Picture: Time Fo Orchids completed a hattrick in February and will attempt to add to that at Turffontein Standside on Saturday (JC Photos)
There is some good racing at Turffontein Standside on Saturday with a MR 97 and a MR 96 for fillies and mares being he highest rated races.
In the MR97 over 2000m the progressive three-year-old Oratorio colt Viva Brazil gets the blinkers on, replacing the cheekpieces, and should make a bold bid from draw six out of ten. He has been consistent and has placed second in two starrts off his current 92 merit rating, although he did have good draws both times. Raffles is talented and should have come on from his last start, so can go close from pole position over a trip he has won over before. Trois Trois Quatre is a four-year-old who might not yet have shown his best as he always seemed to have potential to develop into a useful middle distance horse. He does have a tough draw here over this suitable trip. Poorlittlerichgirl is 1kg worse off with Trois Trois Quatre after beating him by 0,25 lengths.Home Of The Brave has a tricky draw of eight, but will relish the step up in trip and has an easier task than he had in his last two runs. Kwazzi’s Lady has dropped to a dangerous mark, just one point higher than her last winning mark, and this is an ideal course and distance. However, she is the only female in the field, although she does have a fair draw of four. Total Surrender has his third run after a layoff and could do better than his last two below par efforts as he has a plum draw here. Battleground has only run in staying races this season, but did win his maiden over 1800m in January last year. Willow’s Wish is usually thereabouts and can’t be ignored.
In the MR 96 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m Time Fo Orchids has a plum standside draw of ten out of ten and as one who is progressing rapidly as a sprinter is going to be hard to beat off a 100 rating that she can leave behind in time. Woman Of Power is also a talented individual, who on occasion has looked better than her current merit rating of 88. She is drawn nine and the risk averse should consider including her in the Pick 6. Virgin River is ultra quick and will be dangerous with a 4kg claimer up meaning she will be carrying just 48kg, 16kg less than Time For Orchids, so also has to be considered. Wings Within Me ran close to Golden Sickle over this distance on the Inside track back in September and the latter has won another three races since then. However, Wings Within Me was beaten four lengths by Woman Of Power over this course and distance in November and she is only 1kg better off. Ice Star has the ability to be a factor, especially with a talanted 4kg claimer up (who does ride 0,5kg overweight), but hhe number one draw is against her by trends. The enigmatic Rockets Red Glare might have benefitted from a long layoff and can be watched with interest.
The sixth race over 2000m is intriguing as it sees the progressive Marauding Horde appearing just two weeks ahead of his date in the Gr 1 SA Derby. To The Rescue is also progressive and having been green in a number of his earlier starts before getting off the mark last time he might be supplemented for the Derby if winning this one well as he has always struck as one with plenty of ability. Jordan can be included in the Pick 6 alongside those two as one who finished close to Purple Pitcher in November in an 1800m event. He was receiving 7,5kg from the latter, but that was his first try at 1800m.
The first leg of the Pick 6 sees former Cape horse Max The Otter running off a competitive mark and San Simon and Turbo Power can also be included. For wider Dreamland and What A Tiger can be considered.
In the eighth race over 1600m Mighty Goddess has talent and Muzi Yeni is an expert in overcoming wide draws. Courageous and Sound Machine make most apepal of tihe rest but Kissing Machine could also be dangerous and October Fair and Light Of Day are the hardest of the others to ignore.
In the last leg Mizzen Sail has come into her own and the form of her last two wins has worked out exceptionally well. However, the progressive Donna Mo and the distance suited Mary’s Greenlight have to be considered too.
In the first leg of the Bipot Zenobia’s Gold is the one to beat.
In the first leg of the PA Mocha Frappe caught the eye last tiime out, but has not been raced since that run in May last year. Salute the Flag, who was not disgraced in Cape Town after a good Highveld debut, can also be included.
