Winter In Auckland has been tipped to win the sixth race (JC Photos)
The highest rated race at the Turffontein Standside meeting on Saturday is the sixth, a MR 96 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1160m, and earlier in race four there is also an intriguing Graduation Plate over 1000m.
In the former race Winter In Auckland is blossoming into a useful sort and won easily over 1200m last time, beating stablemate Jack’s Legacy by 2,20 lengths and the latter has gone on to win and finish second in her next two starts. The What A Winter four-year-old filly has only had three starts in Gauteng for two wins and a close up fourth. She was given six points for her last win, but having come from the strong centre of Cape Town her merit rating might have been suppressed at 74.
Captain Selvie might well have benefited from a layoff as she was ultra consistent until her last start in June. Regular pilot Calvin Habib is up and she could go close if the two draw doesn’t cause her any serious problems.
Ocean Mistress has the unwanted number one draw, but this filly has class having finished close up to Palace Of Avernia in both the Gr 2 Golden Slipper over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville and in the Gr 2 Debutante over 1200m at the same course.
Willy He Meet Again is an interesting runner having her first start for Sean Tarry as she shows good early pace over further and now runs fresh from draw seven of seven over a shorter trip.
Lost For Words was given eight points for an easy win over course and distance in June and went close in two subsequent starts, so she could make another bold bid from draw three with Muzi Yeni keeping the ride.
There She Goes is officially 1,5kg under sufferance, but this is alleviated by the 4kg claim of promising apprentice Quaada Leung. This eight-year-old Time Thief mare is in fine form and has draw six out of seven.
She’s All Mine is off form but if able to bounce back she could earn.
In the Graduation Plate over 1000m, the first leg of the Pick 6, Perfect Sky can do better than last time when found to be coughing. Before that she finished a close second in the Gr 2 Debutante over 1200m at HWB Greyville. Alpine Jet is officially the best in at the weights, but has not raced since April and is drawn number 1. Status Symbol has pace and is drawn on the right side, so could make his presence felt despite offcially being 6.5kg under sufferance with the best-weighted Alpine Jet. Believe In Fate is capable of better than last time and could be involved if at his best. Trajanus is distance suited, but needs to bounce back from three below par efforts. Molten Rock has a tough task at the weights.
In the fifth race over 2400m Samuel Sharpe has pole position and on his last run he has a fine chance. Euphrates is well drawn and there is not much between him and Sanuel Sharpe. Naretoi is by Danon Platina, which does not agur well for this staying trip, but on the other hand he is out of the useful Tiger Ridge mare Meryl, who performed well up to two miles.
In the seventh race over 1160m Matinee looks to be a filly who is going places after an eyecatching win on debut, when unconsidered at 25/2, and she is drawn on the right side. Traditional Belief looks to have the ability to be in the shake up here. Play With The Wind is a promising type and the best has probably not been seen of her, so she could have benefited from her layoff. Go Gucci Go ran a cracker to win second time out and could be in the shake up off an 81 merit rating. Greenandgold won well from the front over 1400m third time out and could make her presence felt. Love Not War and Plumbago Park could earn too.
In the eighth race over 1160m Anadioo won well second time out and can continue to improve. She has the promising 4kg-claiming apprentice Quaada Leung up and can folow up off a reasonable 83 merit rating jumping from a nice high draw of nine out of nine. Taking A Risk has hard-knocking form and is usually running on strongly over 1000m, so she could get this trip. She does have a potentially disadvantageous draw of two though. Minervae Fae looks to be promising and can get away with a layoff over this trip. She is the only runner for the Dawsons today and can be involved.
In the ninth over 1160m Time Will Tell has been knocking on the door and should be running on as usual from a middle draw. Iconic Winter faced a fair sort in Winter In Auckland last time and was not disgraced. Now she has a 4kg claimer up but on the downside she has a low draw. Matroosberg has a nice high draw and could be running on late under Craig Zackey off an attractively lowered merit rating.
In the third race over 2000m Palace Prince is capable of a lot better than last time when caught wide and fading. He now has a plum draw and a nice galloping weight. Main Defender tries 2000m and if settling from draw four out of six he will make his presence felt. The Ultimate King has not raced since May so might need it, but he should go well in his likely preparation outing for the Summer Cup. Aladdin’s Lamp is capable of doing better than last time and can bounce back.
In the second race Clairwood Breeze is better than her last start and from pole position can make amends.
In the first race over 1600m Storm Cyclone improved when stepped up to this trip second time out and can improve again with Zackey now taking the ride.
