Alec Laird hopes to have Parisian Walkway back to the form of his Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas win (pictured above) (JC Photos)
A Graduation Plate over 1600m is the highest rated race at the Turffontein Inside meeting on Saturday and Parisian Walkway is the one to side with.
The Ideal World gelding went off form after a fine performance to win the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas, but trainer Alec Laird believes he has found where the problem lay. The yard found a very resistant worm in the stool and after thorough treatment they believe they have got rid of it. Parisian Walkway is a front-runner who won many admirers in his Guineas win for the way in which he fought back after being overtaken by Greaterix, although the latter does have a suspect stamina capacity. Parisian Walkway is drawn five which should provide him with a good launching pad to get to the front. He returns from a layoff of close to four months but can get away with it as he is well weighted. Solar Sail is officially 2kg under sufferance with Parisian Walkway but did finish well ahead of him when third in the SA Derby and has the advantage of a recent run. He would prefer further but his first win was over 1400m and he does have decent mile form so will be a threat. Chestnut Bomber has class but has gone off form, so will need to bounce back to the form that saw him finish second in the Listed Wolf Power 1600 in January. This is his third run after a layoff but he does have a wide draw. Cocomelon is the second best in at the weights but returns from a five month layoff and would prefer further, considering she finished third in the SA Oaks. She should be effective over this trip running fresh and has a 4kg claimer up, but does have a tricky draw. Gerbera makes most appeal of the rest as she has some class and although returning from a four month layoff she has a fair draw with Craig Zackey up.
The sixth is a Graduation Plate over 1200m and the classy Bjorn Ironside is well drawn over a suitable trip and should go close as he is the best weighted and he did well in a recent comeback from a six month layoff. Poblano also has some class and is distance suited so should be running on from a wide draw as he is officially just 0,5kg under sufferance with Bjorn Ironside. Mystical Miss is officially 8kg under sufferance with the best weighted but looks to have some class and should be progressing, so could earn in her third career start.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 2600m Mo Ment is an honest stayer who had a runaway win last time and he should give another fine account of himself off a capped merit rating. Vesuvio has some good form over staying trips and for an in-form yard can be in the shake-up, although he does have a tricky draw. Teo Torriate has been in good form and is interesting over this trip as he has won over 2400m before.
In the second leg over 2000m Robert Browning impressed last time over 1800m and with a further step up in trip he should be right there. He is a good looking sort who went through a bad six month patch, but it looks as if the problem has been found and he is now potentially still well handicapped as he dropped from an 82 to a 70 during his bad patch and is now on 75. Eiger Sanction has a fair draw and has the form to be a big runner and has a better draw than last time. He has won twice on the Inside track. Gimmeachoice won easily last time when stepped up to this trip and although having to run off a seven point higher merit rating and from a wide draw he could be in the shake-up again. American Rebel is well drawn and could be a contender here. Street Art has plenty of ability and has pole position off an attractive merit rating.
In the fifth race over 1800m King’s Express has a tricky draw but has the form to be right there. Silent Warrior has the form to be a contender in this race from a fair draw with Rachel Venniker’s 1,5kg claim being an advantage. Infinite Wonder could be in the shake-up here if bouncing back. Soldier’s Eye has some useful form and should relish this course and distance although she does have a tricky draw. Fire ‘N Flames has the ability to run on strongly but will have to settle well from a good draw over a trip which will stretch him.
In the seventh race over 1600m Max The Magician bounced back with a good run last time and has a chance over a suitable trip from a fair draw. Curtiss Condor is progressive and should be in the shake-up from a good draw. Paul Revere has done well in his last two starts and looks capable of staying this trip. Player has been a touch disappointing and now has a wide draw, but he is capable of earning. Potberrie has the class to carry topweight from a good draw and on pedigree should get the trip.
In the first race Banyan looked a decent sort when winning on debut and could handle a 90 merit rating, but does have a tricky draw of five out of eight in the 1000m contest. Dontshootthebarman should do well from a good draw but does have to boiunce back from a poor effort.
In the second over 1000m Karate Kid has some class and can mow them down in a small field where he will likely be dropped out from a draw of fiive out of seven.
