Muzi Yeni writes for us
SPOTLIGHT: GRADE 1 WINNERS SOQRAT AND EDEN ROC IN ACTION AT TURFFONTEIN
Some good exotic bankers on the Turffontein card.
As the season gets into full swing we are starting to see some of the big names appearing in our race cards and today we have the likes of Soqrat, Barahin, Eden Roc and Cockney Pride making their appearances.
We race on the Inside track at Turffontein and start the meeting with a Maiden Plate over 1450m. The Spies yard has mastered the art of racing their charges in quick succession with a fair degree of success. The top selection, Bouncing Tigger, stayed on strongly for second over this course and distance despite racing wide on Tuesday and should be involved in the finish.
Exion should build on his decent course and distance debut last month while Pinch Pot was gelded during his 29-week absence and his debut conqueror, Ehsaan, has won subsequently to boost the form line. He is well drawn, represents an in-form combination and faces maidens for the first time. The expensive Tilmeeth could be much better than his moderate debut and he gets equipped with blinkers.
I expect improvement from my ride, Kool Baikal, after his moderate debut but he is well related and should progress with experience. Box Swingers with the four runners.
Race 2 is a MR 72 Apprentice Handicap over 1450m and is the first of two extremely open apprentice handicaps.
Illusion showed great resolve to narrowly win his sprint debut when supported, and although he should enjoy the extra and has a promising 4kg claimer Cole Dicken up, he will be seriously tested. I know Strikeitlikeamatch well and in his last run he felt like he would love this trip.
Hertog has faced some useful sorts in improved recent efforts. Master Of Masada was given a great ride to win his maiden over this course and distance and he has scope with Luke Ferraris up. Category Four should have finished closer but for being carried out last time and the runnerup, Captain Flynt, was beaten a whisker on Tuesday. Stablemate Prince Jordan is 3kg better off on their recent clash. Include Varimax, who prefers racing without blinkers.
Box them all in Swingers and Trifectas and go wide in the BiPot.
The betting market shows Race 3, a FM 80 Handicap over 1200m, to be a highly competitive handicap but I have narrowed it down to a match race between Solar Flare and my mount, Ponchielli.
The former arguably faced the stronger field as she ran on again when perhaps needing her seasonal and track debut. She has cracked a plum No 2 draw.
Ponchielli stayed on well for a course-and-distance fourth under top weight a fortnight ago and I expect her to confirm the form with Over The Limit (0.5kg worse off ).
Take Exactas and Swingers with the two and you could probably banker either in the BiPot and Place Accumulator.
Race 4, a Progress Plate over 1200m, is more open than the market suggests. All eyes will be on the returning Grade 1 winner Eden Roc, even though he is not favourably weighted, who is understandably the warm favourite. But like Al Mutawakel displayed on Tuesday, Sean Tarry's horses are preparing for the season and won't be at their peak just yet.
There are some smart other three-year-olds and I like the look of Donderweer, despite him only winning his maiden recently. Of course, he wasn't far behind globe-trotting former stablemate Twilight Moon, a subsequent Grade 3 winner, on debut and has huge scope for improvement. He's certainly ahead of his current rating.
Filly Cockney Pride had an awesome winter in Durban and is best weighted by some margin in this field. Indy Go rises sharply in class but should have finished closer last time. My ride, Informative, has a mountain to climb at the weights but is a solid performer who can contest minor money from No 1 draw.
Take an eachway bet on Donderweer but add Eden Roc, Cockney Pride and Indy Go into all exotics.
Race 5, a MR 72 Handicap over 1200m, is the second of the apprentice races and while we always expect a suicidal pace in these races, I expect the opposite this time, and a frontrunner could make merry. Apprentice Jason Gates isn't afraid to lead and I expect him to try and get Hot August to the front despite the wide draw. The veteran gelding has kept his form well recently.
Baahir will enjoy the apprentice allowance and should deliver another honest effort. He faces Hartleyfour on 4kg better terms on their recent clash.
Have eachway interest on Hot August and include Baahir, Hartleyfour, What A Joker, Bridge Of Spies and Ice Eater in Swingers and Trifectas.
Hot August, Baahir and What A Joker should suffice for the PA an BiPot but add Marula into the Pick 6.
I was seriously impressed with Queen Supreme's course-and-distance win last but I thought she beat an ordinary field. On closer inspection I was taken by the manner of her victory. As such, I do feel she will be hard to beat in Race 6, a FM 100 Handicap over 1600m. She was bred in Ireland and is still six months younger than he rivals so she has more room for improvement.
Interestingly Saints Alive and Virginia were separated a neck in a stronger field over the track and trip and finished in a slightly faster time than Queen Supreme.
Banker Queen Supreme in all bets.
Race 7, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m, sees multiple Grade 1 winner Soqrat make his seasonal debut and he is undoubtedly the runner to beat at the weights, even from the wide draw and bearing in mind he won't be fully tuned up.
My ride, Barahin, is also preparing for a Mike de Kock Summer Cup onslaught and I feel he could be a revelation with blinkers fitted. Lake Kinneret is honest and s in peak fitness while veteran Unagi ran three lengths behind Soqrat in the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes in March and is now 7kg better off. However, his subsequent form has been below par.
Banker Soqrat in the PA and BiPot but include the others in the Pick 6.
Race 8 is a FM 68 Handicap over 1600m and Summer Pudding could be another smart threeyear-old in the making after her eye-catching debut triumph but this will be a serious test for her with top weight. I do respect her though, but my first selection is Long Pond who has found form recently and she suits Karl Zechner's riding style. Her finishing time was slightly superior to the in-form Kapama who raced in a far stronger handicap two weeks ago.
My mount, Maddox Tune, was a gutsy maiden winner in her third start. She takes on considerably stronger opposition now but has room for improvement.
Banker Long Pond in the PA and include Summer Pudding and Kapama in the Pick 6.
Starting Line is ready to win and her experience should pull her through in Race 9, a Maiden Plate over 1600m.
Flaming Duchess improved on her local and stable debut over the course and distance and should have more to offer. Watch out for a much-improved performance from Christmas Flower while my ride, Midnight Top, gave her all when I rode her last time, setting a solid gallop on the Standside track. She should be competitive.
Take a chance and banker Starting Line all bets.