Loyal Lieutenant has the form
TURFFONTEIN has an eight race meeting on the Standside track tomorrow and although Loyal Lieutenant is returning from a layoff in the second leg of the Pick 6 he looks to be a banker.
Loyal Lieutenant is a long-striding three-year-old colt by Captain Al and started off by running a ten length third to the outstanding Mustaqeem over 1 160m.
He then bumped another useful horse in Warrior’s Rest over 1 400m and finished a 3,25 length second.
The winner franked the form by finishing third in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1 600m.
Loyal Lieutenant then finished a decent 2,75 length third to Wonderous Climber and was only 0,25 lengths behind Alssakhra in that race.
Loyal Lieutenant was staying on strongly after being hampered slightly and Alssakhra has since franked the form. Loyal Lieutenant jumps from draw three under Muzi Yeni and should have too much class for this field despite having not run since May 1.
The rest of the field look to be moderate and Mister Lister, who has been seen to stay on well over 1 700m before, is chosen to run second.
The first leg of the Pick 6 over 1 600m is trickier and looks to be a three-corned contest.
Saheera caught the eye on debut over 1 160m as she is a scopey sort who was outpaced and then stayed on well.
She looks likely to relish the step up in trip, although of concern is the respiratory noise she was reported to have made.
Magical Charm
Magical Charm was stepped up to this trip at Greyville on Champions Cup day and put in a fine effort from the front, only being run out of it late.
The form of that race does not look bad and Gavin Lerena has kept the ride and she jumps from another good draw. Summer Sun has not raced since June 29 when catching the eye as a solid daughter of Ideal World who plugged on bravely against Tundra Taita, who is well regarded.
The progeny of Ideal World improve continuously and she looks to have plenty of scope so would not be a surprise winner, although she does have a tricky draw of eight.
For wider The Gardner Girl comes off a good run at Scottsville over this trip and is drawn well.
Wings Of Charne was staying on over 1 400m last time and has a fair draw, but the form of that race looks a touch suspect.
The third leg of the Pick 6 over 1 400m also looks to be a three-cornered contest. Lebanese Tractor moved up with authority last time and stayed on to win over the course and distance so she can overcome a four point raise in the merit ratings from a similar draw.
However, Emily Jay proved she has a touch of class last time when running the promising Guns And Roses to 0,25 lengths over 1 800m here last time.
She would prefer further, but could be quite fresh having not run for 67 days and has a plum draw of three so is sure to be running on well, as she did in that last race.
However, one concern is that she made a respiratory noise.
Goodytwoshoes has been rising up the merit ratings and claimed a hattrick in June and July.
She was disappointing last time, but had a tricky draw and was slowly away.
She doesn’t have the easiest draw here, but can do better than last time.
In the next race Phillydelphia has developed into an imposing sort and never looked in danger of defeat last time over this 1 000m course and distance when showing high cruising speed.
She won comfortably and can overcome the maximum eight point raise judging from that performance.
However, Winter Watch looks to have class and can be a threat despite having to run off an 88 merit rating as a young three-year-old.
There is not much between Winter Watch and Cal’s Crush on their meeting in the maidens.
In the next race over 1 160m a threeyear-old running first time out the maidens off a merit rating of 85, Riding Shotgun, is selected and this is due to him being a scopey horse who has impressed in his last two starts and he faces an uninspiring bunch of older horses.
In his penultimate start Riding Shotgun finished just 0,25 lengths behind Broadway Trip and the latter went on to win a million rand sales race at Scottsville.
Last time out Riding Shotgun showed good cruising speed over 1 000m and a fine turn of foot to win easing up by three.
He should be too good here.
Torra Del Oro
Torra Del Oro did well after a rest and gelding last time and is the chief threat along with Dragoon, who has won three times over the course and distance.
The last race is the trickiest leg and punters should consider going wide.
Queen At War is in good form and has the Standside draw, which has been favourable in recent meetings over this 1 160m course and distance.
Catwalk Tease beat Queen At War by a shorthead last time and they meet at the same weights.
She has Strydom up now too, but she does not have as favourable a draw as Queen at War. Danish Cross, the hattrick seeking Prosperity and Gateway To Heaven make most appeal of the rest.