RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE@2024.11.02
Turffontein Standside, 02.11.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R105.000, 12:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Three Highveld debutantes and two well-bred newcomers make this a humdinger, so watch the betting. Lightly raced FASTNET FILLY showed enough in the Western Cape to be competitive on her local introduction. DESERT CLOUD finished second to subsequent Grade 1 runner-up Rodeo Drive on debut. GERBERA and MY ONE AND ONLY were backed on debut and would’ve come on appreciably with the benefit of those promising displays. Returning ROAMING SPIRIT and debutantes GREGARIOUS and IZANAMI aren’t taken lightly.
Selections:
#3 Desert Cloud, #10 My One And Only, #1 Fastnet Filly, #5 Gerbera
Turffontein Standside, 02.11.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R120.000, 12:40GMT+2
Race Summary: This won’t take much winning, so first-timers HONG KONG and MIDNIGHT MUSIC needn’t be special to play leading roles, especially in receipt of a sex allowance. BIG BOY BRUCE took a big step forward to finish second last time and should be competitive if confirming that improvement. MYSTIC VISION, CASUS BELLI, and DRAGON DRAGON are carded to run at an earlier meeting. PARABELLUM would’ve gained plenty from a pleasing first-up experience so isn’t underestimated with improvement expected. Returning AMANATTO also has scope to improve after a rest.
Selections:
#5 Parabellum, #7 Amanatto, #1 Big Boy Bruce, #8 Hong Kong
Turffontein Standside, 02.11.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R130.000, 13:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Progressive MOUNT DARWIN scored over course and distance 12 weeks ago and looks good value to follow up with his rider’s 2,5kg claim negating the resultant 5-point penalty. STREWN SKY finished behind the selection and will be competitive but is worse off at the weights. Alec Laird-trained runners ROYAL GUIDE and BIRTHRIGHT have been sparingly raced so remain open to improvement. Both have the ability to make their presence felt, though preference is for the latter under bottom-weight of 53kg. ROYAL EDITION, TOTAL SURRENDER and KING’S EXPRESS can get into the picture.
Selections:
#2 Mount Darwin, #8 Birthright, #3 Strewn Sky, #5 Royal Edition
Turffontein Standside, 02.11.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R225.000, 13:50GMT+2
Race Summary: Leg 1 of the carryover Pick 6 which has an estimated R5-million MEGAPOOL, and the speed will be on. KZN raider LUNARCAM will be in the firing line. TAXI TO THE MOON and CHOCOLATE SOLDIER are quick so should be competitive under light weights. CLIFF HANGER, SHELDON and COSMIC STAR acquitted themselves well in defeat behind Dyce and are closely matched. DREAMLAND is better than his latest but worse off at the weights with MAGIC TATTOO. Both RED BOMBER and CHYAVANA have pace and should be on the scene late. Hat-trick seeking DONTSHOOTTHEBARMAN faces his acid test.
Selections:
#9 Taxi To The Moon, #5 Cosmic Star, #4 Lunarcam, #1 Cliff Hanger
Turffontein Standside, 02.11.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R250.000, 14:25GMT+2
Race Summary: FATAL FLAW would’ve tightened up after a pleasing comeback over a similar trip and is the horse to beat. She is best-weighted and has beaten LITTLE BALLERINA and WORLD OF ALICE. Last-start winners OXALIS GOLD and QUEEN OF LOVE are progressive. Their running style will be suited to the longer run-in of the Standside track. VULCANITE has won both starts beyond sprint distances and impressed with a frontrunning demolition job over 1600m last time. SALENIO PENINSULA ran above her rating behind an older filly over 1200m and the extra 200m should suit.
Selections:
#2 Fatal Flaw, #8 Salenio Peninsula, #4 World Of Alice, #5 Oxalis Gold
Turffontein Standside, 02.11.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R400.000, 15:00GMT+2
Race Summary: THE SPECIALIST was a beaten favourite over 1200m on his Highveld debut for trainer Sean Tarry. He should appreciate the extra 200m. LEGEND OF ARTHUR and WAHEED (carded to run earlier) finished behind that rival in a juvenile Grade 1 over 1600m but were drawn wide on that occasion and should get closer. FIRE ATTACK has a few questions to answer, as the Highveld’s Champion 2yo Colt last term returns from a 7-month absence and ventures beyond 1160m for the first time. MUSICAL SCORE, gelded DON’T CRY FOR ME, and last-start winners MOONLIGHT TRADER and WOLF MOUNTAIN come next.
Selections:
#2 The Specialist, #3 Legend Of Arthur, #1 Fire Attack, #7 Musical Score
Turffontein Standside, 02.11.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R1.000.000, 15:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Horse Of The Year DAVE THE KING sets the standard but concedes chunks of weight on his return under 63kg. Joburg Spring Challenge winners BACK IN BUSINESS and CELTIC RUMOURS are unexposed over 1600m but should remain competitive. The former is unfavourably drawn but open to further progress and better off at the weights with BARBARESCO, GLADATORIAN and MELECH. FRANCES ETHEL and SILVER SANCTUARY made pleasing comebacks and should improve on seasonal pipe-openers. QUASIFORSURE and SAFE PASSAGE aren’t ignored.
Selections:
#13 Back In Business, #16 Celtic Rumours, #5 Frances Ethel, #9 Silver Sanctuary
Turffontein Standside, 02.11.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R200.000, 16:10GMT+2
Race Summary: RED MAPLE lost her way in KZN but shouldn’t be underestimated on her Highveld reappearance. INDIAN OCEAN and FORGIVENESS race off career-high marks after consecutive victories and aren’t taken lightly in their bids to complete the hat-trick. The latter is 5kg worse off with rejuvenated UNITED COUNCIL in her peak outing. DONNA MO and CAPE LIGHTS are consistent performers with legitimate credentials but a bigger threat could come from progressive OLIVIA’S WAY who is unbeaten in 2 starts over 1800m although LITTLEMARYSUNSHINE is better off at the weights. SUKHUMVIT is also capable.
Selections:
#5 United Council, #12 Forgiveness, #8 Olivia’s Way, #9 Littlemarysunshine
Turffontein Standside, 02.11.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 2400m, Turf, R225.000, 16:45GMT+2
Race Summary: RAISEAHALLELUJAH is at the top of his game and ideally course-and-distance suited off just a 2-point higher mark for back-to-back 2600m wins on the Inside track. ZEUS, another suited to track and trip, is 2kg better off with that rival for a narrow recent defeat. Bottom-weight EXPLOSIVE BOND is closely matched so is dangerous to discount under 50kg. Best-weighted NONE OTHER ought to make her presence felt too after an encouraging reappearance. POETS WARRIOR has impressed after a lengthy layoff and offer more. BATTLEGROUND isn’t taken lightly.
Selections:
#11 Poets Warrior, #4 Raiseahallelujah, #1 Zeus, #14 Explosive Bond
Turffontein Standside, 02.11.2024, Race 10, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R105.000, 17:20GMT+2
Race Summary: NEW MEXICO was unsuited to the shorter distances of his last 2 outings in KZN and should fare better on his Highveld return over this extended trip. Joint top-weight HAZLO GRANDE is in good order and should acquit himself competitively. AMERICAN REBEL finished ahead of RED LEGEND and CALLABURN over 2000m last month but the latter is comfortably weighted to reverse that form under his 4kg-claiming apprentice. HIGH QUEUE is maturing and should make his presence felt under a 2-point penalty. Progressive 3yo TOWERS OF GOLD will appreciate the step up in distance on his handicap debut.
Selections:
#8 Towers Of Gold, #2 New Mexico, #9 Callaburn, #3 American Rebel
Best Win: #11 POETS WARRIOR
Best Value Bet: #13 BACK IN BUSINESS
Best Longshot: #13 BACK IN BUSINESS
