Thursday’s Inside track meeting at Turffontein may lack headline glamour but it more than compensates with depth and, crucially, opportunity.
There are several solid betting angles on the card, with St John Gray and Muzi Yeni shaping as key allies, while classy Sean Tarry-trained Tin Pan Alley looks primed to reassert himself in the day’s most valuable event.
The R200 000 Pinnacle Stakes over 1450m (Race 7) revolves around Tin Pan Alley, who has already shown he belongs well above this level. Grade 1 and Grade 2-placed as a juvenile, the son of The United States took a major step forward at three, reeling off back-to-back wins in the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes after landing the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge – the latter over the same course and distance.
His last-start effort in the Grade 2 Dingaans was too bad to be true, and the post-race report offered a legitimate explanation, with Tin Pan Alley found not to be striding out. Tarry wastes few bullets with his better horses, and the decision to bring him back here off an unchanged mark, fit a tongue-tie for the first time, and engage Keagan de Melo looks a confident reset. Back at the scene of his biggest win, he rates a value play to resume winning ways.
Earlier on the card, St John Gray holds a strong hand with Future Date (Race 4) and Secret Chord (Race 6), who can land a neat stable double.
Future Date, partnered by Yeni, is one of the most reliable propositions on the programme. The consistent Futura filly is thriving, with a win and two seconds from her last four starts, and she was desperately unlucky last time when only nailed late over 1800m after dictating most of the running. Importantly, she had the measure of Azaleas For All, Ancient Wisdom, Back From War and Art Nouveau that day, and there is little to suggest that quartet will reverse the form.
Stablemate Secret Chord has also found his groove. The Bezrin gelding advertised his well-being with a close-up second in the Grand Heritage Consolation over 1475m, a performance that reads well in this context. Even off a two-point higher mark, a repeat of that run should see him bang there under Philasande Mxoli in the 1200m contest.
Yeni’s book has further appeal in Race 2, where he reunites with Fanie Bronkhorst’s World Order. The son of One World caught the eye when an improved third over 1800m a fortnight ago, and the drop back to 1600m looks ideal. His record at the trip – which reads two seconds, a third and a fourth – suggests he is knocking loudly on the door.
Clive Robinson
