Tomyris was in the top 20 on the Betway Summer Cup log, despite being merit rated only 103, and she will be out to silence the naysayers at Turffontein Inside on Saturday (JC Photos)
RACE 1
GOLDEN WARRIOR confirmed the improvement of his penultimate start over 2400m by winning over that trip last time and a resultant 3-point penalty isn’t likely to halt his momentum over this extended distance. EUPHRATES and NUCLEAR FORCE are held by the selection on recent form but are proven over this trip and weighted to pose more of a threat. FUTUREWOLFF and FULL GO are unreliable but capable of getting into the picture.
RACE 2
Well-bred FROM WINTER could hardly have been more impressive when winning on debut over 1160m and it should pay to follow his progress with natural improvement expected. SET TO MUSIC, WINTER IN AUCKLAND and BANYAN have the form and experience to make their presence felt but are drawn wide, so a bigger threat will likely come from BLIZZARD SNOW, CONTINENTAL KING and recent winner WILLOW CHARM. Both GLASTONBURY FIRE and GEOSTORM are open to improvement after respective absences so are others to consider for larger BiPot permutations.
RACE 3
COOL GAMBLER acquitted himself well in defeat over 1200m in his first start out the maidens after a break and this extended trip will be more to his liking. SKITT SMILING fits a similar profile after a good 4th from a wide draw over 1600m last time, so should have a role to play from an inside barrier. Last-start winners ON A JET PLANE and BERRY LANCER remain competitive under resultant penalties, as does MAJOR ARCANA after consecutive recent seconds. Unexposed CAMILLO CAVOUR, consistent ZIP CODE and honest hard-knocker SPY STORY are awkwardly drawn but could have a say in the outcome.
RACE 4
SCENTED ALLEY has been getting closer with each outing and could improve sufficiently over this extended trip to open her account. POLLY PLUMMER wouldn’t be winning out of turn after consecutive seconds, the latest over this trip with blinkers fitted (retained). TREX ON FIRE and ALITTLEBITOFLOVE fit a similar profile – both have the form and experience to play leading roles. BLOOMING LOVELY, ROYAL FREEDOM and PROPHECIES also have earning potential in Leg 1 of the Pick 6.
RACE 5
CELTIC MANOR and WHATWILLBEWILLBE were rewarded for consistency with last-start maiden successes and the form of those victories has been franked by subsequent winners from both races, so both should remain competitive at this level. Well-related debut winner FIRE TO THE STARS is open to any amount of improvement and is best kept onside, especially with his rider’s 4kg allowance. LATE BLOOMER, WORLD ORDER and MIRUM appeal most of the remainder.
RACE 6
TOMYRIS was 2nd in a Listed race over this trip last time and a similar performance under a 4-point penalty against male opposition could suffice. OPEN HIGHWAY bounced back to form with a good 2nd at this level recently and should be involved again off an unchanged mark. QUICKFREEZE is closely matched on that form so ought to be competitive too. ROYAL EDITION and KING’S EXPRESS are in good form and will likely be on the premises, though the latter has a wide draw to contend with. ORANGE COUNTY is versatile and drawn well so could also make his presence felt from an inside gate. Good race!
RACE 7
GIMME A FIREBALL is undefeated over this distance and was unlucky not to have finished closer than 5th in a 3yo Grade 3 over 1400m. Highly rated TURN IT UP was a well-performed 2yo and is open to further progress as a 3yo so has to be respected on his reappearance following a lengthy layoff. Best-weighted SHADOWFAX showed signs of a return to form last time and need only confirm that improvement to fight out the finish. THE LAST DUKE has the form and experience at this level to also acquit himself competitively, especially after an encouraging last-start 2nd over the trip.
RACE 8
GALLIC VICTOR has been costly to follow since relocating to the Highveld but run well in defeat at a higher level recently. He was a close-up 4th over track and trip two starts back and a similar effort off a reduced mark should suffice in this grade BRAVE WAAM, NEVER NEVER LAND and WINDING POWER are better than their disappointing recent displays suggest and should have roles to play if bouncing back to earlier form. AMERICAN BEAUTY is unbeaten over track and trip so will appreciate reverting to this distance, having been outrun late over 1600m last time.
RACE 9
LIGHTINTHEWOODS and IMPRESSIVE ran well in defeat over track and trip recently, and could fight out the finish with similar performances. Versatile BOOM BOOM has dropped to a competitive mark and is likely to have a say in the outcome from a favourable gate in her peak run. DELAWARE RIVER bounced back to form with an encouraging 3rd over 1200m on her return from a rest and should have more to offer over this extended trip. Last-start winner OH LA AMOUR is awkwardly drawn but warrants respect as the form of her maiden win has been franked. KORTVANDRAAD and BRIGITTE ANNE are others with claims.
RACE 10
RISING EAGLE was touched off by a subsequent dual winner on his 3yo/handicap debut 15 weeks ago over 1400m and won’t need to improve much over this extended trip to make a winning reappearance as a gelding. Last-start winners AINT NO DOUBT and MOUNT DARWIN remain competitive under resultant penalties so could trouble the selection. Class-dropper DAWSON’S ANVIL is drawn widest but has shown enough to play a role in the outcome. KNOWMORE and ONE STATE are others with earning potential.
