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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE@2026.01.03
Turffontein Standside, 03.01.2026, Race 1, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R130.000, 12:05GMT+2
Race Summary: AFRICAN PRIDE has a bit to find at the weights but is still improving and most effective over this trip. He is engaged to run a week earlier but with any improvement will be hard to beat if taking his place in this. WINDS OF CHANGE is slung in under the conditions and needs only to confirm the improvement of his last start to pose a threat in his peak outing. I’M A FIREBALL fits a similar profile and is open to further progress on his Highveld debut. TRAJANUS impressed when an easy winner in this headgear configuration last time. He seems capable of raising his game to have a say in the outcome.
Selections: #2 African Pride, #1 Winds Of Change, #4 I’m A Fireball, #3 Trajanus
Turffontein Standside, 03.01.2026, Race 2, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R105.000, 12:40GMT+2
Race Summary: This won’t take much winning so any market support for newcomers JUST A WINTER and TREASURE STATE has to be taken seriously. GULF OF AMERICA and FIERY FROLIC need not improve much on encouraging recent performances to play leading roles – their experience stands them in good stead.
Selections: #1 Gulf Of America, #2 Fiery Frolic, #7 Just A Winter, #13 Treasure State
Turffontein Standside, 03.01.2026, Race 3, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R120.000, 13:15GMT+2
Race Summary: LOVABLE is an attractive betting proposition after an eye-catching debut 4th over the same track and trip against male opposition in a lucrative maiden race that produced several subsequent winners. She would have come on appreciably with the benefit of the outing so it should pay to follow her progress. SKY PILOT has the form and experience to trouble the selection. TROMBOLINES and TERRENCE are others likely to improve after satisfactory introductions.
Selections: #12 Lovable, #9 Trombolines, #7 Terrence, #1 Sky Pilot
Turffontein Standside, 03.01.2026, Race 4, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R130.000, 13:50GMT+2
Race Summary: THE PLAYBOY BOMBER has performed consistently up to 1600m and remains open to improvement over this extended trip which, on pedigree, should be well within his compass. JORDAN and VESUVIO are closely matched on the form of a recent 1800m meeting at this level. Both will play leading roles if repeating similar performances. IMPERIAL MASTER had legitimate excuses for underwhelming recent displays, so shouldn’t be hastily overlooked.
Selections: #8 The Playboy Bomber, #5 Jordan, #4 Vesuvio, #3 Imperial Master
Turffontein Standside, 03.01.2026, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 14:25GMT+2
Race Summary: SPEEDMAN confirmed the promise of his 1160m debut victory by following up in a 1400m handicap. He remains open to improvement over this extended trip so is good value to remain unbeaten. RADIO STAR was outclassed in a 3yo Grade 3 last time but was subsequently gelded and shouldn’t be taken lightly on his reappearance. Recent maiden winner TOMMY ATKINS is lightly raced 3yo geldings with scope for progress over this distance. Hard-knockers SPY STORY has the experience to trouble the younger rivals.
Selections: #1 Speedman, #4 Radio Star, #9 Tommy Atkins, #11 Spy Story
Turffontein Standside, 03.01.2026, Race 6, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R100.000, 15:00GMT+2
Race Summary: FOSTINOVO was touched off in a similar course-and-distance handicap last time when returning from a break. He would have tightened up since and needs only to repeat that performance to go one better. GLOBAL IMPACT didn’t go unnoticed from the widest draw that day and should pose more of a threat to that rival on these terms. Last-start winners PEREGRINE FALCON ought to remain competitive under 3-point penalties, while READY SET FIRE is also best kept safe in his first go at this extended trip.
Selections: #2 Fostinovo, #1 Global Impact, #8 Peregrine Falcon, #3 Ready Set Fire
Turffontein Standside, 03.01.2026, Race 7, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R135.000, 15:40GMT+2
Race Summary: CALANTHA made no impression in the 1475m Grand Heritage last time but will relish the switch back to a sprint, especially this course and distance over which she has registered all 3 of her career wins. ELEGANTRIX and KOMATI RIVER are held by that rival on the form of their meeting in a Listed race over 1100m on Summer Cup day. TUSCAN ROMANCE is thriving on the Highveld so a 4-point penalty for her last-start victory is unlikely to halt her momentum.
Selections: #4 Calantha, #2 Elegantrix, #11 Tuscan Romance, #5 Komati River
Turffontein Standside, 03.01.2026, Race 8, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R125.000, 16:15GMT+2
Race Summary: TOP DIVISION and XENOPHON are closely matched on the form of a recent 1000m meeting and there shouldn’t be much between the familiar foes again on these terms, even over this extended distance. The former’s fast-finishing 4th under 62kg last time gave the impression he may now be looking for the extra. IT’S PERSONAL has history with those rivals and should remain competitive. Recent course-and-distance winner ANTONIO GAUDI also has the meansto stake a claim.
Selections: #5 Top Division, #6 Xenophon, #4 It’s Personal, #7 Antonio Gaudi
Turffontein Standside, 03.01.2026, Race 9, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R105.000, 16:50GMT+2
Race Summary: MAVERICK QUEEN was only narrowly beaten last time under a big weight to a progressive male rival to whom she conceded weight, and the 2-point penalty for that performance shouldn’t prevent her from making another bold bid against female-only opposition. Hard-knocker WHIRLYBIRD is closely matched with that rival and weighted to fight out the finish. QUIET WINTER should also pose more of a threat back in same-sex company. Class-droppers UNITED OFFER has shown enough to make the presence felt.
Selections: #4 Maverick Queen, #7 Whirlybird, #2 United Offer, #6 Quiet Winter
Best Win: #12 LOVABLE
Best Value Bet: #4 CALANTHA
Best Longshot: #4 CALANTHA
