The Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m heads up the Turffontein card on Saturday and is backed up by three Listed races at the meeting, run on the Standside track.
With the fillies able to claim their sex allowance, they generally come out as the best weighted runners but that might not turn out to be defining factor.
One could make a winning case for so many of these runners and as we all know, one small issue going wrong in a sprint and the race can get away from a runner.
So, perhaps consistency can play a large role and that could favour Vaseem who has been a revelation since joining Roy Magner’s yard. He has raced nine times since then for four wins, three seconds and a third, and many times it has been against the same opposition he will be meeting in this event.
Strictly on form he should be held by both Sweet Future and Mr Flood. He finished second to these two runners in his last two starts and meets both of them on identical terms.
He went down 1.20 lengths to Sweet Future and 1.30 lengths last time to Mr Flood but he is so consistent that he could turn that form around.
For example, last week in races up the straight at Turffontein, inside draws seemed to be producing the most winners. Vaseem will jump from barrier No 1 and that give him the edge on his two rivals. He also has the services of jockey Mui Yeni, who has ridden him three times for two wins and that second place behind Sweet Future.
Clearly both Sweet Future and Mr Flood have to come into the reckoning. Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Sweet Future is very talented and loves this course. In five races up the Turffontein straight she has a record of two wins and three places, and she will also have Richard Fourie, who is riding at the top his game, in the irons.
Mr Flood finally came back to form last time and at his best, is one of the best sprinters on the Highveld. Should he repeat the form of his last race when beating Vaseem, the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Pathfork gelding has to be included in all the exotic bets.
Sean Tarry has a useful filly in Under Your Spell while Smorgasbord is an up-and-coming youngster who could pull off a surprise. Paul Peter’s charge carries just 52kg and has log-leading jockey Warren Kennedy in the irons.
Clive Robinson
