Turffontein Monday

Think ive found a roughie Rolling Clouds mullered on the rails when coming with a run last time ,then eased down when beaten,figgy to give him a quiet ride 25/1 will do me..

Anyone got any strong fancies?

Tough card imo - will have to rely on Superman to bring home the bacon() in the last?

Take the treble for the crown jewels.....I'm not punting as I'm going to Disney World for 5 days so therefore they will arrive like on rails

Quick Single
Rosette (NAP)
Pale Ale

Happy punting!

Enjoy the hols Tommy...

Thanks Hibs,

Will be back just in time for the big meetings at the weekend!!
Find us the winners!!!

Tomorrow I fancy

Desert Maiden (win)
Drifting Duel (place)
Modern Drive (eachway)

Lago Lida may be catalyst to kick-start Woodruff comeback

JACK MILNER - IN 1992 Queen Elizabeth referred to the year in her in a speech marking the 40th anniversary of her Accession, as an "annus horribilis’’. Trainer Geoff Woodruff could say the same about the start of 2010.

With three months almost gone, Woodruff has had just seven winners and his runners have brought in a mere R557,275 in stakes. He currently lies in 31st position on the trainers’ log.

Woodruff certainly doesn’t need me to rub it in; he clearly knows the situation. But he is too good a trainer for this kind of situation to go on forever and one is just waiting for the big turnaround to come along.

Hopefully the renaissance can start this afternoon at Turffontein where Woodruff sends out seven runners. In Race 2, a Graduation Plate over 1450m on the inside track, Woodruff has Choisir and Lago Lida, both of whom will be ridden by top jockeys. Piere Strydom is aboard Choisir while MJ Odendaal rides Lago Lida.

Choisir is the natural choice as he is the best handicapped runner but he did run on Saturday in the race won by Captain Scott. He finished 10 lengths back but according to the stipendiary stewards’ report he ``jumped awkwardly leaving the stalls’’ and that may have accounted for the dismal run.

There is, of course, a possibility Woodruff pulls him out if he did not take that run too well and it may be better to weigh in with Lago Lida, although he is coming off a 146-day layoff.

In that period he was gelded and that may just be what this son of Encosta De Lago has needed. He ran in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes at Clairwood while still a maiden and was sent off 4-1 third favourite behind Exhilaration and Solid Choice. He could only manage eighth, 7.50 lengths off winner Exhilaration, but the betting indicates how highly the stable rated him.

The irony with being off form is that bookmakers are happy to take a gamble on your runners and as it happens neither Woodruff runner has been priced up favourite. Choisir is quoted at 2-1 while Lago Lida looks remarkable value at 9-2. Favourite at 14-10 is Houston Trip from the Grant Maroun yard.

Followers of Piere Strydom’s column in Saturday’s Racing Express might recall his comments a few weeks back when there was talk of a Turffontein standside meeting moving to the inside track. He was due to ride stable companion Amatol with Anton Marcus aboard Houston Trip in a 1600m race.

``Houston Trip is a big horse and doesn't have natural speed,’’ said Strydom. ``He may only get going when the race is over.’’ As it happened the meeting was moved to the Vaal but Strydom’s words may be prophetic, especially over the shorter distance.

The only other runner to consider looks to be Club Victor from the Terry Lowe stable. He surprised everyone when winning the Secretariat Stakes over 1400m on the standside track in December, beating Iwannadance and Danse To Destiny in tight finish. A repeat of that performance puts him firmly in line for top honours.

Best of the other Woodruff runners comes in Race 4, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1600m where he saddles Quick Single. There was hardly a cent for her in her debut - she drifted from 22-10 to 9-2 but did well to finish a 3.50-length second to Sylvanette over 1200m at the Vaal. The Jallad filly should improve over this distance. She may have most to fear from Alec Laird’s Queen Of Spades.

I am be thinking an uncle george double on the cards.

i also think, that it should be soon, that woodruff returns to good form. but today? nobody knows...
but i had the same feeling about lago lida, but not having studied the card properly...

cheers guys and all the best to Uncle George

Oh Dear,Champion the wonder horse !! must try harder!

Desert Maiden started 16/10:) ... a gift considering he has beaten Woodland Spirit who was 9/10