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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE@2025.01.02
Turffontein Standside, 02.01.2025, Race 1, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R120.000, 12:50GMT+2
Race Summary: DYLAN’S CHAMP wouldn’t be winning out of turn after finishing 2nd in 3 consecutive appearances, all over further. He needn’t improve much over this shorter trip with Piere Strydom aboard to open his account. Fillies AMANATTO, GERBERA and GREGARIOUS receive a handy 3kg sex allowance so should make life difficult for the selection, especially with this extended trip likely to unlock improvement. COUNT HUHTIKUU, MIZZEN SWORD and CASUS BELLI have earning potential too.
Selections:
#1 Dylan’s Champ, #9 Gerbera, #8 Amanatto, #10 Gregarious
Turffontein Standside, 02.01.2025, Race 2, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R90.000, 13:25GMT+2
Race Summary: GUERILLA WARFARE and KING OF NUMBERS are carded to run on 28 December over track and trip, so their participation must be monitored. Both have the form and experience to be competitive if taking their place in this lineup. Veteran hard-knocker CALL ME MASTER fits a similar profile and represents an attractive betting proposition in his peak outing over this extended trip after eye-catching 3rds in consecutive recent starts over 1200m. FALCON STRIKE and CARNELO should also acquit themselves competitively.
Selections:
#5 Call Me Master, #8 Carnelo, #1 Guerilla Warfare, #4 Falcon Strike
Turffontein Standside, 02.01.2025, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R120.000, 14:00GMT+2
Race Summary: Versatile familiar foes TURBO POWER and FOSTINOVO are competitive at this level, with the form and experience to play leading roles. The same applies to lightly raced PEACE TREATY who remains open to improvement. Maturing LETS PLAY POKER won a course-and-distance maiden before following up on his handicap debut over 1500m and a 3-point penalty isn’t likely to halt his momentum. TWELVE OCLOCK HIGH was returning from a 4-month absence when a fast-finishing 2nd behind that rival last month and with the expected improvement could avenge that defeat, even on similar weight terms.
Selections:
#5 Twelve Oclock High, #3 Lets Play Poker, #4 Peace Treaty, #2 Fostinovo
Turffontein Standside, 02.01.2025, Race 4, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R160.000, 14:35GMT+2
Race Summary: HAWKBILL has recently rediscovered his form in two starts without blinkers, winning both – including one over this course and distance. He defied a 6-point penalty when giving weight and a beating to a progressive younger rival over 1800m last month and a further 4-point hike may not be enough to prevent him from completing the hat-trick. BIRTHRIGHT is 1.5kg better off for a 2-length beating so is weighted to pose a threat on these terms, as is consistent hard-knocker TAMARISK TREE with Gavin Lerena aboard. RULE BOOK, WHAFEEF and QUATERMAIN are closely matched and they complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#4 Hawkbill, #5 Tamarisk Tree, #9 Birthright, #10 Quatermain
Turffontein Standside, 02.01.2025, Race 5, Gallops, 2400m, Turf, R120.000, 15:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Maturing stayer DOUGLAS DRAGON scored at this level 2 starts back in his one-and-only 2400m appearance and ran well in defeat (under a penalty) at a higher level last time over 2000m. He needs only to repeat either performance to resume winning ways. ARLINGTON ACTION (0.5kg better off) is closely matched on recent form and will make his presence felt, so too should BANHA BRIDGE and TO THE RESCUE who have the form and experience to acquit themselves competitively.
Selections:
#4 Douglas Dragon, #5 Arlington Action, #1 Banha Bridge, #6 To The Rescue
Turffontein Standside, 02.01.2025, Race 6, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R135.000, 15:50GMT+2
Race Summary: BETULA runs well fresh and is open to improvement so shouldn’t be underestimated off a career-low mark. Resurgent FRANCINE and sparingly raced FASTNET FILLY are improving and in good form. The former is bred to appreciate this extended trip while a jump into this class isn’t likely to halt the momentum of the latter, who is unbeaten in 2 starts since relocating to the Highveld. Preference, however, is for progressive HAPPY MO whose solid form and experience at this level will stand her in good stead. CAPE LIGHTS, BOSUM BUDDY and COCOMELON appeal most of the remainder.
Selections:
#4 Happy Mo, #2 Francine, #8 Fastnet Filly, #1 Betula
Turffontein Standside, 02.01.2025, Race 7, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R105.000, 16:25GMT+2
Race Summary: RATTLE BAG is carded to run at an earlier meeting so her participation must be monitored. She is in good form and should play a leading role if taking her place in the lineup. BOOM BOOM was an eye-catching 2nd off her current mark in a similar course-and-distance event last month and could go one better with a repeat of that performance. Both SEVENTEEN AGAIN and SHAMPIMPI had excuses for disappointing last starts and remain open to improvement, so they shouldn’t be ignored. Improving last-start winner KALIKAA and hard-knocker PRETTY ANALIA complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#2 Boom Boom, #1 Rattle Bag, #6 Kalikaa, #4 Seventeen Again
Best Win: #2 BOOM BOOM
Best Value Bet: #5 TWELVE OCLOCK HIGH
Best Longshot: #5 TWELVE OCLOCK HIGH
