Rolled Silver can shine
TURFFONTEIN has a typically competitive early season nine race meeting on the Inside track, but there look to be some fair chances for punters.
In the first leg of the Bipot over 1 600m, Rolled Silver showed a good turn of foot over 1 450m last time and after hitting the front was only caught late. She is a daughter of Go Deputy so will be coming into her own having just turned four and she should stay the extra 150m from a good draw. However, it will be worth including the consistent and hard knocking King’s Creek, who will definitely stay the trip and is drawn in pole.
In the first leg of the PA over 1 450m ,the Mike and Adam Azzietrained Artax makes appeal as an improving sort who was a touch unlucky last time over the course and distance and he now jumps from the identical draw. Weichong Marwing takes over from Lyle Hewitson, who is aboard the Spike Lerena-trained first-timer by Oracy, Two Guns.
A first-timer who does make appeal here is Artax’s stablemate Greek Fire, a three-year-old Dynasty colt who is a half-brother to Gold Cup winner Wavin’Flag and to the useful Greek Legend. Piere Strydom is aboard from a good draw of two and betting support must be respected. The fouryear-old gelding Over Easy, a Tiger Ridge half-brother to the like of St. Tropez and Tan Can, made a promising debut in a stronger field than this on May 28 over 1 160m.
He should have the class to be a big runner, although this is his first start around the turn, he has a wide draw, and he hasn’t run since making that belated debut.
Darkest Hour should be good enough to win the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1 200m. He admittedly had the run of the race when drawn in pole last time over course and distance, but this looks to be a weaker field and he was relaxed in the running last time, so should be able to overcome a draw of seven. S’Manga Khumalo, who is likely to be chasing a third National Jockeys title, is aboard which is a big plus.
Angel’s Power
The first leg of The Jackpot is a competitive MR 93 Handicap over 1 000m and Piere Strydom has retained the ride on Angel’s Power, despite his disappointing run at Greyville last time out. Strydom has a fine record on this horse and they should be staying on strongly from a draw of seven. Aramouse is a reliable sort who sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and is well drawn, so he makes appeal as the main danger together with Tandava. The latter has a touch of class and beat the like of Champagne Haze the last time he tried this distance, so he should be running on strongly after being dropped out from a wide draw.
Isphan has bounced back to his best recently, and is hard to ignore despite a tough draw. Alpine Glacier could be dangerous from a good draw as another one who has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight.
The sixth race over 1000m sees Secret Harbour being asked to carry topweight as a young threeyear-old off a merit of 90 and the toughened older handicappers like Gun Fighter and Mission Control are preferred. Bono and Cumberland can’t be ignored either.
The classy Runalong looks to have it well set up for her in the seventh from pole position over 1600m, despite it being her second run after a long layoff. Shatoosh also has class and could pick up the pieces if Runalong fluffs her lines.
In the eighth, Collabro by Var is a half-brother to Legal Eagle and won his maiden easily over 1600m last time, albeit in his seventh career start and his third for Geoff Woodruff. He could follow up over a likely suitable 1800m off a merit rating of only 71. Beyond him it is a wide open race and Trip To Rio, Trip To Troy, King’s King, Full Mast and Artemisia make most appeal of the rest.
The last race over 1800m is competitive but September Bloom has come into her own and can follow up on her recent win over 2000m. Blue Berry Pie, Subtle Force, A P's Lily, Rose Water and Monarch Air make most appeal of the rest.