A fascinating day of racing is expected at Turffontein on Thursday 29 June with the highlight perhaps the expected winning performance of Barbaresco in Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1200m.
This Gimmethegreenlight grey found one better in both starts so far but in Pure Predator and Sandringham Sunset he has met two decent rivals so although disappointing, his runs were still full of merit.
Heavily supported on debut Barbaresco was slow away and showed all the signs of inexperience yet still quickened well to be only 1.4-lengths adrift of the winner.
Barbaresco was heavily backed to make amends for that defeat but again was no match for a runner that quickened really nicely.
It is possible we will only see the very best of this colt the further he goes, so 1200m and the Inside Track is an improvement but not ideal as a true test for him.
Jockey Gavin Lerena replaces Keagan de Melo on Barbaresco and that could be a telling factor.
Trainer Ashley Fortune has a decent hand in the opening race with Neerah and Southern Style and although Neerah made good improvement from her debut to be a good third last time out, it may pay to be with Southern Style for a Place bet.
This filly has had her issues but has run some fair races all year and if she runs her normal race, she should be involved in the finish once again in a race where there only look to be four in with a winning chance,
Race 2, a Juvenile Plate over 1450m, should see a competitive finish.
Red Bomber let down his supporters who went with him at Scottsville recently but he was an impressive debut winner and he can bounce back.
Trainer Sean Tarry beat him that day with his star Lucky Lad but it will be Hotarubi that will be representing Tarry in this race and the Vercingetorix colt has been consistent so far without winning.
Kyomai won first time since joining trainer Tony Peter so must have room for further improvement.
Princeofgreen won well last time out and the runner-up has won a couple of races since so he deserves the utmost respect.
Another Tony Peter runner that could be worth an each-way play later on the card is Running Rifles in Race 8, a MR82 Handicap over 1450m.
It is another competitive handicap but Running Rifles, like many of his stable companions, won first time the trainer ran him and only picked up a 2-point penalty for the win.
That could be very generous from the handicapper and from draw 4 Jockey Gavin Lerena could do the business.
Clive Robinson
