RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: TURFFONTEIN INSIDE@2024.08.31
Turffontein Inside, 31.08.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R80.000, 12:20GMT+2
Race Summary: FIERY PEGASUS showed promise as a juvenile, winning 2 of 4 starts and finishing close-up in a 1200m Grade 1. She seemingly benefitted from the step up to 1400m to win her final 2yo appearance and it should pay to follow her progress on her 3yo debut with further improvement on the cards. ANDI’S GIRL has the form and experience to pose a threat, having finished 2nd in each of her 3 starts on this course – including her latest over the same distance. VOLARE E MAMBO blotted her copybook over 1600m last time but is capable of better and can’t be written off. Keep an eye on WINTER MUSE!
Selections:
#3 Fiery Pegasus, #1 Andi’s Girl, #4 Volare E Mambo, #5 Winter Muse
Turffontein Inside, 31.08.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R85.000, 12:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Best-weighted VIX PRINCESS, the only filly in the race, should be competitive under the conditions with improved fitness on her side after a much-needed comeback run. PRINCEOFGREEN is also favourably treated and shouldn’t be underestimated, especially off a reduced mark. PURPLENINJATURTLE has regained momentum in 2 starts as a gelding. He has a bit to find on these terms but remains open to improvement – could be better than rated. CHESTNUT BOMBER, SPRING TRADITION and BAY EMPIRE, who finished 2nd in both starts but was awarded his debut victory when the winner was disqualified, are promising 3yo’s with bright futures.
Selections:
#4 Chestnut Bomber, #3 Vix Princess, #1 Purpleninjaturtle, #7 Bay Empire
Turffontein Inside, 31.08.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R90.000, 13:30GMT+2
Race Summary: CITY LIGHTS has been costly to follow. She was given every chance last time but failed to go through with her effort over 1600m on the Standside track, though travelled well enough to a point to warrant inclusion once more. SHES EVERYTHING, who showed little in 2 sprints, caught the eye that day with a fast-finishing 3rd in the same race. She could have more to offer over this distance on the evidence of that display and should confirm her superiority, especially on 1kg better terms. AMBITIOUS LADY had PLUM BLOSSOM behind her over 2000m recently, so she looks best of the rest. PERFORM can earn.
Selections:
#7 Shes Everything, #1 City Lights, #2 Ambitious Lady, #3 Plum Blossom
Turffontein Inside, 31.08.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R85.000, 14:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky opening leg to the R500,000 carryover Pick 6 with a likely pool of R3 million. Stablemates FOSTINOVO and NETTLETON have maintained their form and consistency at a higher level and have proven their competitiveness in this grade. The former has dropped to a winnable mark and was only touched off last time, so could be worth siding with to get his head in front. Hard-knockers TURBO POWER, FRENCH IMPACT and KOTINOS have solid credentials too, so are dangerous to discount in this class off their current marks. Recent scorer RIDE ON, despite a 4-point penalty, and bottom-weight SOVEREIGNS CALL, who is effective over 1200m, should be right in the thick of it. Go wide!
Selections:
#1 Fostinovo, #2 Nettleton, #3 Ride On, #6 Kotinos
Turffontein Inside, 31.08.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R80.000, 14:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. SAFE SPACE beat AMERICAN BISCUIT and FUTUREWOLFF in a recent meeting over 1700m at the Vaal and there shouldn’t be much between them on these revised weight terms. MAJESTIC TOUCH and FLAG BEARER have finished 2nd in consecutive starts and ought to remain competitive. The latter is closely matched with EIGER SANCTION who was backed last time and returned to form without the blinkers. JAPANESE MAPLE is another to consider after an improved last start.
Selections:
#1 Dual Prophecy, #5 American Biscuit, #3 Safe Space, #4 Futurewolff
Turffontein Inside, 31.08.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R110.000, 15:15GMT+2
Race Summary: PRESLEY leads 2-1 in the head-to-head with MAX THE MAGICIAN and should have the edge over his familiar foe on these terms. POCKET WATCH will enjoy reverting to 1600m and, on official ratings, is one of the three best-weighted runners in the race so should acquit himself competitively. Returning AL AKHTAAR is also favoured by the conditions but could need the outing after a 20-week absence and move to a new trainer. ATARIME got his career back on track with an encouraging comeback win over 1600m last month and remains open to improvement, so his chances have to be taken seriously. Good race!
Selections:
#2 Presley, #3 Max The Magician, #5 Pocket Watch, #6 Atarime
Turffontein Inside, 31.08.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R175.000, 15:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Competitive Listed sprint. ZINOVI hasn’t been seen since the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint on 1 June but is a classy individual with scope to improve on his reappearance, having subsequently been gelded. QUANTUM THEORY looked back to his best when beating a good field over 1160m earlier this month and seems capable of confirming that form and his superiority over re-opposing rivals SILENT WAR and HALBERDIER, despite a weight turnaround. CHYAVANA is unbeaten over 1200m and needs only to negotiate an awkward starting gate to keep that record intact. BACK IN BUSINESS and GUY GIBSON have claims too.
Selections:
#7 Chyavana, #2 Quantum Theory, #9 Back In Business, #1 Zinovi
Turffontein Inside, 31.08.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R150.000, 16:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Wide open. EXCHANGE STUDENT hasn’t ventured beyond 1160m but won well enough over 1100m last time to suggest this distance is within her range. Consistent CAPTAIN PEG is versatile and boasts solid credentials at this level of racing off higher marks, so she should play a leading role from her No 3 gate with the blinkers retained. ICE STAR, PLATINA PRINCESS and IN THE BEGINNING return from their respective absences but are capable sprinters with the means to have a say in the outcome. Last-start winners WINGS WITHIN ME, BLUE HORIZON and WHERE’S THE PARTY have more to do stepping up in class.
Selections:
#2 Captain Peg, #3 Ice Star, #6 Wings Within Me, #8 Alesia’s Love
Turffontein Inside, 31.08.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R90.000, 17:05GMT+2
Race Summary: TOWERS OF GOLD finished 3rd in both 2yo appearances over sprint distances and improved to finish 2nd over 1600m on his 3yo debut. The bar isn’t very high so he needn’t make much progress over the extra 200m to go one better and open his account. ROMAN’S REVENGE poses the biggest threat and is another open to improvement going this distance for the first time. ANOTHER UNIVERSE, MO MENT, CHIEF OF STAFF and DAMASCODORO will likely fight it out for minor money.
Selections:
#7 Towers Of Gold, #8 Roman’s Revenge, #9 Another Universe, #1 Mo Ment
Best Win: #7 TOWERS OF GOLD
Best Value Bet: #1 DUAL PROPHECY
Best Longshot: #1 DUAL PROPHECY
