The African Betting Clan 20th Anniversary Pinnacle Stakes has a lot of pace and could pan out well for Cosmic Speed (JC Photos)
The African Betting Clan 20th Anniversary Pinnacle Stakes over 1450m is the headliner at Turffontein Inside on Saturday and Cosmic Speed could be the one to beat.
Cosmic Speed is a Gr 1 wfa winner over a mile and is full of class. He has speed and is ideally distance suited. He is only 1 kg under sufferance with the best weighted males in this race. This is his seasonal reappearance and he did well last year in the equivalent outing, although that was a much easier race than this one. However, he does have a good draw and it could pan out well for him as there is a lot of speed on his inside. Mastership is the only one who can scupper his chances of getting into the box seat behind Parisian Walkway and I’m A Fireball. If it pans out well for Cosmic Speed, which it should do, then he should go close under Keagan de Melo.
The five-year-old Ideal World gelding Parisian Walkway is having his third run after a long rest and has run very well in his last two starts over 1600m. He looks to be ideally suited to this course and distance as a strong front running type and he should be cherry ripe. He looks to be off a competitive mark and under the Pinnacle Conditions of the race is one of the joint best-weighted male runners. He has pole position and should be a big runner under a jockey who knows him well, Diego De Gouveia. The concern is whether the other front-running types in the race, I’m A Fireball, will take him on.
I’m a fireball is ideally suited to this distance and has a good draw.
He has not un for three months, but has a has run well fresh before. He is also a front-running to handy sort and there is the worry that there will be a duel up front with Parisian Walkway.
Texas Red is another classy sort who is likely ideally distant suited, but he does make his seasonal reappearance and he has a wide draw. He has run well fresh before over this trip.
Money Heist has some class but has a tricky draw and also makes his seasonal reappearance.
The best weighted runner is Indian Ocean, who will likely find this too sharp. She is running fresh and could cause problems by going to the front to join Parisian Walkway and I’m A Fireball. If she does it would play further into the hands of Cosmic Speed and Mastership.
Mastership is a nice type who is ideally distance suited and he has a plum draw of two. He could end up in the box seat and in that case his big stride could carry him into contention.
There is also a MR96 handicap over 1600 meters and in this race Ariovistus can make amends for his narrow defeat last time. He looked the winner in that race until Olympian Gold rallied to overtake him again and the latter franked the form by winning next time out. Ariovistus was given a three point raise, but he is only 2kg worse off with Master Christmas for a 4,70 length beating. Master Christmas ran a good second subsequent to that race and could be the main danger with Keagan de Melo up, although he does have a tricky draw of six. Prince Of Kildare is in fine form and should be in the shake up despite a tricky draw. World Of Royalty has some class and should be coming into his own. He is making his seasonal reappearance, but running fresh over a trip on the sharp side augurs well, although he does have a tough draw. Secret Chord one in good style from the front last time and from a good draw off a three point higher mark he should make a bold bid over an ideal course and distance. Command Pilot and Robert Browning can’t be ignored in this line up.
In the first leg of the pick 6 over1800m Life And Letters is a hard-knocking, improving sort who should go close from a nice draw. Sword of Light should relish the step up in trip and should be running on from a wide draw. Nikki’s Law is by Legislate out of a Silvano mare and should enjoy the step up in trip, so is interesting in her second start on the Highveld, having had some decent form in the strong centre of Cape Town.
In the fifth race over 1500 meters Brave Waam is a progressive sort who should be ideally distance suited and he could be hard to catch from the front over this course and distance. Winds of Grace is way better than her last start and could make a bold bid from pole position with Gavin Lerena up over a suitable course and distance. Bay Empire is in fine form and should be right there again, although he does have to overcome a tricky draw and a four point raise for finishing second last time.
In the seventh race over 1000m Sergeant Soqrat has been knocking hard and from a good draw and with a 2,5kg claimer up he should be right there. Echoes Of War is better than his last start and with in-form 4 kg claimer Anaas Mosaheb up he could be a big runner. Taking A Risk is knocking on the door and can be in the shake up if overcoming a wide draw.
In the eighth over 1200 meters Sakura Hanami is a consistent sort who could be on the up and from a good draw she should make a bold bid off a five point higher mark as the form of her last win has worked out well. Keagan de Melo up is a bonus. Highwayman Harry is a nice progressive of sort, but does have a tough draw to overcome. Stoneywood is off a competitive mark over a suitable trip and from a plum draw with a 2,5kg claimer up he can be in the shake up. Traditional Belief is half-a-kilogram better off with Stoneywood for a one length beating and she has pole position, so should be right there. Lonely As A Cloud is in good form and has in-form 4kg claimer Anaas Mosaheb up, but he does have a tough draw.
In the first race over 1450m Celtic Manor should fight it out with Empress Of Peace.
In the second over 1800m Uncle Bob is in hard-knocking form and from a wide draw over an ideal trip can be dropped out before running on under Gavin Lerena.
