3 minute read

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

Race 1

Preview: LAURENT DU VAR finished a good second in the Gr 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m and was downfield in the SA Nursery last time from a tough draw. He has another tricky draw here. QUINLAN was beaten two-and-a-half lengths by Laurent Du Var in the Protea Stakes but has improved since and reversed form with the letter in the SA Nursery, albeit from a favourable draw. He now has a tough draw. HAMPTON COURT is by Var and is a half- brother to Horse Guards who won his first two starts as a juvenile. He gets 3kg from the winners and has a plum draw. PRINCE OF KAHAL improved a lot when winning second time out and has a fair draw here. REBEL’S CHAMP won second time out over 1200m from a pole position draw and is drawn in pole here too. His form does not look too strong, although on one formline he has the beating of Prince Of Kahal, but the latter has likely improved since then. HE’S GREAT is improving and can earn from a good draw as he is receiving 3kg from the winners. (David Thiselton 1-3-7-2-4-8)

Race 2

Preview: CODE WRITER is well drawn over a suitable trip and is the clear form choice. ULTIMATE SHAMROCK is well bred being by Fastnet Rock out of a full sister to the South African-based Sire Imperial stride. She is drawn in pole on debut and doesn’t face a strong field. FREE THE WIND finished second from pole position in her penultimate start over this course and distance so will appreciate going back to that trip. SALMON RUN is another who should appreciate the step back to this trip and she can earn from a good draw. OMO POWER has improved with blinkers and has been thereabouts in her last three starts over this trip. MARIMBA QUEEN finished four lengths behind Code Writer when meeting over this trip and from a good draw she could earn if improving. (David Thiselton 7-6-1-2-3-9)

Race 3

Preview: PURPLE DIAMOND ran a good race when stepped up to 1200 metres last time and although she’s not certain to enjoy the step up in trip she faces a weak field here and is drawn well. SKIMINAC is drawn in pole over a step up in trip he will appreciate having run a fair second over 1200 metres second time out. VARIMAX is by Var and out of a Western winter men who has produced three one-time winners and she has landed a good draw. KINGS COUNTY is by Count Dubois out of a Goldkeeper mare who has produced 3 winners. JAY ZEE ran an improved race last time and can earn with a repeat. ETESIAN is by Dynasty out of a Goldmark mare and can improve on his debut effort. (David Thiselton 8-9-11-7-1-6)

Race 4

Preview: SURPRISE MOVE is a robust filly who looked to have talent when staying on in her debut over 1160m, but she then swished her tail continuously when disappointing over 1450m and was reported to have made a breathing noise. She now returns from a four month layoff with blinkers on and faces an uninspiring field. She will enjoy this trip on pedigree. MISS BULSARA is a full sister to the Gr 1 SA Classic runner up Bulsara and showed improvement last time when running on over 1400m. She will relish this further step up in trip but does have a wide draw to overcome. Two-year-old BABUSKA STORY made a fair debut and will enjoy the step up in trip from pole position after a three month layoff. KING’S CREEK has the form over this trip to earn from a good draw. THIRD DAN is improving and can earn if settling. However, her wide draw is of particular concern. (David Thiselton 9-1-10-2-3)

Race 5

Preview: SILKEN has fine form over this trip and won going away over 2000m last time so appears to have come into her own in the typical fashion of a four-year-old by Silvano. She is best in at the weights too. EMERALD BAY was well beaten in the SA Oaks, but has caught the eye before as a horse who would enjoy staying trip. She could go close despite having to lug topweight. SOLAR QUEST relished the step up to this trip in the maidens last time and won easily, so could follow up from a good draw. MUSETTE is another who won her maiden well when stepped up to 2000m with blinkers on and as a daughter of Golden Sword she should enjoy the further step up in trip. VISION OF DAHLIA is a proven but moderate stayer so from a good draw with a 2,5kg claimer up she could run into the money. (David Thiselton 4-1-3-2-10)

Race 6

Preview: ROMANY PRINCE has a good opportunity here being well weighted over a suitable trip. THE ELMO EFFECT has run two crackers since being dropped in trip down to 1800 metres so is interesting here dropped further in trip and jumping from a plum draw. JIFFY won well when dropped back into handicap class last time over 1450m and he should enjoy this trip. MASTER ‘N COMMANDER is a talented horse having his first run since failing in the Summer Cup and he will enjoy this trip from a good draw. FORT MYERS is well regarded and ran over the too sharp 1200m last time, having disappointed in his previous start, and he could now be ready to bounce back to his best although he does have a tough draw. FAREEQ has a tough task at the weights but is improving and is well drawn over a suitable trip. WITCHCRAFT returns from a break of 11 months and is interesting as the best weighted horse in the race and running fresh over a trip short of her best. (David Thiselton 1-6-5-2-7-8)

Race 7

Preview: SIMPLY ROYAL is bred in the purple and full of class. She can rise above her current 86 merit rating and is drawn well over an ideal trip. AL HAWRAA wasn’t disgraced in a Gr 1 the last time she tried this trip and also finished second in the Gr 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas. She could be the main danger, although she has a wide draw to overcome. BANKING APRIL has placed in two Listed features in her last two starts over 1800 metres and should also be effective over this 1600 metres course and distance from a plum draw. HEAPS OF FUN won the Gr 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas last year and has dropped to an attractive merit rating. She is drawn well too. SHATOOSH has always struck as one who possesses some class and she is 3,5kg better off with Simply Royal for a 4,6 length beating over 1500m. SPAN DIE SEILE has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight and having won a good race last time looks to have scope for further improvement. (David Thiselton 9-4-5-2-8-13)

Race 8

Preview: SHE’S A DRAGON has dropped to an attractive merit rating and is drawn well over a suitable trip. SANTIBURI has class and has tended to over race over further so is interesting dropped to this trip, but she does have a tough draw to overcome. ELECTRIC LADY won the only handicap she contested and is only two points higher in the merit ratings, although she has a tricky draw. FAVOUR’S PRIDE has been knocking on the door off this merit rating and this is a suitable trip but she does have a tricky draw. POOL PARTY is an improving sort who is effective over this trip. LUMYA has also dropped to an attractive merit rating and if bouncing back can go close from a good draw. SILVER CLASS is off an attractive merit rating and has a good draw over a suitable trip but needs to bounce back to form. NIKKI is a versatile type and is drawn well and runs off a reasonable mark. (David Thiselton 1-4-9-6-2-5)

Race 9

Preview: SHWANKY has pace and a good turn of foot and is drawn well over a suitable course and distance. PAREE has talent and lands a good draw over a suitable trip and she has dropped to a competitive merit rating. NITROGEN has a good draw and on the form of their last meeting should finish on top of Paree. (David Thiselton 4-1-7-6-12)