Blinkers work for Marauding Horde
MISSION: DE KOCK RUNNER SETS UP GRADE 1 SA DERBY CLASH
Last week saw the running of the Grade 3 Betway Sycamore Handicap and One Fell Swoop was able to back up her recent Grade 3 National Currency Sprint win with another really good feature-race success, and once again adding to her Black-Type tally.
She is clearly well above average and a lovely sprinting filly to follow throughout her career.
White Pearl ran second and some will say she was slightly unlucky not to win, but it was a good run nonetheless, and she is also one to follow.
My ride, In The Beginning, ran a lovely race, especially from the draw, and is another worth adding to the black book for her next start.
Entries for Day 3 of the Championships, which is Champions Day, came out this week and what a superb quality day it promises to be.
It’s absolutely great it is a Hong Kong World Pool meeting and they will be taking some of the racing on the day, which will be beneficial to all.
Of course, this is probably the biggest meeting on the Highveld racing calendar from a class point of view, as there are nine feature races, including four Grade 1s.
They are of course the Premier’s Champions Challenge, the Empress Club Stakes, the SA Derby and the Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint.
All of these races are of the highest quality and it’s lovely to see there could be some raiders coming to compete.
I am in the process of trying to secure the best rides possible, and I’ll be doing some of the most important work in the lead up to these races. Hopefully all goes according to plan but it’s a day I’m really looking forward to.
Racing today takes place at Turffontein on the Standside track where there is a nine-race card on offer. There are no feature races and the headliner is Race 7, a MR 97 Handicap over 2000m.
There is once again a double header as racing also takes place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, but again our focus will be on the Turffontein card where I have six rides carded and I believe I have some outstanding chances, so I’ll be hoping for a successful day at the office.
Race 1 is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m and I ride Just The Two Of Us who is having her first start for Michael and Adam Azzie. She is a nice, wellbred filly who will definitely improve from the run and hopefully we can run into the money.
Of the raced runners, I make it a race in two between my first choice and the horse I believe we all have to beat, Enchanting Lady, and her main danger, Waitforgreenlight.
Both fillies are overdue their maiden win and they get the perfect opportunity to shed it. Race 2 is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m and I think Zenobia’s Gold will take all the beating.
Her form sets the standard and she is having her third run after a rest, so she’ll be cherry ripe and could be a banker in smaller bets.
Ilha Da Orange ran a decent race on debut and with natural improvement expected, she looks the main danger.
The Crown is a really well-bred unraced filly so watch the betting and the canter past for the best guide to her chances.
Race 3 is a Maiden Plate (A) over 1400m and there are some quality runners taking their places.
Mastership returns from a small break and also returns as a gelding, but he is still my first choice because he has some lovely form. If he is close to peak fitness, he’ll be tough to beat.
Mocha Frappe returns from a lengthy break of nearly 11 months, but his first two runs were full of promise and my suggestion is to watch the betting as a guide to his chances because if he is close to peak fitness, he is the main danger.
Policy Of Truth is very consistent and another honest run can be expected.
Salute The Flag returns to Joburg, and off a good draw with S’manga Khumalo on board, he must be respected to run into the money.
Race 4 is a MR 80 Handicap over 1160m and I ride Turbo Power who was really unlucky in his penultimate run. On that performance I make him the horse to beat and my value bet on the card.
He did run on Tuesday and he was drawn up the outside on a day the barrier positions seemed to favour the lower numbers, so if he takes his place, I think he’ll take all the beating.
Dreamland ran a really good race last time out and he looks to be my main danger.
San Simon drops back in trip, but I think that’s exactly what he is looking for, so he is a definite runner and must be included in wider bets.
Green Flash was disappointing in her latest start, but she looked well above average on debut so if she returns to that form, she’ll be in the money.
Race 5 is a MR 96 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m and I ride Global Thunder who returns after a five-month break. She’ll probably need the run but is a quality filly and one to follow in the future.
Time Fo Orchids is going for four in a row and her rating only went up 5kg for those wins due to the fact they were in plate races mostly and she was the best weighted horse in those races. On that, she is the horse to beat and a potential banker in bets.
Ice Star gets the apprentice allowance off her back, which will assist her in a big way and on that and her very good recent form, she rates the main danger.
Wings Within Me drops back in trip and that might be positive for her, so she is another who can run into the money.
Woman Of Power ran really well last week and if she isn’t affected by the secondrun-after-a-rest syndrome, then she’ll be in the money as well.
Race 6 is a MR 80 Handicap over 2000m and my best bet on the card comes up in the form of Marauding Horde, who absolutely bolted up in the Hawwaam Stakes (Derby Trial) in his latest start and that was the first time in blinkers.
A repeat of that will see him win easily and one would assume it would be on to the SA Derby on 6 April.
The Brief won a really good race last time out and he looks to be the danger if he is able to repeat that win.
Jordan is having his second run after a rest but I’ve always thought he would be a very classy horse when stepped up in trip, so he is one to watch.
Fushimi Inari drops back in trip after two fair but disappointing efforts and that might get him to be more effective in the finish. He should go into Trifectas and Quartets.
Race 7 is the headliner on the card, a MR 97 Handicap over 2000m and I ride Trois Trois Quatre who has run two really good seconds in his latest two starts. On those performances I make him the horse to beat.
He looks a horse who might need to be ridden cold, and produces as late as possible, but if he puts it all together, he is definitely capable of winning this race.
Raffles ran a really good race after a rest last time and he is the main danger off a good draw.
Willow’s Wish gets Piere Strydom on board and I believe he will suit this horse so he is a definite runner and must go into all bets.
Home Of The Brave is well above average and steps back up in trip over which he won three starts back, so he is a definite inclusion.
Viva Brazil gets the blinkers added and will enjoy the Standside track, so he must go into all bets.
Race 8 is a MR 77 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m and I ride Mighty Goddess who steps back up in trip which will suit her. On her two previous runs prior to that drop in distance (she won both), she is a definite runner and must go into all bets.
Kissing Machine won really well last time out and could very well still be underrated, and on that, she is the filly to beat.
Sound Machine was also extremely impressive and fits the same profile. I think she’ll love the step up in trip and rates the main danger.
October Fair is having her third run after a rest and her form sets the standard, so she must also be added into all bets.
Race 9 is a MR 92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m and I ride Mary’s Greenlight who ran a lovely race last time out in the Oaks Trial. I think she just didn’t see out the trip in the end, so the drop to 1600m will suit her so she is a massive runner and one of the fillies to beat.
Elembee returns to the Standside track and that will suit her and on form she is a definite runner and the main danger.
Mizzen Sail won really well last time out and on that performance she’ll appreciate the step up in trip and must go into all bets.
Donna Mo won extremely easily last time out but drops in trip and that’s a concern for me.