RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE@2026.10.24
Turffontein Standside, 24.10.2026, Race 1, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R115.000, 12:15GMT+2
Race Summary: STORM CYCLONE was an unlucky 3rd when improving over this trip in KZN last time and won’t need to make a great deal of further progress to make a winning Highveld debut. CAPABILITY BROWN and RAFEEF’S VICTORY should have more to offer with the experience of an introductory outing to count on, while MADRID need only confirm the improvement of his last start to have a say in the outcome. STORMACT and POGINI GREINE have the form and experience to make their presence felt too.
Selections: #7 Storm Cyclone, #3 Capability Brown, #5 Madrid, #2 Pogini Greine
Turffontein Standside, 24.10.2026, Race 2, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R115.000, 12:50GMT+2
Race Summary: WHATWILLBEWILLBE caught the eye when staying on to finish 3rd in his first start for the yard and on the evidence of that performance this extended trip should suit. COMIC ARTIST, SIVAJI and GUS ON THE BUS have less scope for improvement but the form and experience to trouble the selection. However, a bigger threat will likely come from lightly raced CLAIRWOOD BREEZE whose form and consistency stands him in good stead.
Selections: #2 Whatwillbewillbe, #1 Clairwood Breeze, #4 Gus On The Bus, #3 Sivaji
Turffontein Standside, 24.10.2026, Race 3, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R150.000, 13:25GMT+2
Race Summary: INDIAN OCEAN was caught late when 2nd in a minor feature over 2200m last time and is weighted to be competitive off an unchanged mark with blinkers refitted. Classy MAIN DEFENDER is favourably treated by the conditions but better suited to a shorter trip. Stablemate THE ULTIMATE KING returns from a layoff but runs well fresh and is distance suited. ALADDIN’S LAMP would have tightened up with the benefit of a 1600m season pipe-opener and this extended trip will be more to his liking. PALACE PRINCE ventures beyond 1800m for the first time so is best kept onside.
Selections: #2 The Ultimate King, #3 Aladdin’s Lamp, #1 Main Defender, #5 Indian Ocean
Turffontein Standside, 24.10.2026, Race 4, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R110.000, 14:00GMT+2
Race Summary: TRAJANUS and ALPINE JET are smart sprinters with low mileage. Both are weighted to be competitive after long absences but PERFECT SKY, also favorably treated by the conditions, could have the edge with the benefit of a recent comeback outing under her belt. MOLTEN ROCK has shown enough to hold her own in this company under bottom weight.
Selections: #3 Perfect Sky, #2 Alpine Jet, #1 Trajanus, #6 Molten Rock
Turffontein Standside, 24.10.2026, Race 5, Gallops, 2400m, Turf, R100.000, 14:35GMT+2
Race Summary: GOLDEN WARRIOR bounced back to form (was well-backed to do so) when 2nd off his current rating with blinkers refitted last time, so a repeat of that performance off the same mark with the headgear retained could suffice. His conqueror Utsaah boosted that form by winning subsequently, beating EUPHRATES and SAMUEL SHARPE as well as EPIDAURUS whose equipment change and rider’s 4kg allowance makes him a runner to respect. Maturing filly TWELFTH OF NEVER could have more to give trying the trip so is also worth respecting. Hard-knockers FUTUREWOLFF and ITSNOWORNEVER have earning potential too.
Selections: #6 Golden Warrior, #3 Euphrates, #7 Samuel Sharpe, #1 Futurewolff
Turffontein Standside, 24.10.2026, Race 6, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R110.000, 15:10GMT+2
Race Summary: OCEAN MISTRESS was placed at Grade 2 level during a promising juvenile campaign and acquitted herself well in defeat from wide draws in back-to-back Grade 2 events at Hollywoodbets Greyville late last season. She is unbeaten over track and trip, open to improvement as a 3yo and is probably better than rated, so it could pay to follow her progress. She will be tested by maturing LOST FOR WORDS who will be fitter and should have more to offer after an encouraging comeback 2nd. CAPTAIN SELVIE and WINTER IN AUCKLAND are also course-and-distance suited and capable of making their presence felt.
Selections: #4 Ocean Mistress, #3 Lost For Words, #5 Winter In Auckland, #1 Captain Selvie
Turffontein Standside, 24.10.2026, Race 7, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R100.000, 15:45GMT+2
Race Summary: MATINEE quickened in the manner of a smart sort when making a winning debut over 1000m and she is open to any amount of improvement over the extra 160m with that experience to count on. LOVE NOT WAR and TRADITIONAL BELIEF have shown enough to trouble the selection, especially from their favourable inside barriers. Last-start winners GO GUCCI GO and GREENANDGOLD are other improving sorts with the means to have a say in the outcome.
Selections: #5 Matinee, #4 Love Not War, #7 Go Gucci Go, #3 Greenandgold
Turffontein Standside, 24.10.2026, Race 8, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R100.000, 16:20GMT+2
Race Summary: MINERVA FAE confirmed the promise of her debut 2nd by winning her last start over a similar trip on this track. Runner-up STAGGERWING is 0.5kg better off for that 0.50-length beating but has had the benefit of a recent comeback run which could give her the edge. Like those rivals, debut scorer STEEL AND SATIN and fellow last-start winner AMADIOO are open to any amount of improvement so will likely make their presence felt. Consistent TAKING A RISK, returning MISS FANTASTIC and TREASURE STATE complete the shortlist.
Selections: #1 Staggerwing, #3 Minerva Fae, #4 Steel And Satin, #5 Amadioo
Turffontein Standside, 24.10.2026, Race 9, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R100.000, 16:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Sparingly raced MAJOR ARCANA was an eye-catching 2nd over 1200m at a higher level last time when resuming after a break so could be hard to beat in this grade, even off a 1-point higher mark, if building that comeback effort. WILLOW CHARM and BERRY LANCER are in good form and could acquit themselves competitively, though the latter will need things go his way from the widest draw. NKANDLA GOLD is thriving but will find it tough in his hat-trick bid under a 7-point penalty. ICONIC WINTER and SURREAL SONG are favourably positioned in the stalls and should have roles to play. Get Quartet bets on!
Selections: #2 Major Arcana, #4 Willow Charm, #9 Surreal Song, #10 Time Will Tell
Best Win: #7 STORM CYCLONE
Best Value Bet: #6 GOLDEN WARRIOR
Best Longshot: #6 GOLDEN WARRIOR
Zac Purton is confident Ka Ying Rising has the speed and versatility to overcome barrier 11 in the AU$20 million (approx. HK$109.5 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia on Saturday (17 October).
Chasing his second consecutive victory in the world’s richest turf race after steering Ka Ying Rising to a facile success in last season’s running, Purton is less concerned by gate 11 than the prospect of a slow to heavy track.
The nine-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey agrees with the speed map consensus that has Bjorn Baker’s speedy three-year-old filly Blue Door leading from barrier nine, a scenario which would potentially allow Ka Ying Rising to angle towards the rail from the start and settle in a prominent situation.
“I don’t think the barrier is too bad. The leader of the race (Blue Door) is drawn just inside us, so hopefully we can just slide across with her and the way the weather is, the inside of the track might not be the place to be. It might end up helping us,” Purton said.
Baker confirmed Blue Door will be ridden for speed.
“We won’t change anything with her. She’s a very fast filly so we’ll play to our strengths,” Baker said.

























