Splendid Garden is ready for Spring
THE rescheduled 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 half-brother 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
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 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.
The first leg of the Pick 6 is a minor feature, The Non-Black Type Ladies Stakes over 1 200m, and the promising Pretty Penny is the one to beat.
She cruised in last time by 4,75
lengths over this trip.
She was given the maximum eight point raise for that last win and looks to be running off a capped rating.
In the second leg over 1 600m Bronx Bomber looks to be a promising sort and will relish the step up in trip so is the one to beat from a fair draw. Wonderous Climber and Volcanic Sunset are both well drawn and distance suited and have shown ability before so look to be the dangers.
Shelly
In the next leg Shelly was a touch unlucky last time over course and distance and is well drawn again, but it’s a wide open event.
In the eighth race Unagi loves the course and distance and is the tip to beat the progressive Puget Sound.
The last leg of the Pick 6 is tricky but Goodness Me goes well for Piere Strydom so can beat the talented newcomer Afrostar and Believe Me.