Nor’West Arch is a possible banker
PUNTERS have an interesting eight race meeting at Turffontein tomorrow and the tote exotics will likely be popular wagers. In the first leg of the PA, a Progress Plate over 1 160m, Play The Night is weighted to win and showed a good turn of foot two runs ago when winning with a bit in hand over 1 200m on the inside track.
He followed up with a fair effort in a Listed event over 1 400m at Greyville, when leading and tiring, so should enjoy the trip here and looks to be a PA banker.
Machismo and Snow Boarding are the back ups for the risk averse.
In the first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden over 1 160m, Boatswain will likely start favourite, despite returning from a layoff since June.
He lost at odds of 1-5 last time over 1 000m, having run two good races against top horses in his first two starts.
He was beaten by a fair sort last time and was four lengths clear of the rest of the field, so is still the one to beat.
Sweet Trial
However, the third placed horse that day Sweet Trial was staying on strongly and has run two decent races since then, so warrants inclusion.
In the first leg of the Jackpot, a Maiden over 1 600m, the controversial Tapanzee could be the one to side with.
A top workrider was suspended for 90 days after finishing unplaced on this horse at odds of 7-10 last time.
His regular jockey, Lyle Hewitson, is back aboard and although he appears to not be a straight forward ride, he looks to have plenty of ability and has a fair draw over what should be an ideal course and distance. Alssakhra represents the very much in form Paul Peter yard.
He returns from a layoff since May 28, where he displayed his nice stride in the front over this course and distance in quite a strong maiden and only just failing.
Gavin Lerena is aboard from a fair draw and he has to be included. King’s County caught the eye staying on late over 1 160m last time and should enjoy the step up in trip. He does have quite a tricky draw.
Before Noon ran poorly on debut, but has since been gelded and it is difficult to ever ignore the Tarry-Khumalo combination, so this horse is worth considering for the exotics from a plum draw.
Dancing Rebel
Dancing Rebel is having his 39th start in the maidens but is hard to ignore on his recent form, which included a third place finish last time over course and distance close behind two promising sorts.
Unfortunately, he has another wide draw to overcome.
If the rider displays more patience he could get closer, although he will be hard to win with.
In the fifth race, a Maiden over 1 600m, the Silvano filly Nor’West Arch is a possible banker.
She started 32-10 favourite on debut, but lost the jockey at the start after being bumped and shying sideways.
She looked quite impressive without the rider aboard and on pedigree should relish the trip and faces an uninspiring field with Strydom up.
Diva Faustina led and was run out of it by a fair sort over 1 400m last time.
She is interesting stepped up in trip from a good draw. Weichong Marwing remains aboard and is likely to ride her a touch more conservatively.
King’s Creek has been in good form and lost narrowly last time over this trip despite losing a shoe.
However, she is having her 26th start, so is well exposed.
Boudica is by Silvano so should be improving and can be considered jumping from pole with Gavin Lerena up.
Spice Queen has run a good race over this trip before and is from the in form Paul Peter yard, so is a roughie to consider despite poor recent form.
The sixth is a good class MR 84 handicap over 1 400m and is the highlight of the day’s racing.
Zouaves ran above his merit rating last time when moving up well and finishing 0,75 lengths behind the classy filly Bella Sonata.
The latter, however, followed up by finishing third in the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes.
Off a mere 81 merit rating Zouaves has a fine chance here back in a handicap over an ideal course and distance.
The unbeaten Social Order has an obvious chance too. He was raised the maximum eight points last time when winning a Novice handicap over this trip by 6,6 lengths. Therefore, his merit rating is likely capped.
The race is between this aforementioned pair on paper, but both are returning from layoffs, which makes it a tricky one for the exotics.
Silver Scooter, Bold Viking and Bold Coast make most appeal of the rest, but Tandava and Artemisia are another pair who could upset.
The seventh is a sprint handicap where the whole field of nine could be included, although the selections for the first three is Fidelio, Ronnie Rocket and Zerodarkthirty.
The last looks to be a tricky sprint handicap over 1 160m at first sight, but Lauren Of Rochelle stands out when delving deeper into the form and watching the replay of her last start over course and distance last Thursday, where she was an unlucky 1,05 length third.