A plum draw for Splendid Garden
THE GRADE 3 Spring Spree Stakes over 1 200m is the main race tomorrow on the Turffontein Inside track and it is a typically competitive sprint handicap. Splendid Garden has proven his current merit rating is competitive. This seven-year-old by Black Minnaloushe is a halfbrother to Soft Falling Rain and he over raced last time early on when the jockey restrained him from a wide draw over 1 400m.
Therefore, he should appreciate the step down in trip and in fact his last win was over this course and distance. He is off a three point higher merit rating now but he was drawn 12 out of 12 in that win and now has a plum draw of three.
Chimichuri Run is highly regarded and showed his class last time when cruising home in the Grade 3 Umkhomazi Stakes over this trip at Greyville.
It does not matter how good they are destined to become, early season three-year-olds running off high merit ratings generally battle to beat toughened older horses and his merit rating is 108. However, he should still go close as it is not a vintage line up and he is well drawn.
Angel’s Power was runner up last year, albeit from a better draw than this wide one of 12.
If the six point raise given to all horses in March is taken into account he is effectively five points lower this year and should be staying on. Talktothestars is a former Equus Champion Sprinter and is known for his toughness, so he might well have benefited from his six month layoff and can’t be ignored jumping from pole position, despite a tailing off of form in his last few starts.
Clever Guy won well from the front last time over 1 000m with blinkers on and this might be the key to him. The blinkers stay on and he has a chance if able to find a handy position without using up too much energy from his wide draw.
Tar Heel
Tar Heel had a lot of pace in his heyday and should have come on from his last start, which followed a five-and-a-half month layoff, so he can make his presence felt from a good draw off a competitive merit rating.
Premier Show is not finding his current merit rating easy although he could earn. Mujallad has a wide draw and is off a tough merit rating but he should be staying on and could earn. Finchatton has a tough draw and it will be tough as he would likely prefer further.
Wrecking Ball has a lot of pace but is usually found wanting in the closing stages. Mrs. O has come into her own but won’t find it easy against the boys. Just As I Said has pace but will find it tough returning from a three month layoff from a wide draw.
Dan The Lad
The first leg of the PA should see Dan The Lad following up on his last win as he packs a strong finish and proved last time when winning from a handy position over 1 160m he doesn’t have to be held up to be at his best.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1 450m Full Mast makes appeal as an in-form gelding by Go Deputy as this sire’s progeny improve noticeably in their four-year-old year.
In the next race over 1 000m there is another horse who has come into her own, Mademoiselle, and from a plum draw she can make it a course and distance hattrick off just a two point higher mark than last time and a better draw.
The sixth is a minor feature, The Non-Black Type Ladies Stakes over 1200m, and the promising Pretty Penny is the one to beat. She cruised in last time by 4,75 lengths over this trip and might still be ahead of the handicapper. She was given the maximum eight point raise for that last win and looks to be running off a capped rating.
The eighth over 1 200m should pan out well for the attractively merit rated Alex The Great. He likes to be handy and there is not much pace on his inside so he might be able to find the box seat.
Seventh Rule has good pace and will appreciate the step down to 1 200m. He is widely drawn but without much pace in the race he can get to the front without using up too much. Furthermore, he has dropped to a competitive merit rating. The Rising Legend can round up the meeting as he has some class and can use his fine turn of foot and sustained finish to mow them down after being dropped out from a wide draw.