The Highveld spotlight falls on the Standside track at Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday where a bumper 10-race programme offers punters plenty to chew on, headed by two Listed contests – the WSB Aquanaut Handicap and the WSB Hawwaam Stakes – alongside the traditional Oaks pointer in the Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial.
While the supporting Pinnacle Stakes add depth to the card, much of the betting interest could revolve around a progressive pair of three-year-old fillies from the yard of Mike and Mathew de Kock.
The first of those is Curious Girl, who lines up in Race 5 over 2000m after quietly building an impressive profile in KwaZulu-Natal. The daughter of Futura has won three of her last four starts and appears to be improving with every step up in distance.
She showed little when tried once on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville, but back on turf she has thrived, relishing 1950m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville before confirming her stamina credentials with a decisive 2400m victory at the same venue.
Everything about her profile screams “stayer in the making”. If she reproduces that upward curve on her Highveld debut, she could easily extend the sequence under Gavin Lerena, who climbs aboard from a favourable draw in gate No 7.
Stablemate Councillor could then make it a memorable afternoon for the De Kock camp in Race 6, the Listed Hawwaam Stakes over 2000m.
The daughter of Rafeef has sharpened up noticeably since the application of blinkers. Her three starts in the headgear have produced two thirds in KwaZulu-Natal and most significantly, a last-start victory against the boys when returning to the Highveld.
On that occasion at the Vaal Classic track she stormed home from well off the pace to score over 2000m under Jeffrey Syster. With just 51.5kg on her back this time and further improvement likely, she looks attractively treated and rates a confident win bet against male opposition.
Veteran campaigner Nebraas may provide value in Race 7, the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2400m. Trained by Sean Tarry, the nine-year-old finished 6.30 lengths behind re-opposing Enflame over the same course and distance last time, but the handicapper has given him a fighting chance with a 4.5kg swing in the weights.
Given the stable’s sizzling current form after last weekend’s Classic success, the old warrior could easily outrun market expectations.
Race 8 over 1800m brings another intriguing rematch when The Ultimate King meets Olivia’s Way again. The pair were separated by the narrowest of margins over course and distance recently, with the former, trained by Tony Peter, getting the verdict.
Although Olivia’s Way is 0.5kg better off and tries cheekpieces for the first time, that marginal pull at the weights and the application of first-time headgear may not be enough to reverse the form.
Clive Robinson
