Zeal And Zest for a punt

TURFFONTEIN Inside track stages a low key nine race meeting tomorrow which is headed by two MR 80 handicaps over 1 800m and 1 000m respectively.

In the first of them , the fifth race, Zeal And Zest is a rangy four-year-old gelding by Traffic Guard and should be coming into his own.

He does have a tough draw to overcome, but showed a good turn of foot when winning last time over 2 000m at this course on July 30 and is only three points higher in the merit ratings.

Urgent Fury is now a seven-year-old, but has found consistency and remains off a competitive merit rating.

He moved up well last time over 1 700m at the Vaal and should prefer this tighter track.

Eight-year-old Killua Castle is a former Summer Cup runner up, so would win this race with ease off his 78 merit rating if producing anything close to his best.

This is his return run on the Highveld, having ended his Port Elizabeth campaign in March, and he loves this course and distance having won two of his three starts here.

Holy Joe is interesting as he returned from an eight month layoff over 1 700m and stayed on from pole position to finish just 1,25 lengths behind Urgent Fury. He should have benefitted from the run. However, there is the second run after the rest theory to be concerned about as this race comes just nine days later.

He also has a wide draw to overcome, but on the plus side the twice champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo is aboard.

Scotland is a nice type of a horse and on first appearance put in a bit of a lacklustre performance last time over this trip on the Standside track. However, the form of that race has turned out to be not bad and off a two point lower merit rating he could make his presence felt from a good draw.

Detonation and Revelation also have form chances.

Cathedral County

In the second of the MR 89 Handicaps over 1 000m, the four-year-old Trippi gelding Cathedral County is still unexposed and is often backed ,so this two-time winner from just five starts is likely held in good regard.

He could run on to win from a tricky draw of nine as there is plenty of pace in the race.

Alpine Echo has his second run after gelding and as one who possesses plenty of pace could be a big threat from pole position. Topweight All Night Flight has a good draw and the race should pan out well for him. Fidelio was a touch unlucky last time over course and distance and is now better drawn, although was raised two points for that run.

Magic is talented and could surprise if bouncing back to form.

Duke Nukem is also talented but has breathing issues.

In race two over 1 600m, Artax looks likely to relish the step up in trip and from pole position under Piere Strydom this improving sort is chosen as the best bet of the day.

In the first the first-timer Did I Win is by Dynasty out of a one-time wining Galileo mare and will likely prefer further than 12 00m but looks to only have the pole position drawn The Great Duchess to beat.

The third looks a straight between Noceur and Rolled Silver, but Oratorio filly Cloud Nine was backed to favourite last time and was very green so should be given another chance.

The seventh is a difficult race, but Shortstop has everything in her favour and should finish in the first three.