Zeitz is progressive and Saturday’s Gr 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile will give a clue on whether he can step it up to the next level (Picture: Wayne Marks)
There is a big day at Turffontein Standside on Saturday featuring the Gr 2 Allied Steelrode-Onamission Charity Mile over 1600m, which is supported by two Gr 3s and three Listed races.
The Charity Mile has been avoided by some of the big guns due to the benchmark being 52kg for horses rated 106, meaning a horse rated above 122 would have to carry more than 60kg.
As it happened the highest merit rated entry was 121-rated Cosmic Speed, meaning he is dragged up from 59,5kg to 60kg and the rest of the field goes up with him.
Every single one of the 18 entries is in the handicap and the lowest weight being carried is 53,5kg.
Cosmic Speed has won a Gr 1 wfa race over the course and distance, the Wilgerbosdrif HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, and caught the eye last time out when running on well from a wide draw for a 2,80 length fifth in the Gr 2 Joburg Spring Challenge, just a head behind Choisaanada.
Both Cosmic Speed and Coisaanada have the necessary class, but Busstopinhounslow also ran on well in that race and having finished just 0,35 lengths behind Cosmic Speed he is now 5,5kg better off with him and 5kg better off with Choisaanada.
On the downside Busstopinhounslow was drawn in pole that time and has now landed draw 18 of 18.
However, he is always dropped out so can make up some ground in the straight.
Pressonregardless has run two well below par races this season, having previously been ultra consistent. He proved he was up to this merit rating in the Gr 3 Jubilee over 1800m last season. If he gets cover from draw nine of 18 he could be a threat.
The potentially best handicapped pair are Grand Empire and Splittheeights as the first is a Gr 1 winner rated only 111 and the latter, who is rated 109, beat Grand Empire over this trip in the TAB Gauteng Guineas.
Grand Empire will have come on from his last run when fading late to be beaten 2,40 lengths by Calla Lagoon in a Pinnacle event over 1600m. He will also be 2,5kg better off with Calla Lagoon. On the downside he has a tough draw of 17.
Splittheeights put up a pleasing gallop with the Charity Mile reserve runner Immediate Edge at Randjesfontein in preparation for this event and the De Kocks were very pleased with him, but he will be ring rusty. Nevertheless, he has drawn well and is a contender.
Zeitz is on the up and comes into it off a 114 rating from draw eight.
Chronicle King is also course and distance suited, but he is merit rated 115 so does not look as well handicapped as his contemporaries Splittheeights and Grand Empire.
Zinovi has reeled off many wins in the East Cape, but this will be tougher.
Calla Lagoon is in devastating form, is course and distance suited and the handicapper might not have got hold of him yet.
I’m A Fireball is also in fine form, but the question is whether he will get the mile, as he is ideally suited to 1400m and has failed over this trip before.
I Salute You is capable of running on, but has a tough draw.
Otto Luyken is a dark horse foillowing a good run over 1400m and he should love the tough 1600m here and is well drawn, although Zeitz overtook him late in the aforementioned race.
Malmesbury Missile’s best form has been over the Hollywoodbets Greyville 1400m trip.
Greaterix also seems better at 1400m.
Holding Thumbs will find this too sharp, although h should be running on from a good draw.
Isivivane has a nice draw but it will be a tough ask as a handy to front-running sort to stay ahead for the whole long straight.
Kisshoten won’t have it easy against the boys carrying 54kg in a handicap.
The selection in an open race where it is difficult to eliminate a lot of the runners is Zeitz to beat Calla Lagoon with Grand Empire, Pressonregardless, Busstopinhounslow next best.
In the Gr 3 TAB Graeme Beck Stakes over 1400m Sheriff Bill Brown has been impressive and is taken to beat the progressive Bangkok Magic. The unbeaten Gr 2 winner FishTales, who has changed yards from James Crawford to the De Kocks because his owners live in Jo’Burg and James closed his satellite yard up there, is taken for third ahead of Gone Cold and Noble Saint.
The Gr 3 TAB Starling Stakes over 1400m could see Get Up bouncing back from a good draw and exacting revenge on Flower Island with Alice B Toklas, Doesyourmotherknow and Griselda next best.
In the Listed TAB Golden Loom over 1000m Catfish is favoured to beat City Of Love.
In the Listed 4Racing Yellowwood Handicap over 1800m Into Dancing is taken to beat First Wish.
In the Listed 4Racing Java Stakes over 2400m Corrupt can bounce back and is taken to beat Best Candidate and Utsaah should be right there too.
