Bettors are faced with another tough card at Turffontein on Thursday 15 August, but there is no reason to believe that Lets Play Poker and Take Your Place will not produce very decent runs in the card opener and the second race respectively.
Both runners have had their fair share of opportunities to get out of the maiden ranks, but inexplicably have not been able to make good on the promise shown.
Lets Play Poker, the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained gelding, has finished runner-up three times in just five starts and twice beaten when the odds-on favourite.
Jockey Malesela Katjedi was aboard the Gimmethegreenlight-gelding when third at Turffontein over 1000m in July and gets another crack at victory for breeder and owner Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstein stud.
Trying the turn should suit Lets Play Poker and he could make all the running this time.
Take Your Place is probably best over 1000m, but she does have experience on this Turffontein Inside track and was runner-up here on 27 June when touched off by a short-head.
Jockey Raymond Danielson was the rider that day and jockey Muzi Yeni has had three chances aboard this filly since. With Yeni again in the irons it seems inevitable that she will have her consistency rewarded.
Trainer Candice Dawson has her runners in good form and she will not be too disappointed in the performance by Raiseahallelujah in the Gold Cup when finishing 9th.
The seven-year-old Querari-gelding was only beaten 5.75-lengths that day by Master Redoute.
With Gavin Lerena tasked with the ride, the seven-time winner should benefit from a patient ride and it won’t come as a surprise if he takes the honours in Race 5, a Class B Middle Stakes over 2600m where he is joint best-weighted with Prime Example and Weather Wizard.
Clive Robinson
