Mardi Gras was a smart sort in his youth and still retains ability as a nine-year-old, so can win off an attractive merit rating of 85. (Picture: JC Photos)
Turffontein Inside has a nine race meeting today (Saturday) and nine-year-old Mardi Gras looks ready to win in the day’s highest rated race, a MR 96 Handicap over 1450m.
Champion Warrior looked the one to beat but is scratched. Mardi Gras and Brave Viking have ability and both look to be ideally distance suited, although the latter has a tough draw. Emporium has some class and should have come on from his last start so can make his presence felt from a good draw over a suitable trip, while Money Heist has shown class in the past and is now drawn in pole in his debut for Tony Peter, so will be a dangerous runner.
In the first race over 1600m the Alec Laird yard is in good form and The Crown looks to be a progressive sort who will enjoy the step up to 1600m after staying on well on debut over 1400m and only being caught late. On the downside she does have a wide draw on the tight inside track. Queen Of Love ran on well on debut over 1400m and should also enjoy the step up in trip. She has a fair draw of six and takes on older horses. Volare E Mambo was caught one out and one back last time over 1800m and showed a fair turn of foot. The step down to 1600m might suit. She is more exposed than the first two selections, but does have a plum draw so should be right there. Arctic Vixen can earn if repeating her last run, but she was beaten 11,25 lengths by Volare E Mambo when they met over 1800m. Kiss Of Fire has shown some ability and wears a cornell collar.
In race 2 over 1600m Mastership ran a cracker in second last time and the form has been well franked. He has a fair draw of two under Gavin Lerena. Sakurajima looks to have scope for improvement after staying on for a well beaten second on debut over 1450m and on running style will enjoy the step up in trip. Deception Pass pulled in his penultimate start but then ran better on Wednesday when second down the straight, so he can earn if able to settle from a wide draw. However, he lost to Mocha Frappe on Wednesday and the latter was beaten by more than seven lengths by Mastership before that, albeit when needing it and without the blinkers which saw him improve on Wednesday. Main Mission has some good form, especially over further, but has not run for 16 months. Monte Bello might be a threat from a good draw.
The third race over 2600m is intriguing as it pits ability against those who have proved they stay the trip. A Place In The Sun has fine, consistent form up to 1800m and being by Flower Alley she has a chance of enjoying this trip. However, she is out of a Captain Al mare who only won up to 1400m, so is not a certainty to stay. Gilda Grey has won up to 1900m and is also in fair form but is also not a certainty to get this trip being by Bezrin out of a Centenary mare who won up to 1600m. Martinique, on the other hand, placed over this trip last time and is drawn in pole. Angel’s Wish has won up to 2400m but will need to bounce back from a below par string of runs. Go Dream Machine has finished second over 2800m before, but is also not in good form at present.
In race 4 over 1600m Mighty Goddess has a tricky draw of seven but has improved since blinkers were recently re-applied and has a shout, although she is six points higher than her last winning mark. Zenobia’s Gold won well with first time blinkers on over 1400m and could follow up off a reasonable merit rating and a suitable step up in trip, although the form of her win has not been great to date and she does have a tough draw of eight. Springer didn’t win a strong maiden and starts off on a 76 which won’t be easy, but this is not an inspiring field and she could still be involved in the finish. Solo Diva can also earn if reproducing her penultimate start over this trip, but she is only 5,5kg better off with Mighty Goddess for a 6,25 length beating when they last met. Free In Seattle is not out of it from pole position.
In race 5 over1800m To The Rescue has always struck as one with ability, but has taken a while to find his feet and he is now beginning to progress. He is distance suited and should rise above his 81 merit rating in time. Copper John represents an in form yard and could also still progress. He is well drawn over an ideal trip. Holocene is also distance suited and has a form chance. Hakas Krakas can keep going as long as he finds the front, otherwise he tends to struggle, so from draw five he could earn. Futurewolff has been in fair form and wears a Cornell collar from a good draw and with a 4kg cliamer up can’t be ignored.
In race 6 over 1800m Jordan was second to the decent Marauding Horde last time and has a plum draw over an ideal trip. Supreme Dance is a consistent sort who is distance suited and well drawn. La Moohal was only 0,80 lengths behind Supreme Dance last time but is now 1kg worse off. Whispers Of War has run some decent races over middle distances and has dropped to a competitive merit rating. Judgement Day is progressive but after two successive wins does have a four point raise to overcome.
In race 8 over 1000m Law Of Success was not disgraced in a Gr 3 in her penultimate start and can do better than she did on Wednesday at the Vaal. Amber Rock is a must include from pole position. Women Of Fame should be right there two from draw two.
In race 9 over 1200m Munchkin is in fine form and is interesting stepped down to a trip he has done well over. He could fight it out with Turbo Power.
