Exciting prospect Turn It Up makes his return, but won’t have it easy as he has to give weight to Gimme A Fireball (Picture: Race Coast)
The TAB Turffontein Inside meeting tomorrow sees the return of the exciting Turn It Up, who put up possibly the best performance by a two-year-old last season.
In the R3 million Race Coast Sales Slipper over 1200m he was at the back of the field from a wide draw but turned it on effortlessly in the straight to win by 2,20 lengths and among the vanquished was subsequent Gr 1 winner Erik Dubois, who was beaten three lengths.
Turn It Up was laid off as he needed to have a bone fragment removed.
He is drawn in pole for his comeback over 1200m after being sidelined for seven months.
It won’t be easy because he has to give 3kg to the promising Gimme A Fireball under the Progress Plate conditions. He would have to give him 8kg if it were a handicap, but Gimme A Fireball likely ran to a higher rating than 93 when a three length fifth in the Gr 3 Graham Beck, especially considering he was hampered late.
Gimme A Fireball is unbeaten in two starts over this trip and is held in high regard, although Mike de Kock has stated he was handful and needed gelding. Gimme A Fireball has a tricky draw of five out of eight, but it would be no surprise to see him winning.
The Last Duke has ability and is well drawn over a suitable trip so could finish in the top three.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 Polly Plummer has a wide draw but has the form to go close in this 1700m contest and is proven over this trip. Scented Alley should be on the up and can go close if able to overcome a wide draw. Alittlebitoflove has a good draw and the form to be a contender.
In the fifth race over 1800m former Cape Town horse Whatwillbewillbe won well second time out on the Highveld and the form has been franked. Off his 70 rating he is 2kg out with the best weighted pair Instant Attraction and Late Bloomer, but he is joint best weighted male and has a plum draw. Fire To The Stars is a full brother to Fire Attack and won well on debut over 1700m. He has a wide draw but could follow up off a reasonable merit rating of 81, which also makes him him joint best weighted male here. Celtic Manor is only half a kilogram out with the best weighted and should relish the step up in trip after her resolute finish to win over 1450m last time and she has a plum draw.
In the sixth over 1800m Tomyris is the joint best weighted and has been thriving on the Highveld. She has been put into the top 20 of the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup despite being relatively lowly rated on 103, so she will likely need to win here to confirm she is good enough. She is drawn in pole. Duchess Of Paloma is a talented, distance-suited sort and she might have benefited from a layoff as she had a tough campaign. Quickfreeze managed to stay on to claim a 0.25 length third over 1600m last time, but she will have to prove she stays here.
In the eighth over 1450m Brave Waam has an easier task under these handicap conditions than he had last time in a Progress Plate over 1450m. From draw three he can employ his favoured front-running tactics. Gallic Victor is knocking on the door and should be in the shake up although he has a tricky draw. Jaffa has the form to be contender if ready after a four month layoff and a good draw helps.
In the ninth race over 1450m Lightinthewoods has the form to go close from a plum draw. Oh La Amour ran a cracker last time and if able to overcome a tricky draw she will be right there. Impressive makes most appeal of the rest and should be involved if able to overcome a tricky draw.
The tenth race could be won by Page Boy, who returns from a layoff, but he is progressive and is drawn well over a suitable trip.
The third over 1450m could see the talented Cool Gambler going close from a draw of seven out of 14, a better draw than last time.
The second over 1200m could see Willow Charm, an impressive winner last time, and the promising From Winter fighting it out.
The first over 2600m could see Golden Warrior following up on his good last win as he is just three points higher and has only had three runs over staying trips, so there is likely more to come.
