Fire Attack has some fine formlines and is one of three Alec Laird-trained horses with good chances in the Gr 1 SA Classic. (JC Photos)
All eyes will be on Turffontein Standside on Saturday, where there will be three Gr 1 races to look forward to.
In the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic over 1800m Alec Laird has a strong hand. Fire Attack had to be scratched from the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas as his blood reading was not right. It should not have set his fitness back as his last run was on January 11 and before that he ran in the Betway Dingaans. He stayed on well from a handy position in the Dingaans and ran on well from well back in the Gr 3 Got The Greenlight over 1400m when beaten just 0,70 lengths by Greaterix, despite giving him 2kg. On pedigree he should just about get the trip. Don’t Cry For Me won over course and distance last time in fine style and it heralded a turning of the corner for an always well regarded sort. The Sean Tarry yard is in ominously good form at present. Parisian Walkway was beaten by Fire Attack in the Dingaans but was having his first run as a gelding next time out when winning the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas. He looks likely to relish the course and distance and he has a good draw of four. Aristotle stayed on well for third in the Gauteng Guineas in his first run for Laird and he should relish the course and distance being by Rafeef out of Fort Wood mare Athina, who won the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic. Legend Of Arthur should relish the course and distance too and Richard Fourie rides this Tarry charge from a plum draw. The Fabian Habib pair Confederate and Bacchus have a lot of class and could be involved, while Chestnut Bomber is better than his run in the Gauteng Guineas. Grey Jet is not far behind Parisian Walkway and Fire Attack on some collateral form. He should relish the step up in trip too. Busstopinhounslow has a nice big action and has come into his own since being tried over ground. Miss Scaletta is the only filly in the race and improved last time over 1600m and a repeat could see her in the money.
In the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m Spumante Dolce has drawn seven out of eleven and is going to be hard to beat considering her progressive profile and her pedigree which suggests she should relish the step up in trip. VJ’s Angel was only beaten 0.25 lengths by Spumante Dolce in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and she now has a draw that is not as disadvantageous as her 12 draw was in the latter race. She is drawn eight and on pedigree this Gimmethegreenlight filly should see out the trip. Fiery Pegaus only has 1,90 lengths to find on Spumante Dolce and now has Richard Fourie up, albeit from a wide draw. World Of Alice should relish the step up in trip and the Tarry yard is in fine form. Olivia’s Way has class and is distance suited, but returns from a layoff since disappointing in the Gr 3 Fillies Mile, beaten 4,75 lengths by World Of Alice. Willy Meet Again could still be anything and jumps from pole position. Care Forgot has plenty of ability but is held by a few of these from Fillies Mile form and she has another wide draw here. Gerbera won well over the trip last time but this is a big step up in class. Bakwena began her career with a six length win over 1000m but has 7,10 lengths to find on Spumante Dolce on Gauteng Fillies Guineas form. She should relish the step uip in trip though being by Gimmethegreenlight and a half-sister to Divine Odyssey, who won a Gr 2 over 2000m. Hats Queen is an interesting runner, because she is clearly progressing and she relishes middle distance trips. However, Gavin Lerena has obviously jumped ship to ride VJ’s Angel. Sensoria is improving but has a very tough task at the weights here having been unable to win last time out off her 82 merit rating, although the handicappers did increase her merit rating to 84 after that race.
In the Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chesnut Stakes Main Defender will take a power of beating. He won this race last year and subsequently went a bit off form, but in his last three runs he has bounced back to his best, and has a fair draw of five under Gavin Lerena. Cosmic Speed was running on in eyecatching fashion last time in a Gr 3 over 1400m when beaten 3,10 lengths by Greaterix. He is now 2kg better off with the latter and he has a good draw of three. Barbaresco has likely come into his own as a four-year-old so from a plum draw of two with the astute professional Aldo Domeyer aboard he is a big runner over his probable optimum trip. Lucky Lad had the fastest 400m to finish time in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and if he does stay this tougher 1600m he will be using his magnificent turn of foot to fly home. Greaterix has speed and class aplenty, but the question is whether he truly stays this trip because Parisian Walkway came back to beat him in the Gauteng Guineas. He will likely be left alone for as long as possible in the straight before using his turn of foot to rocket home. The others look held, although Imilenzeyokududuma should relish the lomg straight.
It will be a not to be missed day of racing.
