Turffontein Inside Track, 18/03

EXOTICS LOOK CATCHABLE AT TURFFONTEIN TODAY

David Thiselton

THE Turffontein Inside course stages an eight race meeting today and the exotics look catchable.

The highest rated race is the seventh, a MR 96 handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m, and the talented Celestial Love can continue on her winning ways. She beat a decent field on Saturday over 1100m without being stretched. She can thus overcome a six point merit rated raise and as she has a good turn of foot she can afford to be dropped out from a high draw. Sheer Talent will appreciate dropping back to sprint trips and as she is capable of quickening and has a better draw than Celestial Love she could try and steal a march on this tight track. However, the latter appears to be on an upward curve so is preferred. Thumbs Up has a win and a second in three starts over this course and distance but has a wide draw to overcome.

In the first race over 2600m, the first leg of the Bipot, Sophia’s First is a banker. She ran on well last time over 2400m to finish a 0,40 length second with the rest of the field more than six lengths further back. She comes out well on collateral form in this uninspiring contest and looks likely to get the trip. Rockpapersciccors jumped from a wide draw over 2000m last time and it did not pan out too well for her so she did well to run on from way back for a close third and she looks the main danger now stepped up to a staying trip.

In the second race over 2600m Ideal Wolff went close in his first try at a staying trip over 2400m last time and can be ridden with more confidence this time knowing he stays. The concern is he has not raced since that run three months ago, in which he was 0,25 lengths behind So Long Spring. He is now weighted to reverse the form, being 1kg better off plus 0,5kg of expected weight for age improvement. Cash Time comes off two fine seconds over 2400m behind two respective decent stayers and he should be in the shake up. Gold Griffin was well beaten by Cash Time last time but enjoys this course and distance. However, it is tough to ignore any of the runners in this field, so an upset result would be no surprise.

In the third over 2000m Senescence has come into her own and looks capable of overcoming a five point raise considering the ease of her running-on win over 1600m last time. She is by Elusive Fort and is a half-sister to a horse who went close over 2000m on the Greyville poly recently so should stay the trip. She has tried this trip before and could only manage fourth in the maidens but she was not shaping over any trip at that stage and has for some reason suddenly turned the corner and been eyecatching in both of her last two starts. Last Cheer ran a fair fourth over this trip on Tuesday and a good second before that over 1800m so could be the chef danger from the same draw as Tuesday. The Brass Way has done well in two starts since stepped up to this trip and can also be involved as can others like Liverpool Legend and Chevron. However, Senescence looks to be a banker.

In the fourth over 1600m Diamonds N Dollars is the selection as she looks to have scope and also looked to have a little bit still in the tank when beating an admittedly uninspiring field in the maidens. She has a fair draw of six and this field is not inspiring either. Furthermore, she is the jointed best in at the weights in this Classified Stakes event. Perfect Angel is another of the joint best-weighted and is a full-sister to the talented but difficult Christmas Flower. Last time out she moved up well over 1450m on the Vaal Classic track but did not go through with it so is interesting over this tighter track over a trip she should get on pedigree. Golden Spoon improved with blinkers last time and starts off handicapping having to carry topweight off a 76 merit rating and the horse she beat Belle Of Belize failed to beat an uninspiring field on Tuesday. However, Golden Spoon can still improve and could earn.

In the fifth race it looks to be a question of whether Me Time will stay the trip and she should do considering she was running on strongly from way back over 1450m last time and just failed. Her pedigree creates some doubt as she is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a speedily bred Tiger Ridge mare but she does now have a plum draw as opposed to the high draw she had last time. In Limbo has a wide draw but as a full-sister to Hawwaam and a half-sister to both Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat she is entitld to improve. She showed last time when winning her maiden over this trip she has gears so can overcome that draw. Bella Rosa can never be ignored. Now You See Me made a fine comeback last time and has a fair draw over a suitable trip. Pin Up also has ability and should be as effective over this trip as she is over 1800m. Virginia drops in class and also had a shout.

In the sixth over 1600m Aflame stretched out nicely to win her maiden over 1400m in eyecatching style. She beat Diamonds N Dollars comfortably and the latter won next time out. She starts off handicapping off a reasonable 67 merit rating. Anatura will be running on again from a tricky draw and Un Deux Trois also has a form chance but has to overcome a tough draw.

In the last race Full Velocity flew home in her comeback over 1000m and just failed. She now has a fair draw over 200m further so will be hard to beat if reproducing, although it is her second run after a six month layoff. It is wide open beyond her, but Emerald Crest looks to be the chief danger.

Pirhobeta wrote:

Bob Brogan wrote: Is Gallop down?

www.gallop.co.za/

it is down for me, too:(

Thanks, back now...

Good day all
Fancy the ffg

Sophia's first
Chevron
Contrail
Me time

Outsiders to consider western dance
Perfect passion French leave

Have a great day

Celestial Love scratched

Full Velocity finished like a train last time, 22/10 looks generous

R5) 6 Bella Rosa e/w
R8) 12 Lagertha e/w

Some very tough racing - bar the first where it should lie between the 3 in the betting (and where I definitely prefer Sophia's First) - and the going may also turn up soft if there is more rain.

R2: Cash Time the obvious one - but very short in the betting; Gold Griffin at best this track and trip, but may prefer the going on top; Ideal Wolff and So Long Spring prefers softer going, so both could feature; Call Me Master and Sweet and Spicy is unknown over the trip

R3: Classified Stakes where the top 5 are rated within a point of each other; Senescence the obvious one, but very open beyond her; Kool Baikal, The Brass Way, Twice the Act, Liverpool Legend and Last Cheer all with chances, while Flying First Class with the 4kg allowance also comes right into this if ignoring her last run

R4: Another Classified Stakes where the top 3 at the weights should fight this out; some of the others like Oyster King and Zabarjad are not that well in but could still feature

R5: Competitive, Sultanah back to shorter and with Me Time look the main ones, but this is a handicap, so not cut and dried; Now You See Me also look suited to this track and can feature, while In Limbo may be improving and off bottom weight also has a chance with Virginia

R6: Not easy; Lyrical Dance, Aflame, Soul of Wit and Un Deux Trois (will need some luck from that draw) the main ones; also Kapama has dropped in the ratings and could be the upset from a good draw

R7: Scratching of Celestial Love means this is open as well; even Pool Party although probably better down the straight, holds the new favorite Thumbs Up on their last meeting; Run April Run comes off a rest but looks well in here, but any of the 6 can win

R8: May be forced to take a chance with Full Velocity who should prove hard to beat if she can reproduce her last run around the turn this time; many others with chances, including Emerald Crest, Samoa, Malvern and Lagertha

Enjoy

Me Time race 5 seems to be getting lotsa attention

ROCKPAPERSCISSORS
CALL ME MASTER

Race 1 Good place chance Perfect Passion . The formline of Senescence is franked and many horse has won and placed on both it formline in the pass few meeting

eyes watering.

did Khumalo ride to instruction in race 1.

Sylvester wrote: eyes watering.

did Khumalo ride to instruction in race 1.

Not sure there was much he could do - filly was slow into stride and he worked on her most of the race - I think she will make amends next time at the Vaal or the Standside track