3 minute read

Preview and form for the meeting at Turffontein on Tuesday. Selections by David Thiselton.

Race 1

Preview: LIGHT INDIGO has had ten starts in the maidens but has been thereabouts in her last five starts over this trip and her form looks stronger than any other horse’s in in this uninspiring field. Furthermore, she is draw in pole position. PLAY MISTY FOR ME improved after a rest last time to finish fourth in a KZN race over 1200m. The second and third horses have both won since. Her dam won three times over 1400m so she should stay the step up in trip and her trainer and jockey are both in good form. KINGS LANDING is always thereabouts over this distance and has a good rider aboard. (David Thiselton 9-10-4)

Race 2

Preview: NEGROAMARA is comfortably best in at the weights and is distance suited and well drawn. She would prefer the galloping Standside track, as she has a sustained finish, and she is the only filly in tye race. Furthermore, this is likely a preparation run for a bigger event, so she is vulnerable. PAGODA is the one who could upset the applecart. He has been doing well in good company and ran particularly well with blinkers on last time. On the evidence of that run over 1600m he should enjoy this trip and he has pole position. AMSTERDAM did well over the too sharp 1400m last Thursday and is a runner up in Gr 1 company over this trip. (David Thiselton 4-3-1)

Race 3

Preview: There looks to be little between UNCHAINED MELODY and ZIP LINE, but the former is preferred as he is less exposed and he hit the front over 1160m last time before finding no extra, so should appreciate the step down in trip, and he is well drawn. SEATTLE SEAHAWK could be a threat as he over raced over 1200m last time so will relish the step down in trip and has the third run of his career. AIMEE SWEET has pace and the blinkers are off and the tongue tie on so she could be dangerous over a course and distance which should suit. ZIP LINE has early pace, but has a tricky draw to overcome and has only had one second (on Saturday over 1160m when leading) and two fourths in ten outings. PRINCE OF WAR has 2,2 lengths to find on ZIP LINE from Saturday’s race. SEVENTH OF JUNE is by the Australian Derby winner Starcraft out of a Galileo half-sister to a Gr 3 runner up, but on pedigree she will be looking for further. (David Thiselton 8-6-9-1-3)

Race 4

Preview: TRUMPETS CALLING ran on well over 1400m and is drawn in pole over a step up in trip she will appreciate although her slow starting habits to date are a concern and she can’t be bankered. SHEEMA ran too strongly when carving out a big lead over 1800m last time, so she will appreciate the step down in trip and is well drawn. ROSE OF SOWETO ran a fair second over course and distance last time. SUMMER WIND showed improvement with blinkers over this trip last time on the Standside track. COUNTESS JEMIMA ran a fair race without blinkers over 1400m in her penultimate and now steps up in trip with the blinkers back off. (David Thiselton 12-3-1-2-5)

Race 5

Preview: ARISTOCRAT has a wide draw but on the evidence of his last start when just failing over 1800m from a wide draw he should stay the trip. STUDENT GRANT made late headway over 1450m last time and looks likely to enjoy this trip. SPEED MONITOR has some ability and could earn if settling over this step up in trip. (David Thiselton 1-11-8-5-2-7)

Race 6

Preview: PRADA PRINCESS has been knocking on the door over 1800m and stayed on last time so should enjoy this trip. JUST A JET has done well over this sort of trip and is interesting with blinkers on, although she does lose ground at the start usually. HOT TALENT has Khumalo aboard and could do well as her pedigree suggests she will enjoy the trip and her best race was over 1800m. ISLAND BLISS has a chance over a suitable trip from a good draw. EVERSILVER is by Ideal World and ran well over this trip last time from a similar draw. ROYAL UTOPIA is by Ideal World and should enjoy the step up in trip from a good draw, but she made beathing noises over shorter last time which is a concern. LITTLE TOKOYO should be able to gain a comfortable lead from draw three, but his best chance lies in being able to dictate and with some pace in the race this is unlikely. (David Thiselton 2-7-8-3-6-1)

Race 7

Preview: BOLD VIKING is well regarded and this trip might be what he has been looking for. TOP SHOT beat a good sort in Irish Pride over this trip on the Standside last time and the form was franked so he could overcome a six point raise. HIGH DRAMA has good for over a bit further but did win early in his career over this trip. LIFE IS GOOD disappointed over 1400m last week but should have come on from the run and should stay. FAREEQ did well in a Listed race over this trip last time. Five-year-old STREET FLYER is distance suited and in good form, but is four points higher than his highest winning mark which was last time out. (David Thiselton 9-1-6-3-4-8)

Race 8

Preview: PATRIC should be improving being by Silvano and from a good draw over a suitable trip this looks to be a good opportunity. SABRE DANCE looks to be improving and was a touch unlucky over this trip last time. CHAMPIONS CUP is well drawn over an ideal trip and competitively merit rated. JUST A GIGOLO runs on well and his best recent run was over this trip. POST GRAD won easily over this trip last time but has a wide draw and a four point raise to overcome. THUNDER APPLAUSE has improved and starts handicapping off a reasonable mark. WOODLAND SAGE kept finding when winning his maiden over 1450m and hasn’t been disgraced in two runs since over 1800m, when leading, and 1400m so can do well here from pole position. LISNOBLE is consistent but has to overcome a wide draw and a four point raise for his his last win. (David Thiselton 7-4-10-8-9-1)

Race 9

Preview: WILLIAM NICHOL is back to his last winning mark which was over this course and distance and he has a reasonable draw. DON CHRISTO has turned the corner and can go close to recording a hat-trick despite a maximum eight point raise. SHORTSTOP has done well in two runs with blinkers and can go close over a suitable trip from a good draw. (David Thiselton 2-5-8-1-10)

Race 10

Preview: SHINE BRIGHT has been disappointing but a step down in trip from pole position might be the solution. DRAGOON has good pace and might be better over 1000m but if he settles in the first half he has a good chance here from a good draw as he did go close in his only start over course and distance. LADIES CLUB loves this course and distance. CINNAMON WIND has a shout as she has been facing stronger and has dropped to a competitive merit rating. QUATTRO has run some fair races over this trip and can earn in an uninspiring field. (David Thiselton 6-9-11-8-10-1)