Clive Robinson
With most of the country’s top horses assembled in Durban for the season finale, one would expect that Thursday’s eight-race meeting at Turffontein would be a rather mediocre, run-of-the-mill card.
However, as things stand, it promises to be a humdinger, with some very competitive, classy races which showcase the depth of the quality of racing offered in South Africa.
Race 7, a Class B FM 97 Handicap over 1160m, will see seven runners going to post and it is expected that Benguela Cove, On Cue, and Bequest should fight out the finish.
These three met last time out where they took gold, silver and bronze respectively.
Trained by Ashley Fortune, On Cue boasts seven consecutive top-three finishes, so it is no surprise that she is being stepped up in class. Her Merit Rating has been climbing steadily as she has been progressing and there is no reason to believe she won’t sail over the higher hurdle.
Although Benguela Cove beat On Cue last time out, the latter had legitimate excuses and is expected to reverse the result despite being 1,5kg worse off. In Ryan Munger she has a jockey who has partnered her to success, with the pair never finishing further back than third when teaming up.
Earlier on the card the Johan Janse van Vuuren trained Leopold takes on nine challengers in Race 6, a Class B MR 93 Handicap over 1400m.
It’s been nine runs since this Pomodoro gelding last visited the winner’s enclosure, but he does seem to have regained winning form, having been beaten less than a length in three of his last four outings.
Trainer Stuart Pettigrew’s pair – Admiral Dooley and Whafeef – are expected to complete the trifecta.
With three wins respectively on their resume, both are regarded as very progressive three-year-olds.
Admiral Dooley comes off a rest and has drawn widest of the three, but has won over course and distance before so must not be underestimated.
