Deep Field could hold the answers
TODAY’S racing at Turffontein on the Standside track will see 38 runners making their debut.
This poses a challenge to punters, as these runners have no form to study or results to compare.
But that does not mean they are complete unknowns.
Two of the debutantes are of exceptional interest – the Australian imports Badrah in Race 1 and Al Muthana in Race 2.
Both are trained by Mike de Kock and both will be running in the blue and white silks of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum. And both were sired by Deep Field.
Who is Deep Field, you may ask?
Well, as a sprinter he set a class record on debut, winning over 1 100m in 1:03.18. He also set a track record of 1:03.04 over 1 100m at Canterbury.
He won his first five races straight by a combined margin of 24 lengths and entered stud in 2015.
Last season he was the top sire of three-year-old winners in Australia, ahead of stud legends I Am Invincible, Snitzel and Exceed And Excel, and this season his yearlings sold for up to $800,000 (R9.4 million) with an average price of $150,000 (R1.7 million).
Badrah comes up against a field in which only three horses have had a run and none have produced any fireworks. If her pedigree is anything to go by, she should start her career with a debut victory.
In Race 2 Al Muthana faces a number of runners with at least some experience.
Foremost among these is Harry’s Secret, who made his debut 12 days ago. He finished a commendable third, beaten less than two lengths.
With Chase Maujean retaining the ride, this Judpot gelding should give Al Muthana a run for his money.
Later in the day Grace From Above could also taste victory on debut when he lines up in Race 6, a Maiden Plate for Colts and Geldings over 1 600m.
Luke Ferraris will be aboard Paul Peter’s charge. Ferraris is on fire this season on the Turffontein Standside track, having ridden 16 winners from 99 runs.
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