Picture: Perfect Witness will be out to land bold black type in the Listed War Of Athena Handicap (Image: 4Racing)
Andrew Harrison (Gold Circle)
Perfect Witness is in a rich vein of form, having won five of her last seven starts, including her last three. Candice Dawson’s mare kept running strongly to win the Betway Summer Cup Consolation Handicap and can follow up in the Listed War Of Athena Handicap that heads an interesting card on the Turffontein Standside Track tomorrow.
After dropping to a competitive handicap mark, the daughter of Flower Alley has taken full advantage with Dawson placing her cleverly. However, the handicappers have been catching up again and she got a four-pound raise for her last win which gives the opposition some hope.
Diego de Gouveia was aboard Perfect Witness at her last three wins and could be the architect of her downfall as he rides Tulip Tree for Stuart Pettigrew who’s last two wins came courtesy of De Gouveia. De Gouveia is a regular rider for Pettigrew so not much can be read into the switch.
Mike de Kock sends out Bonete who ran a cracker when trying to make all in the Summer Pudding Stakes, only to be caught late by Silver Sanctuary. She gets 6.5kg from Perfect Witness so could take some catching if employing similar tactics.
Supporting feature is a Pinnacle Stakes where crack sprinter Dyce will be a popular exotic bet banker. Although set to shoulder 62kg the Lucky Houdalakis-trained gelding cruised to victory over a high-class field in the Gr3 New Turf Carriers Merchants.
Leading from the jump, he extended with every stride before being geared down to win by four, taking his winning streak to three. He faces some useful enough sprinters but should take a power of beating.
Mrs Browning, recent winner of the Magnolia Stakes, gets 11.5kg from Dyce, but even that may not be enough.
Lorenzo Karriem sends out Thunee Playa in the opening leg of the Pick 6, the colt having his first run for the yard. He had two smart outings for Paul Matchett before the move and with Serino Moodley making a rare Highveld appearance the inference is obvious.
Biggest danger could be Presley who has shown up well in three sprints and could come into his own as he steps up to a mile.
Bonika and On The Horizon meet again in the fifth with the latter one up on her rival. However, Bonika is now 3kg better off for a two-length drubbing last time out that should be enough to turn the tables.
Alphabetty makes her debut for Alec Laird and she comes off some useful enough KZN form where she was under the care of Peter Muscutt. She has been rested but looks capable in this line-up.
Joe Soma sends out the useful Back In Business, the lightly raced four-year-old having won three of his five starts. He may have been short of a run when second last time out after returning from a lengthy break and that outing should have brought him on nicely.
Red Bomber is a progressive three-year-old who has been narrowly beaten at his last two The form of his last run has been franked and from a good draw he must have a strong chance. Tirpitz won well last time out over course and distance and still looks competitive off his new mark.
The last is a wide open handicap but Mo The Man has come into his own of late and is well drawn which will boost his chances. Richard The First was close-up in the 22-runner Grand Heritage. He has more to carry here but that was a smart effort. Vix Princess takes on males. She has been rested and change stables and takes on males. She shed her maiden in smart fashion from a tough Hollywoodbets Durbanville draw and can follow up here.
