Bacchus could bounce back to his best on Saturday at Turffontein Standside (JC Photos).
A Middle Stakes race over 1600m and a MR100 handicap for fillies and mares over 1160m are the two highlights of the Turffontein Standside meeting on Saturday.
In the Middle Stakes event Bacchus should appreciate the step back down in trip to 1600m having finished 2,5 lengths behind the useful Claw last time over this trip. He has subsequently come down to a merit rating of 98 and under the conditions of this race he is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted. S’Manga Khumalo is in good form and gets the ride. Command Pilot has come down to a reasonable merit rating of 93 and he was beaten 4.4 lengths by Claw when they last met, so there should not be much between him and Bacchus, considering he has a better draw than he had when facing Claw. Presley is a capable sort who is distance suited. He beat Command Pilot last time by 0.3 lengths, but is now half-a-kilogram worse off. He has a wide draw to overcome. Willow Express can never be ignored over this trip and he is one of the many joint best weighted runners. He has a fair draw and a featherweight of 52kg. Jury’s Out is drawn in pole in his second run after a three-and-a-half month layoff and he will be a big runner with Gavin Lerena up if he is at his best.
In the MR100 Handicap over 1160m Miss Argonaut looks to be a promising sort and can make it three wins from five starts for an in form combination of Mike and Mathew de Kock and Cailan Murray. Flight Of A Condor looks to be useful and is on the way up and she sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight, although the low draw could be a slight concern. Blizzard Snow in fine form and has an effective 2kg claimer up as Savannah Valjalo carries 2kg overweight. One Fell Swoop has been a touch disappointing, but has run some good races recently and with Lerena up can be in the shake up. Komati River has run behind some useful sorts recently and can’t be discounted. Famous Lady can also be in the shake up if finding her best form. Stars and Bra’s could be thereabouts if bouncing back.
In the first leg of the P6, Monkey Puzzle had some useful form in Cape Town and could be a contender if bouncing back from his poor last two runs.
Amandla Ngawethu has shown some signs of ability and could be a runner here. Best candidate is a half brother to three-time winner Symphony of Light. Echoes of War is by Rafeef out of an unraced Gimmethegreenlight mare who is a half-sister to a Gr 3-placed horse by Jet Master. Lannyboy made a fair debut and could earn here.
In the fifth race Golden Aspen has a chance if able to repeat his last start. Blindfire won quite well in the maidens and in this line-up could do well off an 80 merit rating. Oriental Bouquet has come down to a competitive mark, but she has become unreliable. Global Thunder has the form to be a contender. Valieva will be a big runner if able to overcome a possibly unfavorable low draw.
In the sixth race Dual Prophecy is a half brother to See It Again and has always looked promising, so after a good last run he might now be ready to put his best foot forward. Molotov Cocktail won second time out and being by Danon Platina out of Nother Russia, who was top class from 1600m up to this 2000m trip, he is an interesting runner. Flag Bearer was caught wide last time out under an apprentice and can make amends from pole position under Calvin Habib. Volte Face could be in the shake up if reproducing his last start. Storm Ahead could also be a contender here if bouncing back to his best over a more suitable trip.
In the last race Prime Venture has some useful Cape Town form and should be effective over this trip off a probably supressed merit rating, considering the superior class of horse in Cape Town. Birthright has plenty of ability and should be right there from a plum draw. The Playboy Bomber is on the up and has the form to be a contender, but does have to overcome a tricky draw. King of Numbers has the form to be involved, but has to prove he stays this trip. Bloomington is drawn in pole and is always difficult to ignore.
In the first leg of the PA Heavenly Good is by Heavenly Blue and is a half-sister to the six-time winner Player. Comic Artist is by Master of My Fate and is a half-sister to four-time winner Tobacconist. Babette’s Feast is a half-sister to the Listed winner Secret Identity. Those three first-timers could be the ones to side with because there is not much form to go on here. Iconic Winter made a good debut, but was then off for a year and will need to improve on her comeback effort. Cyber Spirit has shown some signs of ability.
In the first race and first leg of the Bipot Matcha Mint has been knocking on the door and from a good draw should be right there. Stampede Ahead made a fair debut and should appreciate the step up in trip, although she was due to run on Thursday. Daisy Jones ran well last time and should be in the shake up. Rejuvenate has some good form and should also be thereabouts. Scarlett Heart has some fair form and with Piere Strydom up should be a runner too.
