The Tony Peter-trained One Fell Swoop can win a second Gr 3 sprint in succession at Turffontein Standside on Saturday (JC Photos)
There is some good racing at Turffontein Standside tomorrow (Saturday) which offers some opportunities for punters and it is headed by the Gr 3 Betway Sycamore Sprint over 1160m.
The Tony Peter-trained One Fell Swoop looks the one to beat. She has a middle draw of five in a ten horse field on a course which tends to favour high draws. She is merit rated 99 in the handicap event, but has won four of her six starts on the Highveld and looks capable of progressing further. She had a win and a narrow loss against Troppo Veloce in two of her last three runs and last time over 1100m here a draw of three in an eight horse field did not stop her from winning the Gr 3 Betway National Currency Sprint over 1100m, where she beat the like of Ziyasha, Cliff Hanger and the top class Lucky Lad, who was returning from a long layoff. However, the form was franked when Wyzeact, whom she beat by 5,30 lengths, came out and won over 1400m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly. Mrs Browning has won a Gr 3 and a Pinnacle over course and distance in both of her last two starts, but against her is a draw of one, otherwise this progressive sort would likely be the choice. White Pearl is a courageous horse who has been bridesmaid over further to some top class horses. Her class might pull her through over this course and distance, although a draw of three is tricky even for the maestro Piere Strydom. In The Beginning is talented and is 4,50 length better off with One Fell Swoop for a 3,60 length beating over course and distance in December. The defending champion Alula’s Star has a nice standside draw. She carried 57,5kg last year off a 102 and this year has to carry 62kg off a 108. If repeating her penultimate start over 1000m she is in with a shout as she looks to be on top of One Fell Swoop on a line through Cliff Hanger. Flowerbomb can be right there too on a line through Troppo Veloce. Good Queen Bess has a nice high draw, but that didn’t help her when well beaten by Mrs Browning in the Gr 3 Carry On Alice Stakes over course and distance. Law Of Success is 1,5kg under sufferance, but is on the up and has a nice high draw. Gimmealight has only run over course and distance twice and they were both good runs, but she has a tricky draw of four and is 2,5kg under sufferance.
The following race is an MR 96 Handicap and Suryvarman should be cherry ripe. Last time out he had to be dropped out from a wide draw over 1200m on the Inside track and had too much ground to make up plus he likely still needed it. This impressive looking long-strider should relish going down the straight again and from draw six out of ten can mow them down. On of the three fillies in the race, Amber Rock, will attempt to convert her much vaunted status into a second career win. She might enjoy being on a straight course again having been a touch disappointing in third last time over 1200m on the Inside course, although she did beat Suryvarman by five lengths in that race. Cosmic Star is consistent and should be in the shake up from a high draw. Esquevelle is capable of earning from draw eight. Exchange Student makes most appeal of the rest in a tricky contest.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 Humdinger runs over her ideal 1400m trip. However, Quantum Theory should also make a bold bid from a plum draw over an ideal trip as he is coming off a fine effort over 1200m in which he split Melech and Main Defender in the race where they had some argy bargy.
In the second leg over 1400m Vix Princess has been in fine form since arriving on the Highveld and is the one to beat from a good draw over the course and distance of her only win for Tony Peter. Just Be Lekker has her first run after finishing a fine fourth in the R7.5 million Gold Rush over 1600m and she has a fair draw. The form of that race has not worked out exceptionally well, but she was under sufferance with a few of the runners and runs off the same 97 merit rating.
In the 6th race over 1160m Elegant Ice makes most appeal from a high draw with a 4kg claimer up even if she is returning from a three month layoff. Mount Pilatus and Ready To Charge make most appeal of the rest. Zinovi has breathing issues but has plenty of class, so is one to consider and Princeofgreen is interesting stepped down in trip.
The last race is tricky and as many as possible must be included, although the three who make most appeal are Brosnan, In The Ether and Siberian Steel, although Dontshootthebarman and Kinshin Sha are interesting runners from high draws.
