Keep an eye on Annie The Great

PUNTERS have another competitive eight race meeting to look forward to at Turffontein Standside tomorrow. They could get off to a good start with Annie The Great, who caught the eye over 1 000m on the Inside track when running on powerfully.

Lucky Houdalakis-trained horses improve with a run and she stands out among the raced horses in this 1 160m event.

Flying Falcon showed good gate speed over 1 000m last time and was staying on at the finish. However, the form of that race has proved suspect.

Therefore, the Sean Tarry-trained firsttimer New Zealand could be the biggest threat.

She is by former champion sire Trippi out of the Elliodor mare Zeigler, who has produced the Listed winner Red Disa and the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas runner up Tick Tock.

Another well-bred first-timer here is the Mike de Kock-trained Rasheeka.

She is by Vodacom Durban July winner Bold Silvano out of the classy Al Mufti mare Gilded Minaret, who won the Grade 1 Golden Slipper, was runner up in both the Cape Fillies Guineas and the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes and she also won the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet.

However, Gilded Minaret’s only runner to date, by Kahal, did not manage a place in a few starts.

Furthermore, De Kock’s normal first call rider Callan Murray will be aboard Satin Rock, who made a poor debut and now has his first run for the Brian Wiid yard.

The second race, a MR 92 three-year-old Handicap over 1 400m, Sir David Baird is by Dynasty and went from last to first on debut over 1 200m on the Inside track to win impressively by 2,25 lengths.

He is given the vote as he will be receiving 4,5kg from Surcharge and also has a better draw.

Surcharge

Surcharge overcame a tricky low draw on the Vaal Outside track last time over 1 400m, but drew away with big strides in the closing stages to win the Novice Handicap off a merit rating of 88.

Snow Boarding’s 1400m form has worked out well and he showed his class by winning a good race over 1 160m yesterday, so he has to be included too.

Christofle was transformed by blinkers last time and Darkest Hour won a weak maiden effortlessly when stepped up to 1 400m last time, so this pair are upset material.

The third race, the first leg of the Pick6, sees The Puma stepping up to 1 400m and this long-striding son of Mogok looks hard to beat, despite it being his second run after a layoff and gelding.

He had traffic problems last time over 1 160m, but when seeing daylight finished like a train.

The first-timer Visigoth by Visionaire is a full-brother to the Grade 1 Allan Robertson third-placed Visuality and coming from the Sean Tarry yard, who have an incredible strike rate with firsttimers, will be dangerous, although he has a tough draw of eight.

The fourth race is a MR 67 Handicap over 2 000m for fillies and mares.

Noceur

Noceur is a good looking sort, but this is her first run out the maidens and her first try at 2 000m, so could well be an exploratory run.

She could still be in the first three, but the preferences to fight out the win are September Bloom and Gold Medal Girl.

The former is a progressive sort who goes for middle distance hattrick and is only three points higher than her last win and the latter loved blinkers last time and won easily over this trip.

The fifth is a tricky fillies and mares handicap over 1 160m.

An outsider who could surprise is Elusive Strike as the form of her last attempt at a sprint, when beaten 7,55 lengths over 1 000m by Effortless Reward, has worked out very well and she has dropped a whopping 16 points in the merit ratings since then.

Last Girl Standing is holding form and comfortably holds Melinda’s Garden and Burundi Bush on last week’s race over course and distance.

Tamany Hall won a workrider’s maiden impressively over 1 200m second time out and could be anything, but an 85 merit rating and topweight is never easy for a young horse first time out the maidens. The Port Elizabeth raider Kungfoofighting goes for a hattrick and can’t be ignored.

The sixth could be won by the topweight Shivering Sea who has a fine record over course and distance.

Mohalela and Twelve Oaks both have ability and can improve further.

Mrs O

Mrs O might well enjoy the step down in trip and has a featherweight, while Outlander has ability but has had a busy campaign.

The seventh over 1 000m is the highest rated race and on Grade 1 Computaform Sprint form there is little between Wrecking Ball and Talktothestars with Rivarine not far behind. However, Wrecking Ball did not campaign in KZN, unlike the other pair, and is given the vote.

The last race is a tricky fillies and mares handicap over 1 400m and the ones who make most appeal are Shine Bright, Open Road, Nkolo, Ntoma and Wrap It Up.