Trainers Mike de Kock and Robyn Klaasen both look set to score a double at Thursday’s Turffontein race meeting, where nine races are carded.
De Kock holds the Aces in the first two events, while Klaasen should hold a pair of trophies after the running of races 4 and 8.
In the card opener, a Maiden Plate over 1450m, three-year-old filly Sharapova is the one to beat.
This daughter of Querari out of double Grade 1 winner Nother Russia received massive market support last time out after two runner-up finishes. Although she failed to deliver, it must be noted that she made her debut at Turffontein, then had her next two runs 1400km away at Kenilworth.
Now back at home, and having hopefully recovered from the fatigue of travelling, she deserves all the support which she will undoubtedly get once again.
Stable companion Arividicio, a two-time winner from 10 runs, is also expected to jump at very short odds in Race 2, a Graduation Plate over 1450m.
This three-year-old has been in action in four feature events since his second career win, including two Grade 3-races. He is most certainly better than his last run suggests, but he did have excuses then having been brushed.
In this field, he does seem a class above the rest.
Kabelo Matsunyane will be in the saddle on both of these De Kock-runners. At the time of writing, Matsunyane was sixth on the jockey champion log with 73 winners for the season to date.
In Race 4, a FM90 Handicap over 1600m, the Klaasen-trained Bureau Des Legende has two important advantages. The first is that this daughter of Legislate is drawn in gate 2, and the second is that she gets a 2,5kg “discount” thanks to apprentice Siyanda Sosibo taking the ride.
A five-time winner, two of those victories have come since she moved to Klaasen’s yard at the beginning of the season after previously being trained by De Kock. She is also back to her career-high merit rating of 94.
Sosibo will also be aboard Klaasen’s Cabinet Shuffle in Race 8, a MR90 Handicap over 1450m.
Previously trained by retired Paul Peter, this Ideal World gelding has also scored two of his five career wins since changing stables.
Cabinet Shuffle is also at a career-high merit rating of 98 and another victory should see that rating hit treble numbers.
Clive Robinson
