Guineas wins set the standard
IMPRESSIVE: GIMME A NOTHER, SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT COULD BE BEST THREE-YEAR-OLDS IN SA Pistol Pete to get punters off to winning start.
Muzi Yeni
Racing today takes place at Turffontein as well as Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Both centres have no feature races as they are both gearing up to some fantastic race meetings towards the end of the month and the beginning of next month.
I am unfortunately not riding at either of the meetings as I am serving a two-week suspension.
It’s never easy as a professional jockey to serve suspensions and watch from the sidelines, and causing interference is not malicious, but split-second decisions take place, and most of the situations arise because I am doing everything I can to obtain the best position in a race for the horse, trainer, owner and punter.
As I said, it’s always difficult to serve these suspensions but during this time I’ll try to rest my body and recover for the season ahead.
We will of course be previewing the Turffontein race meeting and the headliner is Race 8, a Middle Stakes over 1160m where we see a number of potential unexposed sorts that have the ability to feature in a few of the sprinting features later this season.
Before we get on to that card, I would like to discuss last week’s Turffontein meeting which saw the running of the Grade 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas and the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas – and what a day it turned out to be.
In my opinion we saw two absolutely phenomenal winners and I believe the best three-year-old colt and filly in the country.
As we already know, Gimme A Nother maintained her unbeaten record with a scintillating display in the first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara.
Her previous two performances were breathtaking, but this for me was her best to date.
Off a bad draw, JP van der Merwe had to drop her out after initially trying to go a bit handier, which is never ideal.
However, once towards the rear she settled nicely but still had lots to do. Her turn of foot was remarkable, and she put the race to bed instantly, which tells me how special she is.
On that performance, I have no doubt she will see out the 1800m and I believe the world is her oyster.
Congratulations to Mary Slack and Jessica Jell on breeding and owning another superstar, and to Mike de Kock on another big-race winner.
After such a fantastic win by the filly, it was hard to believe another performance would come close, but then we saw Sandringham Summit return to his brilliant best to win the first leg of the SA Triple Crown in no uncertain manner.
As we all know, he was the Equus Champion Two-Year-Old Colt of last season, and while he had excuses in his two starts, there was none needed last week.
Off a good draw, he was ridden more positively and from the time they turned for home, he was in control.
He then showed an outstanding turn of foot and the result was never in doubt.
He ended up cruising to victory and on that performance it’s hard to see anything beating him in the second leg and it sets up a really exciting day.
Well done to Varsfontein Stud who purchased the horse after his last start, as well as David Nieuwenhuizen who has done a wonderful job with him.
I was taken by the run of my filly, Champagne Cocktail, in the Fillies Guineas and she gave me the feel that she will be very competitive in the next leg and potentially the filly to beat in the final leg, the Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks, so watch and follow her closely.
I was also really happy that our value bet on the card, Mighty Goddess, was able to win and give me a victory on the day, so I hope that helped our readers.
Now on to today’s card.
is a Juvenile Plate over 1000m and my best bet comes up in the form of extremely promising unbeaten Pistol Pete.
His win on debut was really impressive. He showed both speed and an excellent turn of foot to win as he liked. In my view he is probably the best juvenile colt I’ve seen on the Highveld and I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t win, and win well.
Address The Nation also won a good race on debut and the form has been franked, so he is the main danger. He does, however, return from a small break and that’s my biggest concern.
Watch the betting on the two first-timers, one of which was an expensive buy, as this will be your best guide to their chances.
is a Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1000m and I think Peace Of Mind could be the filly to beat.
There was money for her on debut and she was green and in need of the run, but her next start was much better when she ran second to Almond Sea.
She receives 3kg from You Bring Me Joy (due to her being a winner) and I think that will make all the difference.
You Bring Me Joy won a decent race last time out and has improved with every run, so she rates the danger.
Emblem Of The Sun showed good pace on debut against the colts and is clearly above average, so she must be respected as a massive runner.
Once again watch the betting on the unraced runners for the best guide to their chances.
Race 3 is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1160m and five out of the eight runners are unraced, some of which are extremely well bred.
It’s essential to watch the betting and how they canter to the post to have an idea of what’s expected.
Of the raced runners, I think Dhow Solo is the one to beat. You can put a line through her last run as things didn’t go according to plan. She gets the tongue tie fitted and that should allow for improvement.
Enchanting Lady is the main danger after a few good efforts. Her last start was below her best, but on her previous form, she should be right there.
is a Maiden Plate over 1160m and I think Van Meijel is the horse they all have to beat. He has been slightly disappointing in not to have won a maiden yet, but this is a perfect opportunity for him to do so. In his third run after a rest, he should be cherry ripe and a massive run can be expected.
Stable companion And Action returns from a fairly lengthy break and while his last two starts have been below par, his debut was outstanding and on that he’ll be competitive.
Strewn Sky also returns from a long break but his two runs were decent, so it’s important to watch the betting on him, which will be a good guide as to what is expected.
is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1800m and I really like the look of Donna Mo to open her account.
In my opinion she has the best form on offer and is now having her third run after a rest. She should enjoy the step up in trip and jumps from a good draw, so she has a lot in her favour.
Volare E Mambo has run two very promising races and will love the step up in trip, so she is the main danger and must be included in all bets.
Darling Harbour has been very consistent barring her last start which was disappointing, but on her previous form she has a definite chance and must be respected. Include her in all bets.
Arctic Vixen has improved drastically in her last two starts and can go into wider bets. is a Maiden Plate (A) over 1800m and Marauding Horde will take all the beating. I believe he is a banker in all bets.
His form sets the standard, and he will appreciate the step up in trip. I’ll be very disappointed if he doesn’t win as I think he has far better assignments to come.
Remains Of The Day steps up in trip too and I think he will also appreciate that. He has some really good form and is one for Exactas.
Dark Silver and Irish Love are both unexposed but are going the right way and I’m expecting them to be running on and filling the third and fourth places. I think they’ll find it hard to beat Marauding Horde.
is a MR 96 Handicap over 1600m and strictly on form Barbaresco is one of the better bets you will ever see considering he is so well handicapped.
In his last start he ran to a rating well above what he is running off this time due to the conditions of the race.
To put it into perspective, he wouldn’t be eligible to race in this if he had received the full penalty and on that alone he looks to be a five-star bet and a banker in all the Exotics.
Silent War ran well in defeat last time out and although he is giving away lots of weight, he is the main danger.
Tirpitz finished off well last time and will enjoy the step up in trip, so he is another who should finish in the money.
Funky Music and Slinky Mapimpi have outside chances.
is a Middle Stakes over 1160m and my value bet on the card comes up in the form of Moonshiningthrough.
She is the best weighted horse in the race due to the sex allowance received and while a number of these return from rests she is fit and well, so a massive run can be expected.
Silver Tudor won a really good race last time out and on that performance is the main danger.
I Am Giant was slightly below par in his last start after a rest and if the second-run syndrome doesn’t affect him, he must be respected.
Mount Pilates ran well after a rest and if the second-run-after-a-rest syndrome doesn’t affect him either, he will be right there.
is a MR 85 Handicap over 1160m and I like the look of Cornwall.
He drops drastically in class compared to what he has been running in and I think he is the horse they all have to beat.
Mid Winter Wind is having his third run after gelding so should be cherry ripe. He is still unexposed, so a massive run can be expected.
Pontiac finished off his race really well last time and will appreciate the step up in trip. He now gets the blinkers added and that could assist even more.
These three horses should get you through all your bets.
BEST BET
Race 1 No 2 Pistol Pete
VALUE BET
Race 8 No 4 Moonshiningthrough