Classy Turbulent Air has an edge
TURBULENT Air, fifth in both the Winter Guineas and the Winter Classic, looks good for the Racing.It’s A Rush Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth today.
The Justin Snaith gelding is the only three-year-old in the field and, believe it or not, he actually started favourite to beat the likes of African Night Sky, Our Mate Art and Loadshedder in the opening leg of the Winter Series.
His class should carry him through here.
The Australian-bred is not that well in at the weights – theoretically the top three in the race should beat him by anything between two and four lengths – but he makes more appeal and almost certainly has more scope for improvement.
The enigmatic Milton is the best treated and was 3-1 second favourite with World Sports Betting early yesterday afternoon – Turbulent Air headed the market at 5-2 – but he was most disappointing last time.
Maybe having the Durban July-winning jockey on his back will inspire him to put his best foot forward.
Brilliant Crimson (33-10) finished over four lengths in front of Milton last time and has some reasonably consistent form.
Ultimate Dollar, 13-2 and stable companion of the selection, is probably better than recent form would suggest.
Forget last time – the hood managed to get lodged in the tack and the fiveyear-old covered half the race with the thing flapping uncomfortably against his neck and shoulder.
Annigoni has gone up two points for a short head defeat while Waiting For Rain holds Friendly Tibbs and Red Peril on his most recent start but should not win at the weights.
Jannie Bekker has two good chances of landing his so-far elusive comeback winner.
Apollo Star is 12-10 favourite for the 1 400m Maiden Juvenile but the snag is that the gelding is proving expensive. He has finished second on his last four outings, starting favourite in three of them.
Possibly the softer ground will help him but Friday On My Mind is preferred at 22-10 after going so close against Klopp over the trip six weeks ago.
Bekker’s mount Colorado Rose is also favourite (at 19-10) for the Racing Association Maiden and probably has most to fear from stable companion Sandy Bay (28-10) who might well have finished closer last time but for losing ground at the start.
Merysagos looks good for Snaith and Fayd’Herbe in the first.
The Andre Nel-trained Sister Soozie is a warm favourite for the TAB FM 71 Handicap but stable jockey Grant van Niekerk sticks with Can Cope on whom he won over a furlong less a fortnight ago.
She is available at 4-1 and could be worth a punt.