David Thiselton

The nine race meeting on Sunday at Turffontein Standside includes a Graduation Plate, two Middle Stakes events and a MR94 Handicap for fillies and mares.

In the Graduation Plate Winds Of Change gets everything in his favour and as the best weighted runner he can get it right at last. He is drawn towards the favourable outside in the 1160m event and should be cherry ripe. Muzi Yeni was on him when he went close from an unfavourable low draw three runs ago over this same course and distance and Yeni is back aboard for the first time since. Chapbook beat Winds Of Change by a length when they last met over 1000m and is now 2,5kg worse off if claims are ignored, but otherwise 4kg worse off. It will be tough for him and he disappointed last time over 1200m. He is better than that last run and can bounce back now he is back at Turffontein. Rifle Queen won both of her first two starts and made a fine comeback recently from a five month layoff. She has a potentally tricky draw of three according to trends, but sometimes the trend is not applicable and horses win down the inside, while she also has Gavin Lerena up and he will formulate a plane to overcome the draw. Kaalvoet beat Chapbook last time having lost to him before that, but last time was his third run on the Highveld and he should be able to repeat the effort. Anchorage is speedy and has some class but does have her quirks, like trying to savage a horse in her penultimate start. She has a low draw, but has the ability to be right there.

In the MR 94 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m Accept Cookies has progressed well and was beaten by a classy sort last time over this same trip off this same merit rating. She now has pole position with Lerena up, so should take a power of beating. Palace Dancer disappointed last time but is capable of better and can bounce back from a slightly better draw. Mountain High went close over 1450m last time and will enjoy stepping back up to a trip she has won over before. Lady Sabrina is in good form and should relish the step back up in trip, a trip she has won over before. She once ran close up to Accept Cookies over this trip and is now 3kg better off with her from that run, although she was a three-year-old then and has not progressed as well as Accept Cookies. Streisand has become disappointing, but from a good draw could bounce back as she seemed to be full of scope at one stage.

In the first of the Middle Stakes events over 2400m  Battleground was always one with a lot of potential over staying trips and his four career wins are from 2400m to 3200m. After bouncing back with a close second last time over 2000m off a reduced merit rating of 89, he looks potentially well handicapped here off the same 89, because that makes him officially the second best weighted horse in the race and he has won easily off an 88 before. Douglas Dragon is an honest stayer and is officially the best weighted horse, so should be right there. Enflame is officially 2kg under sufferance with Douglas Dragon, but has done well in both staying starts he has raced in, including in the Listed Allied Steelrode Java Stakes over 2400m which was in testing conditions. Ethical is officially 4kg under sufferance with Douglas Dragon but does have the 1,5kg claim of Mickaelle Michel to help her and being by Heavenly Blue out of a Royal Mo mare whose six career starts included one win over 1800m, she might well relish the step up to a staying trip. Nebraas is a former Gold Cup winner who is now a nine-year-old. He beat Enflame by 1,70 lengths in the Java Stakes, but is now 4kg worse off.

The second Middle Stakes event over 1400m will see Tintin hard to beat as he looks to be full of ability. The horse he beat by 5,75 lengths last time, Quickfreeze, has subsequently come out to win by 4,25 lengths and 3,50 lengths respectively. Tintin has a fair draw of five and can beat Chieftain’s Shield who has progressed nicely into a reliable sort. Coppola could earn if reproducing his best.

In the fifth race over 1800m Peace Treaty should go close with a repeat of his last start and the middle draw is not bad. Caus Belli is usually thereabouts but has to overcome a tough draw. Full Go ran a cracker in his penultimate start over 2000m and will need to repeat it from a similar draw to be involved. 7 Crepuscolo beat Peace Treaty and Caus Belli last time they met but was raised four points and disappointed next time out. World Order could earn in this race.

In the seventh over 1600m Paris Fun just failed over 1400m last time and will be hard to beat over a strep up in trip she should relish and she has Zackey up from a fair draw. Sigfrid Swing will enjoy this trip and has Lerena up, albeit from a tricky draw. Alta Capitana should start progressing off a competitive mark. Into Dancing has turned the corner with blinkers and should be thereabouts. Fish Hawk has an easier task than last time when tried in a Gr 3 and she will be a threat.

In the eighth over 1400m Michael Faraday has a lot of ability and if able to overcome a wide draw has a fine chance. Pretty Analia is capable of a strong finish and has a shout from pole position. Golden Aspen is in good form and can be right there again. Vava Vegas can be in the shake up if producing his best. Lava Fire ran a fair race last time and could earn again.

In the first race over 1160m Gimmesumluv and Trail Runner should fight it out.

In the second Space Mission is the one to beat in an uninspiring field.