Trainer Ashley Fortune, who is in the process of packing her bags for Australia with husband Andrew Fortune, sends out a formidable trio in the first three races at Turffontein on Thursday 1 June.
In the card opener, a Juvenile Plate for fillies over the 1160m straight, Ripple Effect looks a class above the rest of the field.
Having opened her account over the shortest trip of 800m at Turffontein on the Highveld, she followed up running just 3,7-lengths behind Golden Tatjana next time out over 1000m down at Kenilworth in Cape Town. Considering that Golden Tatjana then went on to contest two Group 3-races with distinction, finishing third and second respectively behind Winter Cloud and Cliff Hanger, there is absolutely no denying her ability.
Ripple Effect scored a second career win on the Turffontein Inside track two runs back, and followed up with a stunning third-place finish in the Group 2 SA Nursery last time out where she was one of just two fillies taking on the opposite sex. Lucky Lad, the winner of that race, is unbeaten after three outings.
Bettors cannot expect any value when Ripple Effect enters the starting stalls, but they can expect to see this daughter of Erupt giving the judge an easy decision when the field cross the finishing line.
In Race 2, a Juvenile Plate also over 1160m, Jerusalema Rain looks destined to give Fortune a double.
This son of Captain Of All finished slightly ahead of Ripple Effect in the Nursery in second spot, reversing the form with Guy Gibson when they met when both were on debut.
More progressive, Jerusalema Rain is hard to oppose, despite facing a number of other winners.
In Race 3, a MR98 Handicap over 1600m, Fortune’s Meridius is one of only two runners who have won over this distance. The highest rated runner in the field, this Canford Cliffs-gelding will be carrying top-weight of 60kg, but the way he scored his third career win last time out in a Class A event when shouldering 59kg, suggests he runs best when burdened.
The biggest danger is the Joe Soma-trained Brave Viking, who is rated a full 16 points lower than Meridius, and will therefore be carrying just 52kg. The only concern is the distance.
A winner over 1400m and 1500m, Brave Viking didn’t quite go the distance last time out when trying 1600m for the first time, but in his defence, it must be noted that he wasn’t striding out.
If he gets the running of the race, he will chase Meridius all the way to the line.
Clive Robinson
