Weekday racing on the Highveld rarely lacks betting intrigue and Thursday’s nine-race programme on the Inside track at Turffontein Racecourse is no exception.
Beyond the four maidens, including the Work Riders’ opener, the card offers a handful of runners whose profiles scream follow, notably three last-start winners and a couple of progressive types knocking loudly on the door.
Early value could lie with Terrence in Race 2. The Alec Laird-trained gelding shaped well when staying on for second over 1700m last time and the extra 100m looks right up his alley. As a son of New Predator, he should relish the step up to 1800m and with Gavin Lerena taking the ride it wouldn’t surprise to see Terrence open his account.
Race 3 presents a similar opportunity for Major Arcana, whose form suggests a maiden win is imminent. The lightly raced four-year-old caught the eye when runner-up on debut and confirmed that ability when bouncing back from a below-par run to finish second again after a 16-week break. That comeback effort should have tightened the screws and Roy Magner’s charge looks poised to go one better under Muzi Yeni.
One of the more reliable betting anchors on the card could be Fostinovo in Race 6. The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained gelding wasn’t winning out of turn when scoring over 1450m on this track four weeks ago and a three-point penalty shouldn’t be enough to halt his momentum. With two wins and three seconds from his last five starts, the six-year-old is thriving and it would take a brave punter to oppose him with Keagan de Melo aboard.
Another recent winner who could be ahead of the handicapper is Kambati in Race 7. From the yard of Corrie Lensley, the improving son of Erupt powered home from the rear of the field to shed his maiden tag over the same 1450m course and distance. That late surge suggested a horse coming into his own and apprentice Blaine Marx-Jacobson, who partnered him to victory, keeps the ride, which is another positive given his current purple patch.
The nightcap could see Status stamp himself as a horse worth following through the grades. The Tony Peter-trained gelding confirmed the promise of his debut third with a dominant front-running win over 1600m when returning from a lengthy absence (as a gelding). By The United States, the four-year-old should relish the step up to 1800m and looks the type who could prove well treated by the handicapper.
Before that, Winds Of Grace deserves another chance to get her head in front. She took 13 starts to finally shed her maiden tag but has followed that breakthrough success up with two solid runner-up efforts – the sort of consistency that often pays dividends if punters remain patient.
It may be a routine Thursday meeting on paper, but with several progressive types emerging and a few reliable betting anchors on show, the Inside track could provide punters with a profitable afternoon if they follow the right profiles.
Clive Robinson
