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Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Haydock and Wolverhampton (UK) – 6 September 2025

David Thiselton

The highest rated race at the Turffontein Inside meeting on Saturday is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1450m and the St. John Gray-trained Argo Alley could be the one to beat.

In his last start over 1600m Argo Alley lost by a short-head and beat Texas Red by three lengths receiving 8kg. He receives 8kg from Texas Red again. In his penultimates start Argo Alley won over 1400m, beating Melech by 4,10 lengths receiving 10kg and he receives 8kg from him this time, so should confirm the form. The one detractor is Argo Alley’s tricky draw of six in the eight horse field. Texas Red will appreciate the step down to 1450m and should make a bold bid from a fair draw of four as he has class on his side and goes well for Kabelo Matsunyane. Melech is also a classy sort and he should do well from pole position over an ideal course and distance under Gavin Lerena. Callmegretrix won a Listed race over 1600m last time out against the girls and she is officially the best weighted runner here. She also has a good draw of two and this consistent sort should enjoy the course and distance too, but it is never easy against the boys. Barbaresco has class and should run well fresh over this trip, but he does have a tough draw to overcome.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m Arizona Magic was green and outpaced early over 1000m on debut but finished in eyecatching style, so looks hard to beat here over a step up in trip she will relish from a good draw. Ubermensch has only shown once in five starts but can be forgiven his last start because it was in KZN, while his first three starts were in the strong centre of Cape Town. If able to repeat his penultimate run he could be in the shake-up. Monkey Puzzle was beaten 4.10 lengths into second on his Highveld debut and should be thereabouts with a repeat. One Eye On Vegas is by Buffalo Bill Cody out of a Fastnet Rock mare, so should have the speed to be a contender. District Attorney has Lerena up and could improve on his debut.

The fifth race is a maiden over 1800m and the hard-knocking Follow The Master has an ideal opportunity to get off the mark here from a fair draw of three. Jason Gates gets on well with him and he is proven over middle distances. World Order has been knocking on the door over 1600m and will be a threat over a step up in trip he should handle, but he does have a wide draw to overcome.  Truro Legacy is well regarded and although beaten four lengths by World Order when making his debut he is capable of improvement and will relish the step up in trip, so should do well from pole position. Those three can get punters through.

In the sixth over 1800m Witching Hour has a fine opportunity to get off the mark being drawn in pole position over a step up in trip she will enjoy being by Rafeef out of a Fort Wood mare who won up to 1750m. She has hard knocking form with three seconds in succession and she can go one better here. Rejuvenate disappointed last time, but has a better draw here and she will relish the step up in trip on pedigree. Madame Pompadour beat a below par Reuvenate by five lengths last time but has another wide draw to overcome and this long time maiden has never been tried beyond a mile before. Sapphire Sun was two lengths behind Madame Pompadour and three lengths in front of Rejuvenate last time over 1600m and could still improve and might stay the trip on pedigree from a tricky five draw. Amazon Queen should improve on her reasonable debut.

In the eighth over 1200m Karate Kid is a talented sort and he should be cherry ripe having his third run after a rest and he will be hard to beat if able to overcome a tricky draw of six out of nine carrying topweight of 62kg. Gimmethegoodlife goes for a hattrick under in-form Serino Moodley and is drawn quite well. Before his two wins over this distance at Hollywoodbets Greyville, one on turf and one on the poly, he ran downfield on his Highveld debut but that was over 1600m and he should prefer this trip. Passage Of Power ran well the last time he went over this course and distance and he is now five points lower in the merit ratings, so if able to overcome a wide draw he could be in the shake up. Rollwiththepunches is drawn in pole and can do well if bouncing back. Nyaka Nyaka has an officially tough task at the weights but did well under similar circumstances last time.

In the ninth over 1200m Vibe SA has come into his own but does have a tricky draw. Bumps Last Grind should go close if repeating his last start. Hemisphere has shown ability and could till improve.

In the first leg of the Bipot Time For Charity looks hard to beat.

In the first leg of the PA over 1200m Queen Of Pearls is by Hawwaam and is a half-sister to Gr 2 White Pearl and she has to beat Fish Hawk who made a fair debut over 1000m.

In the first race over 1200m Stone Of Scone will be a tough nut to crack from a good draw over an ideal trip.

RACE 1

7 STONE OF SCONE 5 MIDNIGHT FLYER 1 ALPHA WORLD 2 ACTUARY

Preview: 7 STONE OF SCONE is knocking on the door and is well drawn, so should be a big runner here. 5 MIDNIGHT FLYER has run two good races but does have a tricky draw here over this suitable trip. 1 ALPHA WORLD will appreciate the step back down in trip and has a fair draw. 2 ACTUARY could improve on his first two starts. (David Thiselton 7-5-1-2)

RACE 2

3 TIME FOR CHARITY 2 MISTY METAL 1 PRINCESS LOLA 4 GIMME A STORM

Preview: 3 TIME FOR CHARITY is knocking on the door and is a big runner here. 2 MISTY METAL went close last time over 1000m and should handle the step up to this trip from pole position. 1 PRINCESS LOLA has enough ability to be involved but does have a tough draw. 4 GIMME A STORM can do better than his recent form suggests. (David Thiselton 3-2-1-4)

RACE 3

11 QUEEN OF PEARLS 9 FISH HAWK 4 UNIVERSAL GIRL 1 BELLA BOOP BOOP

Preview: 11 QUEEN OF PEARLS is by exciting sire Hawwaam out of a Tiger Ridge mare and is drawn well on debut. 9 FISH HAWK made a good debut and from a fair draw of 6 could be involved here. 4 UNIVERSAL GIRL is an Irish bred by Saxon Warrior out of a Frankel mare but she does have a wide draw on debut. 1 BELLA BOOP BOOP lost ground at the start last time over this trip and still went within a head of winning, so if she breaks well here from a good draw she should go close. (David Thiselton 11-9-4-1)

RACE 4

3 ARIZONA MAGIC 2 UBERMENSCH 1 MONKEY PUZZLE 6 ONE EYE ON VEGAS

Preview: 3 ARIZONA MAGIC made a decent debut and from a good draw of three over a suitable step up in trip should go close. 2 UBERMENSCH disappointed last time but might enjoy the step down in trip. 1 MONKEY PUZZLE improved when stepped down in trip last time and could be in the shake up. 6 ONE EYE ON VEGAS is by Buffalo Bull Cody out of a Fastnet Rock mare and should have ability but does have a tricky draw of 7. (David Thiselton 3-2-1-6)

RACE 5

1 FOLLOW THE MASTER 5 WORLD ORDER 8 TRURO LEGACY 3 CUZZIE

Preview: 1 FOLLOW THE MASTER knocking on the door and could get it right here from a good draw. 5 WORLD ORDER went close last time and should enjoy the step up in trip but does have a tricky draw. 8 TRURO LEGACY did not do badly on debut and should enjoy the step up in trip.3 CUZZIE could earn in this race. (David Thiselton 1-5-8-3)

RACE 6

3 WITCHING HOUR 4 REJUVENATE 1 MADAME POMPADOUR 5 SAPPHIRE SUN

Preview: 3 WITCHING HOUR should go close from pole position. 4 REJUVENATE has fair form and should be in the shake up. 1 MADAME POMPADOUR is knocking on the door and should be a runner here. 5 SAPPHIRE SUN could also earn a cheque here. (David Thiselton 3-4-1-5)

RACE 7

6 ARGO ALLEY 2 TEXAS RED 3 MELECH 1 BARBARESCO 5 CALLMEGETRIX

Preview: 6 ARGO ALLEY is the form choice but his tricky draw is a concern. 2 TEXAS RED is in good form and should make a bold bid. 3 MELECH is drawn in pole over a suitable distance and should be right there. 1 BARBARESCO is classy and makes a comeback but has a tough draw. 5 CALLMEGETRIX won well last time and from a good draw should be in the shake up. (David Thiselton 2-3-1-5)

RACE 8

1 KARATE KID 6 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE 4 PASSAGE OF POWER 5 ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHES

Preview: 1 KARATE KID went close last time and should do so again here although he has a tricky draw 6 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE is in fine form and should make a bold bid. 4 PASSAGE OF POWER could also have a fine chance here. 5 ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHES is drawn in pole and can do well if bouncing back. (David Thiselton 1-6-4-5)

RACE 9

2 VIBE SA 7 BUMPS LAST GRIND 4 HEMISPHERE 9 JUNIPER GREEN

Preview: 2 VIBE SA has come into his own but does have a tricky draw. 7 BUMPS LAST GRIND should go close if repeating his last start. 4 HEMISPHERE ha shown ability and could till improve. 9 JUNIPER GREEN has the form to earn here. (David Thiselton 2-7-4-9)

The Road to The Everest Heats Up at Randwick This Saturday.

 The road to the world’s richest race on turf is rarely straightforward and with only four of the twelve Everest slots filled, the race to secure a place in the $20 million showdown is about to intensify. This Saturday, Sydney’s Royal Randwick hosts the $1 million Group 3 Concorde Stakes, a key stepping stone for sprinting hopefuls eyeing a spot in The Everest.

 

All eyes will be on the brilliant four-year-old mare Lady Shenandoah from the powerhouse combination of Chris Waller and world number one jockey James McDonald. While the 1000m trip may be short of her ideal distance, she arrives off three sharp trials and will be primed to extend her five-race win streak which already includes two Group 1 victories. Standing in her way is the ultra-consistent Headwall, trained by Matthew Smith and ridden by rising star Zac Lloyd. Headwall has proven himself at the highest level with multiple Group 1 placings, including a gritty third in the T.J. Smith Stakes during The Championships in April. He’s a serious contender, ready to test the mare’s credentials. The Concorde will also serve as a launchpad for emerging talents aiming to break into Australia’s elite sprinting ranks. Lightly raced prospects like In Flight and New York Lustre will be looking to announce themselves on the big stage and a bold performance here could open the door to even bigger targets this spring. SKY Racing’s Brad Gray has taken a deep dive into the feature race in his preview alongside Sam Phillips, available here.

 

The Concorde is just the beginning of what promises to be a blockbuster day at Randwick, with three quality Group 2 contests rounding out a program that’s sure to shape the spring narrative. In the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes, former North American Group 1 winner Full Count Felicia finds a very suitable assignment as she looks to make her mark on Australian soil. She’ll face stiff opposition from Ceolwulf, who’s looking to return to the winner’s stall, and Vauban, a proven Group 1 performer across multiple continents. The ever-popular Private Eye headlines the Group 2 Tramway Stakes over 1400m, where he looks the one to beat. He’ll be challenged by the returning New Zealand Derby winner Willydoit, who kicks off his campaign with lofty goals ahead. Meanwhile, the Group 2 Furious Stakes for three-year-old fillies presents a wide-open affair, with potential Golden Rose implications just three weeks out from that major clash.

 

It’s shaping up to be a sensational day of racing at Randwick this Saturday, one that will have major ramifications not only for The Everest, but for several of spring’s biggest features. All Mosley from SKY Racing was out at trackwork this week for the latest on all the Sydney Spring contenders, available here.