A stakes race generally favours the best handicapped runner but unfortunately it is not always that simple.
That is an issue bettors will need to deal with in Race 6 at Turffontein on Thursday, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1160m on the Standside track.
The first problem is the distance. Sprinkles comes out as the best weighted runner but she is better over longer distances.
After that there are a number of runners who are very close together and any of them are capable of winning this event.
There are two very talented females who have very good form over the course and distance in Full Velocity and Bon Vivant. The former, a five-year-old mare trained by Sean Tarry, has run six times over 1160m at Turffontein for two wins and four places. She is among the best handicapped runners and has a top jockey in Gavin Lerena.
Bon Vivant is a four-year-old filly trained by Johan Janse van Vuuren and she has a record of two wins and two places from four run over this track and trip. She also has an in-form jockey up in Keagan de Melo, who is currently leading the National Jockeys’ log.
But it doesn’t end there. The two top weights, William Robertson and MK’s Pride, are both feature-race winners and although they have been racing over further in their last few runs, both have done well in sprints.
William Robertson last raced in the Grade 1 Word Sports Betting Summer Cup over 2000m last November but he failed to see out the distance and is undoubtedly better over shorter. He has won over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Greyville and finished a 0.40-length second behind Horse-Of-The-Year Captain’s Ransom in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m at the same track.
Trainer Corne Spies has engaged Piere Strydom for the ride and if not in need of a run, this son of William Longsword could be the one to beat.
MK’s Pride has recently changed stables and it is unsure whether he will need the run because he too last raced in the Summer Cup. What could be significant, however, is that Muzi Yeni, who has ridden MK’s Pride to Grade 1 victory and is the first-choice jockey for trainer Robbie Sage, has opted to ride stable companion Quantum Theory.
That has to bring the three-year-old son of Querari into the reckoning as well.
Clive Robinson
