Picture Troppo Veloce winning easily over 1000m at the Vaal last month. (JC Photos)
There look to be some good opportunities for punters on Saturday at Turffontein Standside.
The feature is the Listed Swallow Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1160m.
The Sean Tarry yard is building up momentum at present and Troppo Veloce looks hard to beat in this race. She has won three from eight starts and off a 106 merit rating is easily the best weighted runner in this level weights plus penalties event. Furthermore, she has a high draw, which is favourable by trends down the Turffontein Standside straight. However, the Brett Crawford-trained Vercingetorix filly Cullinan Blue, who is out of the classy mare Gibraltar Blue, is on the up and is also drawn high. She has won her last two over this course and distance and could progress beyond her 103 merit rating. The Tony Peter-trained Lancaster Bomber filly One Fell Swoop has won three out of four since moving to his yard from Cape Town and is also on the up. Her draw of five might make it a touch tricky by trends. Those three all carry 58kg and and receive 2kg from the lone topweight Leaving Las Vegas. The latter is a Tony Peter-trained filly by Rafeef and she won the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes as a two-year-old, beating the useful Elegant Ice. She later finished a 1,10 length third in the Gr 2 Debutante Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. She will almost certainly relish the step back to sprints after being tried over further in her last two starts and has a middle draw of six. However, giving the aforementioned trio 2kg won’t be easy. Calvin Habib rides One Fell Swoop, which suggests she is the yard elect. The Clinton Binda-trained filly Whirlybird has caught the eye once or twice and jumping from draw nine she could give some cheek, despite only currently being rated 88.
In the first race over 1000m the two winners in the field Simply Majestic and Pistol Pete have to carry 3kg penalties but look capable of fighting it out.
In the second, a Graduation Plate over 1160, Time Fo Orchids looks to be an exciting sprinter in the making and should follow up on her recent runaway win.
In the third race over 2000m Crystal Maiden has been in good form in stronger fields than this and looks the one to beat. Play With Fire has become consistent since stepped up to middle distances and has a chance. Crimson Forest has a form chance and has a plum draw. Arctic Vixen improved last time and can earn over a step up in trip which she might well relish on pedigree being by Vercingetorix out of a Jet Master mare who won four times from 1400m to 2500m, including a Listed event over 1800m.
In the fourth over 2000m Thunee Playa is knocking on the door and is now drawn in pole over a suitable step up in trip. Judgement Day should enjoy the step down in trip and can go close. To The Rescue loks to have ability but is still green and outpaced everytime before running on, so if the penny drops he could go close. Master Tik Tok ran a good race when stepped up to 1800m and is a contender. Dark Silver went close second time out over 1600m and could still improve.
Iphiko could be good value in the fifth as as she is only half-a-kilogram out with the best weighted runner and is drawn high over an ideal course and distance. Alula’s Star is the best weighted runner and is 3.5kg better off off with Magic Tattoo for a 0,60 length beating. Magic Tattoo did run a cracker last time and has a draw towards the right side. Cliff Hanger also has plenty of ability and is drawn towards the right side. Mover And Shaker has a lot of pace which he could use to overcome a lowish draw but he will be vulnerable late in the race.
In the sixth race over 1160m the in form Tarry yard run Silver Tudor, who is overdue a win and this 1160m trip is a suitable trip and he is drawn on the right side. His two career wins have been over this course and distance and 1200m respectively. What A Tiger is capable of better than last time although the handicapper must be catching up with him. Dreamland has ability and might be able to bounce back off a lowered merit rating from a high draw. Siberian Steel is consistent but does have a low draw. Ampersand is also capable but has a low draw.
In the eighth race over 1600m Ryans Boulevard fulfilled the potential they always knew he had in his first start as a gelding over 1400m and he should enjoy this trip from a plum draw. However, Presley has been eyecatching and he gets 1kg from Ryans Boulevard. Presley has a fair draw of five. Munchkin has always been well regarded and did well over the step up to 1500m last time and he could progress from a 76 merit rating, but he does have a high draw.
In the ninth over 1800m Hawkbill can boince back from a better draw than last time, although the classy but unrelaible Youcanthurrylove beat him last time and they face each other on the same terms. Youcanthurrylove is from an in form yard so he could possiby build on that run.
Copper John makes most appeal in the last over 1800m.
