RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE@2024.06.30
Turffontein Standside, 30.06.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R90.000, 12:30GMT+2
Race Summary: BACCHUS fared better than MILAN’S WORLD when the pair met on debut. Both will improve with that experience so should have a say in the outcome. Preference, however, is for DIWALI ROCKET who improved considerably with blinkers fitted in his first start as a gelding. ANTONIO GAUDI, newcomer ORANGE COUNTY and first-timer SPIRITO SELVAGGIO appeal most of the remainder.
Selections:
#4 Diwali Rocket, #2 Bacchus, #7 Milan’s World, #1 Antonio Gaudi
Turffontein Standside, 30.06.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R100.000, 13:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. RODEO DRIVE was touched off in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m and need only repeat that performance to resume winning ways. FORCE EIGHT beat POINTER over track and trip recently but the latter should reverse that form on 6kg better terms. BASKED IN GLORY and POBLANO made winning introductions and are open to any amount of improvement so shouldn’t be underestimated. QUEEN OF FIRE completes the shortlist.
Selections:
#6 Rodeo Drive, #4 Pointer, #3 Poblano, #1 Force Eight
Turffontein Standside, 30.06.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R100.000, 13:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. PISTOL PETE acquitted himself well in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion over 1200m but is most effective (unbeaten) over 1000m. He ought to remain competitive over this distance but concedes 4kg to runaway course-and-distance winner BJORN IRONSIDE, which could be a bridge too far against the latter who has improved on the Highveld as a gelding. COPPER CLIFF will have come on appreciably after a pleasing introduction behind WOLF MOUNTAIN who is 3kg worse off. GOLDEN CHANDELIER has earning potential too.
Selections:
#2 Bjorn Ironside, #1 Pistol Pete, #6 Copper Cliff, #3 Wolf Mountain
Turffontein Standside, 30.06.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R90.000, 14:15GMT+2
Race Summary: THERES A LIGHT has finished 2nd in 3 of his 4 starts as a gelding, including once over this track and trip. He wouldn’t be winning out of turn and is good value to open his account. Youngsters BATTLE OFTHE BULGE and DYLAN’S CHAMP are well-bred newcomers who must be respected, especially if attracting market support. PRESSONREGARDLESS, STORM AHEAD, ERMITAGE and MOHAVE MAN have all shown enough to make their presence felt, too. GOLD FEVER isn’t without a chance either.
Selections:
#1 Theres A Light, #9 Battle Ofthe Bulge, #12 Dylan’s Champ, #13 Gold Fever
Turffontein Standside, 30.06.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R90.000, 14:55GMT+2
Race Summary: MARY READ has improved with each outing and finished 2nd over track and trip last time, so is likely to be involved in the fight for victory if making further progress. Preference, however, is for younger well-bred rival KEY WORKER who has shown enough in 2 starts on the Inside track to suggest she is capable of opening her account with the Standside track expected to be more to her liking. Newcomer AUTUMN VAR, BACARDI BABE after an encouraging last start, and DOITWITHDIAMONDS on her Highveld introduction are others who could make their presence felt.
Selections:
#14 Key Worker, #1 Mary Read, #9 Autumn Var, #2 Doitwithdiamonds
Turffontein Standside, 30.06.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R85.000, 15:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. STREWN SKY acquitted himself well on his handicap debut in a stronger race over 2000m and with scope for further improvement, even under a big weight from a wide draw, could represent good value in his bid to resume winning ways off an unchanged mark. CELTIC RUSH, VESUVIO, SILVANO’S SONG and REAL RELIEF have the form and experience at this level to make life difficult for the selection. GIMMEACHOICE and FESTIVAL OF MAGIC are, like the selection, unexposed 3yo’s with more to offer, so shouldn’t be underestimated either.
Selections:
#2 Strewn Sky, #4 Celtic Rush, #7 Gimmeachoice, #11 Silvano’s Song
Turffontein Standside, 30.06.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R110.000, 16:05GMT+2
Race Summary: CHASING HAPPINESS is, on riding arrangements, the pick of the Van Vuuren runners. She returned to winning ways over 1200m last time but is adept (unbeaten) over this shorter trip, so could defy a 6-point penalty by winning again. Stablemate LINKIN NAVIGATOR returns after a 19-week absence but is distance suited and has shown enough to make his presence felt, if ready to go on his reappearance. KARANGETANG, NKANDLA GOLD and LAW OF SUCCESS have the form and experience to make their presence felt, while TROMPIE is another who could get involved given the favourable conditions of the race.
Selections:
#7 Chasing Happiness, #6 Linkin Navigator, #9 Law Of Success, #1 Trompie
Turffontein Standside, 30.06.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R85.000, 16:40GMT+2
Race Summary: MASTER CASPER has made marked improvement in 2 starts after he was gelded. He made a winning reappearance on his Highveld debut over this trip on the Inside track and could be leniently treated off his opening handicap mark. WHAT A TIGER, HAPPY ANALIA, DUKE OF ROCK and IN THE ETHER all boast solid form credentials in handicaps but have less scope than their younger rival. Last-start winner CITYSCAPE ought to remain competitive under a 3-point penalty but will need to improve to trouble the principals. Unexposed LOVEGRASS could pose the biggest threat to her stablemate from whom she receives 1kg.
Selections:
#1 Master Casper, #6 Lovegrass, #8 In The Ether, #9 Cityscape
Best Win: #14 KEY WORKER
Best Value Bet: #2 STREWN SKY
Best Longshot: #2 STREWN SKY
