3 minute read

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

Race 1

Preview: TURAATHY did well to weave her way through into third place in a big maiden field over 1000m on Grand Heritage day on her debut and this full sister to the classy Rafeef looks the one to beat despite returning from a six month layoff and facing the boys. WESTERN WARRIOR was beaten 0,9 lengths by Unchained Melody over 1000m in his penultimate start but that was with blinkers on and with the headgear off last Thursday he showed good pace and ran a fine second place. He finished 5,85 lengths clear of the rest of the field, so will be a big threat here from a plum draw. UNCHAINED MELODY has been knocking on the door in three starts from 1000-1160m where he has shown good pace. He plugged on last time after being overtaken over 1000m and now has blinkers on with Gavin Lerena up, who rode him in his penultimate start. (David Thiselton 11-2-1)

Race 2

Preview: CAT’S WHISKERS has a good draw and having showed some pace from a tough draw over 1400m last time before staying on she is an interesting runner here off a reduced merit rating. LITTLE SWIFT has pace and the ability to stay on so will be a factor off her current competitive merit rating with Lerena aboard and as there is not a heap of pace inside of her she should be able to overcome her tricky draw of seven. SAVE THE DAY went close over course and distance in her penultimate start and is now four points lower in the merit ratings so should be a contender from a good draw, although the form of the aforementioned race is questionable. TANDANA generally did not impress in the maidens but showed fine improvement last time when going around the bend for the first time over this course and distance and she now has pole position. QUEEN’S JET is only two points higher than her last win which was when leading over this trip in yielding going at the Vaal, so she can do well here from a low draw. TELL MY STAR went close last Thursday over 1160m in a similar field, which proved she is now off a competitive merit rating, and with Strydom up she will be a factor from a fair draw. (David Thiselton 12-3-1-8-5-11)

Race 3

Preview: STUDENT GRANT stayed on well for fifth over 1450m last time and will relish this step up in trip, although on collateral form he is well held by Made To Conquer. IT’S A TRUE STORY can earn again having done well over this trip at the Vaal last time. HUHI has some fair formlines but has a wide draw to overcome. (David Thiselton 8-9-1)

Race 4

Preview: RED ROOM has issues at the start but if not losing too much ground he is the one to beat over this ideal trip. CALICO QUIVER was disappointing in his penultimate start, but did lose ground at the start that day and on his other recent form will be a runner, especially as he has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight. GLADIATORE hasn’t had much luck recently and off a merit rating lowered four points he can be involved here from a plum daw over an ideal trip. (David Thiselton 9-12-8-2-3-10)

Race 5

Preview: SIMPLY ROYAL won impressively on debut despite breaking through the stalls beforehand and over racing after being reined back from a wide draw, so she looks capable of rising above the 79 merit rating she was given and she now has a good draw. SILVER CLASS has only been running in features and plate races this season and has not been disgraced at all, so back in handicap off a reduced merit rating she has a fine chance from a plum draw over an ideal trip with Lerena up. COMME-CI-COMME-CA has run decent races in features over this trip in her last two, so has a chance back in a handicap with Strydom on, despite a tricky draw. SAMARRA has the blinkers taken off after disappointing over 1000m and her recent form over this trip gives her a fine chance from a good draw. ETERNAL SPRING won impressively on debut over this trip and so should be given a chance to make amends for her disappointing second start which followed a layoff. (David Thiselton 9-1-6-3-2)

Race 6

Preview: ROQUEBRUNE has shown sign of class before, so having bounced back to form in his last two since the rains have come he can be followed, although he does have a tricky draw, MOVIE SHOW is up against the boys but ran a cracker in a strong fillies and mares feature handicap last time over 1000m, so can be involved here from a plum draw over a course and distance she has won over before. EVENING BREEZE is 1kg better off with Movie Show for a 1,15 length beating in the aforementioned race and is well drawn, so can also go close as it won’t be the first time this season fillies have shown the boys a clean pair of heels in a sprint event. SILVER KING showed pace throughout in first time blinkers and from a good draw can do well here. THE THINKER has some class and has won well from off the pace before so could be a factor here. ALL NIGHT FLIGHT has a tough draw but on formlines with The Thinker can’t be ignored. DOLPHIN is well drawn over an ideal course and distance. No problem was found with him last time by the vet after he was not persevered with when something felt amiss, so he might just have not liked racing under lights, and he is also admittedly running off a merit rating eight points higher than his highest winning mark. (David Thiselton 8-4-6-9-3-7)

Race 7

Preview: SECRET STAR has good pace plus a kick and can make amends for last time when found to not be striding out, but on the downside she has another tricky draw and has to carry topweight. INTRIGUING LADY ran well off this lowered merit rating last time and has another plum draw. INYANGA won well last time when coming from off the pace and is well drawn off just a three point higher merit rating. ALEXA should be running on strongly as a feature horse with a good turn of foot making her comeback after a layoff over too short a trip. SHE’S FOXY won her maiden well and this race will show how good she is as she has to run off an 80 merit rating. SHIVERING SEA is 3,5kg better off with Secret Star for a 1,75 length beating so can’t be ignored. FIRST DANCE can’t be ignored. (David Thiselton 1-6-4-2-5-8)

Race 8

Preview: CALL KELLY is well drawn and wasn’t disgraced the last time he ran over this course and distance so can feature here off a reduced merit rating. PISTOLERO has finished fast the last twice he has run over this course and distance so is interesting with first time blinkers on from a good draw. ASTRI ASTRAPI has made breathing noises over further so is interesting stepped down in trip with blinkers and a tongue tie on. MISSION CONTROL must have shout despite a wide draw, as he beat a below par Call Kelly comfortably recently and is now only 1kg worse off. WEST COAST WARRIOR should be running on. MR RAMBO usually runs well over course and distance and has a fair draw. (David Thiselton 1-7-4-2-8-12)