The uncharacteristically high rainfall on the Highveld in South Africa has caused havoc with a number of race meetings being cancelled due to waterlogged tracks in recent weeks.
With sunny weather forecast for Thursday 23 February, racegoers can look forward to a bumper 10-race meeting at Turffontein.
Race 6, a FM99 Handicap over 1450m promises to be a cracker, with a number of highly rated fillies set to battle out this Class B contest.
Topping the list of potential winners is the Roy Magner-trained Wokonda. This daughter of Captain Of All boasts two career wins over the course and distance, as well as a runner-up and third place finish, so knows how to handle the notorious difficult Inside Track.
She has also reached a career-high rating of 90 and continues to improve. Adding to her chances of success is the fact that she jumps from pole position in a race where a good draw can make the world of difference.
She did finish 1,25-lengths behind re-opposing Sister Light last time out, but is 1,5kg better off this time round, so looks primed to reverse that result over her best distance and from the best draw.
Sister Light, from Sean Tarry’s yard, as well as stable companion Marigold Hotel have also won over the course and distance, so must not be underestimated.
Marigold Hotel, however, shoulders 62kg and might need a bit more relief from the handicapper having last won 334 days ago. During that time her rating has dropped from a high of 110 to the current 103.
She has contested a number of graded races without success, and those runs resulted in a few big penalties as she was not disgraced.
Stuart Pettigrew’s Princess Philippa is also in with a chance given the swing in weights after finishing slightly behind Wokonda and Sister Light last time out.
Perhaps a dead-heat between some of the mentioned runners is not out of the question.
Trainer Mike de Kock’s best chances of success look to be later in the day.
Littlemarysunshine drops down in distance in Race 7, a FM81 Handicap over 1450m, after numerous unsuccessful attempts over further. It could be exactly what she needs to finally record an overdue second career win.
In the lucky last, a MR66 Handicap over 1000m, Beaded Gown should complete a double for De Kock. No superstar, this Rafeef-filly is maturing nicely and deserves a win after finishing runner-up in her last two.
Clive Robinson
