RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: TURFFONTEIN INSIDE@2024.08.24
Turffontein Inside, 24.08.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R90.000, 12:05GMT+2
Race Summary: The bar isn’t set very high in this race and FAR REACHING ought to open her account with the step up to this distance likely to unlock further improvement after her narrow 1450m defeat. Stablemate OBSIDIAN is also open to progress going over this trip after a satisfactory introduction over 1160m. HEROIC ACT, EARLY EDITION and CLIFFIE CLAVIN are other likely improvers with earning potential.
Selections:
#6 Far Reaching, #4 Obsidian, #3 Early Edition, #1 Heroic Act
Turffontein Inside, 24.08.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R90.000, 12:40GMT+2
Race Summary: LACEWING has finished 2nd in consecutive recent starts, including her only outing over this distance. She needn’t improve much reverting to 1600m to break her duck. KURAMATHI is improving with each run and will pose a threat if making further progress stretching out to a mile for the first time. VULCANITE showed promise on debut over 1000m and could put a disappointing 1100m performance behind her if improving for the step-up to this distance. Newcomer EMPRESS WU won’t have to be special to make her presence felt. Watch the betting!
Selections:
#1 Lacewing, #2 Kuramathi, #7 Vulcanite, #6 Empress Wu
Turffontein Inside, 24.08.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R90.000, 13:15GMT+2
Race Summary: ACCEPT COOKIES was a fast-finishing and close-up 3rd over this course and distance recently and will be hard to beat if building on the improvement she showed that day. GLAMOROUS LADY will be wiser to the task after a pleasing 2yo debut over track and trip so shouldn’t be underestimated. TIPPERARY and SUNFIRE have shown enough to be competitive – the former will appreciate reverting to this distance, while the latter could have more to offer stepping up to this distance for the first time. Newcomer COUNTESS Q is bred to be useful. Watch the betting!
Selections:
#5 Accept Cookies, #6 Countess Q, #3 Tipperary, #7 Glamorous Lady
Turffontein Inside, 24.08.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R90.000, 13:50GMT+2
Race Summary: KALEESH CYBORG caught the eye when running on well to finish 2nd on debut over 1160m. He should have more to offer over this extended distance with the benefit of that experience under his belt, so it could pay to follow his progress. CHIEFTAIN’S SHIELD and FORCE DE DIEU have the form and superior experience to make life difficult for the selection, while the step-up to this trip could also benefit both BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW and DRAGON DRAGON who are dangerous to discount as a result. Newcomer JAHAM is attractively bred (by Kingman out of Grade 2 winner) and has to be respected.
Selections:
#9 Kaleesh Cyborg, #8 Jaham, #4 Busstopinhounslow, #1 Chieftain’s Shield
Turffontein Inside, 24.08.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 14:25GMT+2
Race Summary: BINGWA has registered 6 of his 7 career victories over this distance; the latest was on his last visit to this course and in a similar contest. He concedes 8kg to best-weighted EYE OF THE PROPHET but has had the edge over Paul Matchett’s out-of-sorts charge in their last two meetings. SWING UPON A STAR finished 0.50 lengths ahead of BINGWA on similar weight terms over 1400m on the Standside track last month but will be hard-pressed to confirm that form over this distance. KEY ELEMENT could pose a bigger threat in receipt of 12kg. MERCANTOUR and FLASHY APACHE complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#1 Bingwa, #7 Key Element, #4 Swing Upon A Star, #6 Flashy Apache
Turffontein Inside, 24.08.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R85.000, 15:00GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. TAXI TO THE MOON is unbeaten in two Highveld appearances, winning both outings over sprint distances – suffered his only defeat in a two-year-old Grade 2 over 1400m. He gave weight and a beating to his rivals over 1160m last month and did so in a good time, so is worth siding with on his 3yo debut. Stablemate BUFFALO STORM CODY finished behind LEAD THE CHARGE in a 1200m Grade 2 in KZN late last season and is unlikely to reverse the form of that meeting on similar weight terms. LINKIN NAVIGATOR and PRINCE OF KILDARE appeal most of the remainder.
Selections:
#3 Taxi To The Moon, #6 Lead The Charge, #7 Buffalo Storm Cody, #1 Linkin Navigator
Turffontein Inside, 24.08.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R80.000, 15:35GMT+2
Race Summary: CHASING HAPPINESS will enjoy reverting to 1200m and is good value to preserve her 100% record on this track. She has won both outings on the Inside track, including over this course and distance two starts back. Best-weighted BETULA warrants respect, especially under an apprentice who takes 2.5kg off the back but is returning from a 23-week absence and is probably more effective over further. FORCE EIGHT and BOSUM BUDDY have the form and fitness to pose a bigger threat, ahead of HAPPY MO and SUNSHINE DAY.
Selections:
#1 Chasing Happiness, #4 Force Eight, #3 Betula, #7 Bosum Buddy
Turffontein Inside, 24.08.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R110.000, 16:10GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. Consistent WILLOW’S WISH fluffed his lines last time in KZN but ought to fare better on his Highveld return to a course and distance over which he is undefeated. PLAYER fits a similar profile and should be more competitive back in Joburg over this trip. Hard-knockers JULIET TANGO and TWIN TURBO are dangerous to discount, while fast-finisher TAMARISK TREE could have a say in the finish if not too far out of his ground turning for home. KING’S EXPRESS, after an encouraging last run over track and trip, and bottom-weight ROYAL EDITION, who’s likely to lead from the widest draw, have claims too.
Selections:
#6 Millahue, #2 Willow’s Wish, #8 King’s Express, #5 Tamarisk Tree
Turffontein Inside, 24.08.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R80.000, 16:45GMT+2
Race Summary: Open. Last-start maiden winners PARTY PUNCH and SILVER PARASOL are improving 3yo fillies closely matched on the form of a 1600m meeting. Both finished behind the well-backed SENSORIA, who made a winning stable debut that day. The latter would have tightened up since and is open to improvement so she could represent the value. Older rivals MIGHTY GODDESS, ARIEL’S JET, PRETTY IN PEARLS and SPRINGER have form and experience at this level to keep the younger fillies honest.
Selections:
#10 Sensoria, #8 Silver Parasol, #11 Party Punch, #2 Ariel’s Jet
Best Win: #1 LACEWING
Best Value Bet: #10 SENSORIA
Best Longshot: #10 SENSORIA
