to have been given an attractive opening handicap mark of 80. Furthermore, she is trained by Stuart Pettigrew who has a fine record with Flower Alley fillies. Special Charm has been knocking on the door and is distance suited but does have a tough draw. A Place In The Sun has come into her own but does have a tough draw. Rosy Lemon is a capable sort and Muzi Yeni has won twice on her.
In the sixth over 1800m Dimako’s Jet looks capable of progression. Damova ran well after a layoff and should have come on from that run. Red Knot ran well first time out the maidens and has a plum draw.
In the eighth over 1450m Just Be Lekker has the class to overcome a wide draw over a suitable trip. However, Vix Princess is in fine hard-knocking form and is well drawn and Alabama Anna is ultra consistent and distance suited so also has to be included.
In the last race Across The Pond has caught the eye more than once and should enjoy the step up in trip from a plum draw. She is a two-year-old who has been given an 84 merit rating for this race, but that makes her just half-a-kilogram under sufferance. Cueta beat an uninspiring field over 1600m by 6,25 lengths to exit the maidens and runs off an 81, so must be included although a wide draw makes it tough.
In the first leg of the Bipot over 1600m Panning Gold and Karoo Gold have the form to fight it out.
In the first leg of the PA over 1600m Mocha Frappe looks promising and would have learnt from his win last time when wearing first time blinkers over 1400m.
The meeting opens with an interesting maiden over 1600m and the in form Alec Laird yard are fancied to win it with the progressive looking sort The Crown, although Rainbow River and Oxalis Gold also have good credentials.
