On The Horizon has been tipped to win the day’s headliner (JC Photos)
The 2024/2025 Highveld season’s weekend fixtures opens with a nine race meeting at Turffontein Standside on Saturday and it is headlined by a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m.
The Lucky Houdalakis-trained five-year-old Judpot mare On The Horizon is still lightly raced and should come into her own this season. She has landed a plum draw of two over a suitable trip and Raymond Danielson, who has been aboard for the last two of her five career wins, knows her well. Soldier’s Eye comes off a fair run in the KZN Breeders Mile, where she received 3kg from the champion filly Mrs Geriatrix and was beaten just 3,75 lengths. She has to overcome a wide draw, but could be in the shake up with some luck in running. Gimme A Shot easily won the Gr 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge over this course and distance as a young three-year-old, but has only won twice since. She has to carry topweight, but does have a fair opportunity here to gain a fifth career win. Miss Hannigan has been doing well lately over trips beyond sprints and might have more to come, but she does have a tricky draw. Bonete looked promising early in her career and could be a factor carrying the minimum weight from a good draw here.
The first leg of the Pick 6 over 1800m sees the hard-knocking Fifth Of July getting a good opportunity to land an elusive win. The eight-year-old gelding is well-named because on the fifth of July 2014 his sire Wylie Hall was controversially denied victory in the country’s biggest race, the Durban July, when an objection was upheld and at that same meeting his dam Virgo’s Babe won a Non-Black Type sprint. Fifth Of July has not won for just under three years, but has had eight second places since that last win including in two of his last three races. He is 3,5kg better off with four-year-old Diesel’s Shadown for a 1,90 length beating in June over this trip and has a better draw than the latter. However, Diesel’s Shadow was having his first run over this trip in that race, so could follow up off a five point higher mark with Gavin Lerena keeping the ride.
The sixth race over 1400m sees the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Erupt gelding Corrupt stepping out for the second time and as he won over the too sharp 1160m on debut he should have a fine chance of remaining unbeaten off an 84 merit rating from a fair draw over a step up in trip he will relish. He looks to be a banker. The chief danger could be stablemate Chestbut Bomber, who won well when stepped up to 1600m last time and should enjoy this trip too.
The seventh over 1160m is a tricky handicap and Golden Aspen is taken to land a tenth career victory from a fair draw of six out of nine. Oriental Bouquet looked to be potentially top class as a youngster and is interesting off an 81 merit rating having not been disgraced against fair opposition in the East Cape. Law Of Success is usually thereabouts, but has a tricky low draw. What A Lucy is on the up and can use her early pace to overcome the unfavourable number one draw. Wings Within Me has dropped to a competitive mark and can’t be ignored.
In the eighth over 1160m Shampimpi is drawn on the right side by trends and a five point drop should see her being competitive in a field that is not too inspiring. Waitforgreenlight is drawn on the right side with a 2,5kg claimer up, but has to prove she goes further than 1000m. Where’s The Party is in good form and is drawn on the right side.
In the last leg if the Pick 6 Golden Chandelier steps back to her favourite 1000m trip and could be right there after disappointing over further last time when making a breathing noise. In The Ether is cabable of a flying finish so has to be included. Coming In Hot has the form to be a contender here. Heirloom is not reliable, but could win it if producing her best. Secret Chord won well in the maidens after a layoff and is hard to ignore. Sakhala Is’Cathulo is drawn on the wrong side by trends, but has good 1000m form.
In the first leg of the Bipot over 1800m Key Worker is a full sister to the top class Surcharge (Yulong Prince) and from pole position should relish the step up in trip.
In the first leg of the PA Oranjemund, The Cane Train and Manz Knight should get punters through.
