Seven Lives a likely banker
TURFFONTEIN Standside stages a nine race meeting tomorrow and purists will not want to miss either the first race or the main race on the card, an MR 102 Handicap over 1000m. The first race features the maiden with the best form in the country, two-year-old Pomodoro colt Cirillo, but he might not have things all his own way as three-year-old gelding Seventh Rule could be dangerous. Cirillo has finished narrow seconds in three features to date, including the Kuda Sprint, the Grade 3 Protea Stakes and the Grade 2 SA Nursery. He was one of the shortest priced horses in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion but was severely hampered so a line can be drawn through that run.
He has a high draw which is favourable by trends and should get off the mark.
Seventh Rule
Seventh Rule has not run for eight months and makes his Highveld debut for new trainer Ashley Fortune, who gets plenty of help in the yard from her legendary jockey husband Andrew. Interestingly, Andrew’s son Aldo Domeyer makes the journey from Cape Town for the meeting and rides Seventh Rule.
This horse had decent form in Cape Town including finishing close quite close up over 1000m to the like of Kasimir and Steel Rose. He can get away with it running fresh over a sprint, although his low draw might be against it.
However, Domeyer’s best ride on the day is likely for Fortune’s contender in the last race over 1160m, Mount Keith. He came from Cape Town with some fair sprint form and should have come on from his first two starts on the Highveld which yielded second and third place finishes over 1200m, both times behind the ever improving Snow In Seattle.
In the main race Seven Lives is an improving three-year-old gelding by Seventh Rock and his late charge last time caught the eye.
In a smaller field he should not have as much ground to make up if held up.
Brigtnumberten
Brigtnumberten is consistent and 4kg better off with Seven Lives for a 2,2 length beating in April so there should not be much in it, although as they are drawn next to each other Seven Lives might get a tow from him and then pounce late.
Queen Laurie is the most talented horse in the field as she proved in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint where she finished a fine fourth. She often costs herself with tardy starts but if she jumps reasonably well and then finds cover from a tricky number one draw she could mow them down late. Torre Del Oro is an honest sprinter who is drawn on the right side by trends and with Lyle Hewitson up he should be thereabouts. Wrecking Ball is talented and has a lot of speed.
If there were races over 900m she would just about be a champion because she often fades in the final stages. Angel’s Power had some good form but his loss of form coincides with him making breathing noises.
Greasepaint is an admirable seven-year-old who is still competitive.
He is 4kg better off with Seven Lives for a 2,25 length beating in April, but as the latter is a threeyear-old he would have improved since.
African Ruler appears to have lost his way but has come down the merit ratings as a result.
The best bet on the card could be Santa Vittoria in race three over 2000m. She stayed on well last time to the promising sort Silvez and as she is by Commands out of a Galileo mare will relish the step up in trip.
Another fair bet could be Hungry Heart in race five over 1400m. This Irish Flame filly is improving and has a good draw over an ideal trip with Piere Strydom aboard.
The seventh and eighth races are tricky sprint handicaps and going wide is the advice. In the first of them Rebel’s Champ does have the form to win though and has a 4kg claimer up.