Strydom has faith in Dublin
TURFFONTEIN stages an eight race midweek meeting tomorrow and there are some interesting runners for punters to consider. Race one is a weak Maiden for fillies and mares over 1000m and Cute Lady showed some pace on debut over course and distance and looks to have plenty of scope.
She is the one to beat with Piere Strydom aboard. Sister Mary has plenty of pace and will appreciate the step back to 1000m having made a fair debut over this course and distance. Relampago finished well after being slow away over course and distance on debut and should be in the first three.
The second is a competitive maiden over 1450m and Respectable Ruler is interesting over the trip of one of his best runs to date. He is having his second run after a rest but put up a nice prep over 1000m which should have brought him on, although his wide draw is a concern. Roving Jet could be the one to pick up the pieces from a good draw with Gavin Lerena up as the form of his last turf race, which was over this course and distance, has worked out well and it also puts him ahead of one or two of the dangers on collateral form. Golden Man has Piere Strydom up and this hard knocking sort has finished second in two starts since being stepped up to this trip so will be a big runner.
The third is a maiden over 1800m and Strydom has retained faith in the improved Dublin Rebel. He is drawn well and proved last time out, when backed and finishing second over 2000m on Turffontein Standside, that this course and dis- tance would suit. He also has a few of these beaten on the form of that last race. Top Shot was beaten half-a-length by Dublin Rebel last time out but is now drawn in pole and there won't be much in it. Gladiatore is an improving sort who finished second over this trip in his penultimate start and he should earn again.
In the fourth over 1800m the long-striding The Centenary is 1kg better off with Pennington Sands for a 0,3 length beating over course and distance and should reverse placings. She looks to have scope for further improvement and the small field will suit as she likes to be dropped out to last. Way Of Escape is a lightly raced up-andcoming sort who will be course and distance suite and she could be a threat with a nice galloping weight. Pennington Sands will likely be running on strongly from behind again.
Celtic Heroine is in good form and won the last time she tried this course and distance so can't be ignored. She's A Looker can't be ignored either having won well over 1600m here last time and being raised only two points.
The fifth race is a weak MR 67 Handicap over 3000m and Ganesh could be the one to beat having done well in two competitive 2600m races this year.
However, he will have to bounce back from a below par run over 2450m last time out. The topweight Streak hasn't run since May but is by Ideal World, whose progeny have both stamina and scope, and he was only beaten half-a-length by Ganesh in the aforementioned 2500m race, so could be a contender if fit enough. Bevelled Edge, Penstock and Dynamite Jim make most appeal of the rest.
The sixth race is a MR 67 handicap over 1600m and the one to beat could be Champagne Haze, who is a full-brother to the top class Piere Jourdan.
He doesn't have an easy task running off a 79 merit rating as a young three-year-old, but has a nice draw with Andrew Fortune back aboard and the form of his easy maiden win has been franked.
Black Mack has a chance over a suitable course and distance from a pole position draw as he has come down to an attractive merit rating.
Klondike River is course and distance suited and has been in fine form recently so could earn despite a four point raise for his win last time out on the Greyville poly. Post Grad has come down three merit rated points since his maiden win over course and distance in which he also had a good draw like this one. Bee Keeper is course and distance suited and is well drawn with S'Manga Khumalo up.
In the seventh over 1450m, the much improved Walking On Air could go in again as he now looks quite well handicapped on his recent sand form and Gavin Lerena rides.
Princess Tantan
Princess Tantan is a lot better than her last run where little went right and from a pole position draw with Fortune up over a suitable course and distance she should be right there.
The last is a MR 64 handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m and Antonia Major is the one to beat from pole position with Lerena up as she has come down to an attractive merit rating and runs over a suitable course and distance. Lavish Gal is a hard-knocking sort who has a fair draw over a trip that now suits.
The topweight Celine has a form chance stepped up to this more suitable triple with Strydom up, despite having to overcome a wide draw. Besame Mucho ran well over course and distance last time but now has a tough draw. Raging Princess is one to consider off a lowered merit rating as she is well drawn for a change.