Mid Winter Wind comes off a hattrick and has been scratched from his Turffontein engagement today in favour of Sunday’s Gr Byerley Turk at Hollywoodbets Greyville (Picture: JC Photos)
Two Middle Stakes events are the highest rated races at an intriguing nine race meeting at Turffontein Inside on Saturday.
In the second Middle Stakes event over 1200m Mid Winter Wind looks to be on the way to being a feature race campaigner and has indeed been scratched in favour of being run in the Gr 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. The best weighted in the Turffontein Middle Stakes event is a filly, Chrome Tourmaline. The latter does have fine sprint form and is drawn four so could be right there. However, Tsar Bomba is preferred as he is consistent and comes off a nice win over course and distance. Aussenkehr is another course and distance suited runner. Zinovi has a breathing issue but can never be ignored as he is talented, but he does have a wide draw.
The first of the Middle Stakes events is over 1700m and Silent War is the one to beat. This horse has a notably good turn of foot, but has never gone this trip before. He is by Gimmethegreenlight out of an Australian-bred sprinter by Commands, so that does not make him seeing out this trip a certainty. However, last time over 1600m he chased the winner home all the way to the line and was 4,25 lengths clear of the rest of the field. That was from a draw of five and he now has a draw of three. Stable jockey Calvin Habib has ridden him three times before and replaces Piere Strydom. On the downside he is 1kg under sufferance with the many who are joint best-weighted. Player was beaten 6,50 by Silent War last time but is better than that. He was drawn ten that time but now has a good draw of four and Muzi Yeni gets the ride, so he should get closer. Supreme Dance had pole poistion over 1800m last time and won. He has pole position again and has won off a 90 merit rating before, so his three point raised mark here of 89 is not insurmountable, even if his win off a 90 came in June 2022. La Moohal looks to be a promising three-year-old and is progressing nicely considering his easy three length win over 1600m last time. On pedigree this Vercingetorix gelding out of a Trippi mare will get the trip, but he does have a tricky draw of seven to overcome. Pyromaniac has a lot of talent and if things pan out well for him is top class. He was beaten just 0,70 lengths last time by the well weighted Gimme A Shot but that was from draw five out of nine and he now has draw nine out of ten. Funky Music usually runs over a 1400m distance category but in three tries over 1600m has won twice and been unplaced behind the classy Barbaresco. Therefore, he is interesting over this trip for a trainer he has thrived for from a draw of five with a 4kg claimer up. The joint best-weighted are all of Pyromaniac, La Moohal, Supreme Dance, Player and Vesuvio.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 There’s A Light is drawn in pole as opposed to having a tricky draw when just failing over this trip category last time on the Standside track. However, And Action and Strewn Sky look to have the ability to progress further and are well drawn so must be included.
In the second leg Halberdier looks to be a banker as he ran just 2,25 lengths behind the talented One Fell Swoop last time when way out at he weights, although he does have a tricky draw so the risk averse can include Circus Light, Twice As Wild, Longsword, Smelting and Wings Of Nike.
In the seventh race Judgement Day imnpressed in his win last time and is on the up, but A Place In The Sun is also on the up and can’t be left out.
In the last leg Run For Cover looks the one to side with, but Feel All Right and Van Meijel have also shown glimpses of ability and can be included.
In the first leg of the bipot Legend Of Arthur can be bankered from pole position in this 1450m event.
In the first leg of the PA Someday Maybe and EmpressofNormany should fight it out.
