Bingwa has been selected to win the fifth race (JC Photos)
The Turffontein Inside track nine race-meeting is headlined by a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m, two Graduation Plates and a MR 96 Handicap.
In the fifth over 1600m, a Pinnacle event, Bingwa is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted but out of form Eye Of The Prophet and he has been in good form. However, he is the sort who needs things to go his way so it depends how it pans out from a tricky draw. Swing Upon A Star is joint-second best in with Bingwa and this talented sort can go close if proving he stays the trip. He has only tried it once and was not disgraced, but a draw of six out of eight makes it tricky. Key Element is 3kg under sufferance with the best weighted but is drawn in pole and is in hard knocking form plus she looks like she should start coming into her own this season.
In the first of the Graduation Plates over 1200m The Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Lancaster Bomber gelding Lead The Charge comes off a good fourth place finish in the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville in which he beat another conetnder in this race, Buffalo Storm Cody, by 1,30 lengths. In his last win Lead Ther Charge overcame a wide draw but had to be used up a bit early and then after being lit up did not settle perfectly so did well to still win. That was over 1000m and he should prefer this trip on pedigree, but he can’t be a confident choice because he is drawn six out of seven and there must be a concern about him finding a good position and settling. Buffalo Storm Cody won on debut over 1000m by nine lengths and then finished a five length third in the Gr 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m before his run in the Umkhomazi. He has the widest draw of all so has his work cut out. The form of Taxi To The Moon’s last win over 1160m was franked but he is a two time winner and has to give the first two choices 2kg. He is officially rated four points lower than Lead The Charge and three points higher than Buffalo Storm Cody. Linkin Navigator and Dr Faustus are officially the best weighted of the older horses but are both 3,5kg under suffernace with Lead The Charge. However, they are both capable and have fair draws.
In the second of the Graduation Plates over the same trip for fillies and mares Force Eight was not disgraced last time against the classy Rodeo Drive. She has a hard task at the weights being 5,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Betula, but she is on the up and is drawn in pole. Chasing Happiness is officially the second best in at the weights, being just 2,5kg under sufferance with Betula, and she is a consistent sort whose two wins have both been at this track, the last one over this course and distance. However, she has to jump from draw seven out of eight. Bosum Buddy is 4,5kg under sufferance with Betula and is drawn widest of all. However, she has pace and looks to be going the right way. It’s Her Way is way out at the weights but has shown ability and is drawn well. Betula looked to be full of promise at one stage, including winning a Sales race, but she is off form and needs to bounce back.
The MR 96 handicap over 1800m could go to the talented Player, who has won over this trip before and enjoys this track so he has a lot in his favour being fairly well drawn with in form Muzi Yeni up. King’s Express went close over course and distance last time from pole and has a fair draw off a one point higher mark with S’Manga Khumalo replacing Muzi Yeni. Millahue is talented and course and distance suited and should be cherry ripe.
In the first race over 1600m Far Reaching should enjoy the step up in trip and looks hard to beat.
In the second race over 1600m the hard-knocking Lacewing looks hard to oppose at first sight but Vulcanite should enjoy the step up in trip and could be a danger.
In the third over 1450m Accept Cookies might just have been cost victory last time by inexperience as she was green when finishing well and from a plum draw with in form Lerena staying aboard she can make amends.
In the fourth over 1450m Kaleesh Cyborg is the stand out on form having made a cracking debut over 1600m and likely to enjoy the step up in trip, but he has a tricky draw of six out of nine. The first-timer Jaham is by one of the world’s leading sires Kingman out of the Gr 2-winning middle distance performer Tamaanee, so he could give a lot of cheek.
The last race could go to Silver Parasol as he is continually improving and won his maiden easily, so a mark of 86 looks manageable. Mighty Goddess and Sensoria make most appeal of the others.
