TURFFONTEIN SATURDAY 23 APRIL

Looking forward to what appears an easier day to punt

Climate Control
Quest from Afar
Paisley Park
Princess Calla

In all my plays

Good Punting

After watching the haphazard inserts this morning on 240 (I realize it is a timing challenge as some people want to watch the Aussie races - but that will only be sorted if by some sort of miracle another channel is provided for international racing), and following the betting moves overnight - some further thoughts:

R1: Seems like Mercantour is finding all the support - but I'll stick with Vasilikos; although the Peter stable did not seem that confident on the first-timer, it is finding betting support - so could be a danger

R2: Still looks very trappy to me, taking into account that there also was no real confidence from the Peter stable on their debutante - seeing that Act of Mercy did finish in front of the other fillies when they last met, she could be the value at 12s - but of course any of the others could also show improvement on the debuts

R3: Betting much closer this morning and more realistic imo - a boat-race and one of the two will win

R4: Quest from Afar seemingly not finding any support in the market, and as I don't really fancy Twice a Miracle, probably wise to just include all 4 in the P6

R5: The lightly-raced Porfirio finding the support, but to be sure just include the top 4 in the market

R6: Despite no real confidence forthcoming on Green Haze, he is now 2nd favorite; probably the first real question in the P6 - bank Paisley Park or not - Tarry did seem reasonably confident that he will go close on the good ground which is currently the state of the going - and although there are clouds about at the moment, I don't think there will be lots of rain to change the going

R7: Still find it a hard race to be confident - 3yr old Quiet Rebellion is finding the most support, but I'm not convinced; I still prefer the chances of Smoking Hot, Aryaam, Un Deux Trois and She's a Cracker; those 5 with perhaps Opera Glass should suffice

R8: Probably need to add Sprinkles to the list of possible winners; stable did seem very confident of a good run and that confidence is reflected in the market - I still suspect that she is no good enough to match strides with Princess Calla and Zarina at these weights and I still make Under Your Spell the bigger danger to the top 2

R9: Still a trappy affair - no confidence in Sacred Valley - but I will include the roughies Follow My Path and Little Rain

Enjoy

Press wrote:

The Empress Club looks to be a cracker - I don't like Princess Calla today at all, even though the stable says she will win by 100m.

She is one of those horses that travels and always looks a winner, but when coming under pressure at this level in a race scenario, she tends to find one or two to beat her. I can understand the stable comments though, at work, she probably would beat Horse Chestnut in a gallop with the way she travels oh so sweetly.

I like Sparkling Water. Yes, she is winning and running over much further, but remember - she is also UNBEATEN over any distance under 1600m. She is now with her own sex and even with the shorter trip, I make her a decent cut above this field. I highly doubt she will take her place in the Champions race next week.

Not saying I know better, but on the MDK website, they indicate their expectations that it is a prep run for the Challenge

Got to come back to form sometime but the Fortune stable haven't had a winner with their last 54 runners.
4 2nds and 5 3rds with their last 30 runners so maybe getting there but still the win rate not up to their usual standard lately.

Lebanese Pound to get the day going

The vet needs to lend his shades to all the other vets at race courses countrywide. Good call on Mercantour, the horse looked to be hanging on the front of the starting stalls and still passed it fit to run - rest history.

Good to see Stuart Pettigrew on Course.

Watching this 4racing coverage, true to form, the needless pre race interviews have started.

Rain In Holland - Warren Kennedy ? Triple Tiara???

color me confused

Then you have Warren Kennedy the champion jockey straight face say to the camera that there is NOTHING that he can say about the horse he is riding. Not even what he has been told. So we really believe that this champion jockey is just sitting blindly on this horse. Why even be interviewed if all you are going to say on camera is I can't say anything because I have not sat on the horse before. Damn racing in this country... I need to mute this again or else I will have a heart attack.

Not to mention this horse is the favourite in the race, but the Jockey is riding blind apparently.

Thor wrote:

Not to mention this horse is the favourite in the race, but the Jockey is riding blind apparently.

And look how it wins.....