RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE@2024.10.26
Turffontein Standside, 26.10.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R95.000, 11:50GMT+2
Race Summary: Well-related KOMMETJIE STORM (a R3.2-million purchase) was heavily backed on debut when 3rd over 1450m as a 2yo in open company and would’ve come on appreciably with the benefit of that run. She showed enough pace that day suggest that this shorter trip shouldn’t be an issue on her seasonal reappearance. MOUNTAIN HIGH has been costly to follow but wouldn’t be winning out of turn and she is likely to fight for victory. Improving SUNFIRE has the form and experience to make her presence felt, especially with blinkers retained. Newcomers AFTERSHOCK and WHISTLING STRAIT are worth a market check.
Selections:
#6 Kommetjie Storm, #2 Mountain High, #9 Whistling Strait, #3 Sunfire
Turffontein Standside, 26.10.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R105.000, 12:20GMT+2
Race Summary: EXCEEDINGLY GLAM took a big step forward from her 2yo debut to finish an encouraging 2nd on her seasonal reappearance over 1450m. She would’ve tightened up with the benefit of that comeback run and is open to further improvement, so has legitimate winning claims from an ideal outside gate and in receipt of a sex allowance. Well-bred newcomers ALESIAN BEAU, BRIGHAM, GREY JET and MYSTIC VISION needn’t be special to play leading roles on debut and market support would be significant. Debutante MIST IN IRELAND is another to keep an eye on. Watch the betting for clues!
Selections:
#10 Exceedingly Glam, #6 Grey Jet, #3 Alesian Beau, #4 Brigham
Turffontein Standside, 26.10.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R105.000, 12:55GMT+2
Race Summary: ICHACHA has confirmed the promise of his debut 3rd by finishing 2nd in both subsequent starts. He races for a new trainer and could make a winning stable debut. PIONEER SQUARE and ONE MORE STAR disputed favouritism when the latter finished 3.50 lengths ahead last time. The former would’ve come on with the benefit of that pleasing introduction and so could improve to get closer. TODOQUE had excuses for a disappointing last start and shouldn’t be written off, while FAITHFUL MISTRESS and POTBERRIE also have earning potential.
Selections:
#2 Ichacha, #6 One More Star, #7 Pioneer Square, #10 Faithful Mistress
Turffontein Standside, 26.10.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R175.000, 13:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Crack sprinter LUCKY LAD is unbeaten over this course and distance. He needn’t be fully tuned, even under 62kg, to make a winning reappearance. Stable companion COUSIN CASEY is a proven Grade 1 performer who usually runs well fresh. He is favourably treated under these conditions and ought to be competitive along with best-weighted CAPTAIN PEG, though her record on this course is a concern. QUANTUM THEORY, WILLIAM ROBERTSON and SHELDON have the form and fitness to be competitive too. Progressive RED BOMBER could pose the biggest threat with improvement expected after his encouraging comeback.
Selections:
#2 Lucky Lad, #7 Red Bomber, #1 Cousin Casey, #5 Quantum Theory
Turffontein Standside, 26.10.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R135.000, 14:05GMT+2
Race Summary: HOME OF THE BRAVE is best weighted and made a winning comeback over this distance in a stronger race but carries 10kg more this time under a 6-point penalty. EAST COAST renews rivalry with that gelding on similar terms so isn’t likely to reverse that form. ATARIME and ARGO ALLEY have won 3 of their last 4 and should remain competitive, despite hefty penalties for last-start successes. WARHAWK BOMBER ran on from a long way back when 3.75 lengths behind ARGO ALLEY (2.5kg worse off) and he remains of interest over this extended trip. Gelded MARAUDING HORDE and COMMAND PILOT are also respected.
Selections:
#8 Warhawk Bomber, #5 Atarime, #4 Argo Alley, #2 Home Of The Brave
Turffontein Standside, 26.10.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1100m, Turf, R140.000, 14:40GMT+2
Race Summary: A hard race to assess with unexposed and improving 3yo colts/geldings facing older hard-knockers. PISTOL PETE had excuses for a disappointing last start as a juvenile in KZN. He was backed that day and could make amends on his reappearance. WAHEED and stablemate GREATERIX, returning from a 226-day absence, have scope for improvement so aren’t underestimated. TCHAIKOVSKY was 3rd in a stronger race over this trip last time and isn’t taken lightly off an unchanged mark. RAINBOW REWARD, SWING UPON A STAR, likely improver YAMDORI after an encouraging Highveld intro, and CHYAVANA are also respected.
Selections:
#3 Pistol Pete, #7 Rainbow Reward, #1 Chyavana, #8 Tchaikovsky
Turffontein Standside, 26.10.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R150.000, 15:15GMT+2
Race Summary: GREETING MY MASTER went forward from the widest draw when finishing a game-in-defeat 3rd on the Inside track under 62kg on his seasonal reappearance. He would’ve tightened up since so will again fight for victory off an unchanged mark. MASTERSHIP ran above his ratings when 2nd at level weights to 122-rated Barbaresco over this trip last month – his first defeat over this distance (4 starts). JURY’S OUT was unlucky not to have finished closer last time and is best kept safe. PRINCEOFGREEN, SILENT WAR, THE AFRICA HOUSE and Vaal specialist MASTER CHRISTMAS complete the shortlist. Good race!
Selections:
#3 Greeting My Master, #8 Mastership, #1 Silent War, #7 Jury’s Out
Turffontein Standside, 26.10.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 15:50GMT+2
Race Summary: VJ’S ANGEL lost little in defeat when finishing 9th, less than 5 lengths off the winner, in the Grade 2 Betway Joburg Spring F&M Challenge from the widest draw on the Inside track. She won a 2yo Grade 1 against the boys over this trip last season and should prove too good for these rivals with a repeat of that performance, even under top-weight 60.5kg. Stablemate DOITWITHDIAMONDS has thrived since relocating to the Highveld and could emerge as her biggest threat. Returning A PLACE IN THE SUN and ROSY LEMON are unbeaten over this course and distance, so they appeal most of the remainder.
Selections:
#1 Vj’s Angel, #5 Doitwithdiamonds, #8 Rosy Lemon, #7 A Place In The Sun
Turffontein Standside, 26.10.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R85.000, 16:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Highly regarded HEATHER’S BOY could hardly have been more impressive when winning on his debut over 1450m and that form has been franked by several subsequent winners from the race. He will be even better for that experience and this longer distance and straight should also suit. BACCHUS improved for the step up to 1400m to shed his maiden tag on this course in June and he, too, remains open to further progress on his reappearance. Hard-knockers SAFE SPACE, CERULEAN DANCER, FLAG BEARER and FULL GO will keep those rivals honest but are vulnerable to those younger and unexposed 3-year-olds.
Selections:
#3 Heather’s Boy, #4 Bacchus, #5 Safe Space, #6 Cerulean Dancer
Turffontein Standside, 26.10.2024, Race 10, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R95.000, 17:00GMT+2
Race Summary: DIMAKO’S JET and BOOM BOOM have the form and experience to acquit themselves competitively, especially given relief from the handicapper. PEARL IN HER CROWN has confirmed the promise of her juvenile campaign in both starts this term and the step up to this distance should serve her interests. THEATRE OF LIFE made the expected improvement, after a promising debut against winners, to open her account last month and the form of that maiden victory has been franked by subsequent winners from that race. LAST CAR TO PASS and ACCEPT COOKIES are also last-start maiden winners with scope to improve.
Selections:
#5 Pearl In Her Crown, #7 Theatre Of Life, #2 Dimako’s Jet, #10 Accept Cookies
Best Win: #1 VJ’S ANGEL
Best Value Bet: #8 WARHAWK BOMBER
Best Longshot: #8 WARHAWK BOMBER
