Weight should not stop Surcharge
THERE are three features at Turffontein Standside tomorrow, including the Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes and the Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes, both over 1 400m and which are always good pointers to the forthcoming classics.
In the Tony Ruffel topweight might not be enough to stop the classy Surcharge. This Gimmethegreenlight colt relaxes well in the running and has an exceptional turn of foot so has a fine chance from a fair draw under Piere Strydom despite having to carry 60kg and give the rest varying amounts of weight.
Yakeen is drawn in pole and Anthony Delpech appears to have opted for him above Pietro Mascagni.
Yakeen came back a more mature horse last time after a three month layoff and slammed a three-year-old handicap field by 4,5 lengths over 1600m. He should continue to progress.
Pietro Mascagni caught the eye when just getting up on debut over 1160m. His run in the postponed Dingaans can have a line drawn through it and he duly bounced back to impress last time over 1500m in a handicap. He was running off a 79 merit rating but is a classy looking son of Silvano, so should be improving rapidly, and he now has a plum draw.
Seerite finished strongly with long strides in both the Graham Beck over 1400m and the Dingaans over 1600m and this rangy sort now has a good draw so should be right there. Wonderwall
Wonderwall won the Grade 3 Johannesburg Spring Handicap over 1450m and last time finished fifth in the Gr1 Cape Guineas. However, Tap O’ Noth appeared to win the latter race with a bit in hand and Wonderwall does have to give weight away to the field except for Surcharge and Purple Diamond.
Fish River looks to have plenty of scope for improvement and can win the Three Troikas from a plum draw.
She is officially the best in at the weights and deservedly so after her win over this course last time in which she was stretching away without being asked serious questions.
San Fermin is held in high esteem but has to prove the hype surrounding her. On debut she produced a tremendous turn of foot over this course and distance to win by seven lengths, but subsequently disappointed in the Fillies Mile. Last time she did well to finish a close third to a decent type over the too sharp 1160m, which augurs well for her chances here, although she does have a tough draw to overcome and will likely have to rely on her turn of foot to get close.
Takingthepeace is a tall and classy sort who looks to be the biggest threat to the top two, although he does have to give both of them 2kg.
In the Listed Wolf Power over 1600m Kings Archer has a chance on recent form. He won well over this course and distance last time and although three points higher in the merit ratings has a better draw. Age does not seem to be affecting this six-year-old entire by A P Arrow and Piere Strydom stays aboard.
The class act in the field is Matador Man, although his best runs have been on the easier Greyville track.
Unagi has a fine record on the Turffontein Inside track over this distance but he showed he is not a one trick pony last time last time when going close over this course and distance.
Romany Prince beat him in that race and is only halfa-kilogram worse off so has a chance too. Irish Pride
Irish Pride makes most appeal of the rest as a classy sort who is distance suited and who has dropped to a competitive merit rating.
The last leg of the Pick 6 is an interesting Pinnacle event over 2400m in which the SA Derby winner Pagoda is the best weighted and squares up against Dromedaris. The latter is only merit rated 77 but is unbeaten in four attempts at staying trips and won easily over this distance last time. Horses often defy their merit ratings in staying races in South Africa.
In the second race, a Progress Plate over 1800m, the Charity Mile runner up Social Order and the galloping sort Glider Pilot should fight it out, although officially the latter is weighted to win it comfortably.
The third race is a Conditions event over 1600m and She’s A Giver only has to reproduce her Garden Province runner up finish to win.
However, over this tougher course and distance there is a slight stamina doubt and Redberry Lane might need to be included as a hard knocking sort who is well drawn and who has proven effective up to 1800m. Manhattan Cocktail in the first is the best bet on the card having caught the eye on debut and now being well drawn over a trip over which he will be effective.