Let’s have a go on Jo

DECENT: TARRY COULD BE LOOKING FOR FEATURE-RACE OPPORTUNITIES Puerto Manzano could have some bright prospects.

There might not be any feature races on tomorrow’s Turffontein card but there is some interesting racing that could give punters pointers as to who they should follow in the upcoming Autumn season.

We are only three weeks away from Guineas Day at Turffontein, with the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas and the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas kicking off the first leg of both the SA Triple Crown and the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara for three-year-old fillies.

Of course, this is the joint first leg of each as the winners of the Grade 1 Cape Guineas and Cape Fillies Guineas also qualify.

There are some interesting three-year-olds in action at Turffontein on the Standside track and the first two line-up in Race 3, a MR 80 Handicap over 1600m, which is the distance of the Guineas.

Sean Tarry runs Have A Go Jo, who appears to have some talent. Other than his penultimate run, in which he failed to show for no

obvious reason, this son of Willow Magic has performed well. He has run five times for two wins and a second place, with his victory last time coming over this course and distance.

It was good to see him shrugging off his previous bad run, which could well have been as a result of a wet track as it was his first run in yielding going.

Lyle Hewitson climbs aboard again, and the pair are expected to produce another dominant display.

Another interesting runner is Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Puerto Manzano. This Argentinian-bred gelding has raced just once – over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside track in September – where he dead-heated with stable companion Thumbs Up. Thumbs Up was subsequently disqualified which gave the race to Puerto Manzano.

Thumbs Up has gone on to win in open company and as there was 5.50 lengths back to the third horse, the form line looks quite decent.

It clearly impressed the handicappers who have given Janse van Vuuren’s charge a merit rating of 92 for that run, and that puts him 2kg ahead of Have A Go Jo who is a two-time winner.

It will be interesting to see if he runs to that rating in this event.

Of course, he has been off for 112 days and could need the outing, but Puerto Manzano could be anything.

Chase Maujean takes the ride again.

Picture JC Photographics DECENT FORM. Have A Go Jo could be an interesting feature-race prospect and will be tested when he runs in Race 3 at Turffontein tomorrow.