RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE@2024.11.30
Turffontein Standside, 30.11.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 800m, Turf, R250.000, 11:20GMT+2
Race Summary: Unraced juveniles get proceedings under way on Betway Summer Cup day. Well-bred colt SCORPIO has precocity in his pedigree so is a likely type on debut for a stable known to do well with young horses. Geldings TENJIKU and WINCHESTER are also attractively bred and could go well first-up, especially if the market speaks in their favour. Peter-trained debutantes ZACATOO, ARASHI and CAROLINE ISLAND receive a 2.5kg sex allowance, which should stand them in good stead. The same goes for well-bred fillies GLASTONBURY, MRS DLADLA, PRINCESS KEIRA and WAITING ON CHARLIE. Follow the betting moves closely.
Selections:
#3 Scorpio, #8 Caroline Island, #9 Glastonbury, #12 Princess Keira
Turffontein Standside, 30.11.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R300.000, 11:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Lucrative R300k maiden, so the competition is fierce and possibilities endless. Stablemates SEVENTH FLEET and FLIGHT OF A CONDOR finished close-up on debut and would have come on from that outing. The value could lie with the latter who receives a 2.5kg sex allowance and enjoys the benefit of Trent Mayhew’s 2.5kg claim. She finished behind a newcomer from the Tarry stable on debut so he’ll have a good gauge regarding the chances of his 3 fillies – GERBERA, GREEN STREET and GREEN SAPPHIRE on her reappearance. ESPINOZA, KALEESH CYBORG and ROAMING SPIRIT have the form and experience to play a role.
Selections:
#10 Flight Of A Condor, #8 Roaming Spirit, #12 Green Sapphire, #11 Gerbera
Turffontein Standside, 30.11.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R200.000, 12:33GMT+2
Race Summary: Horse-Of-The-Year DAVE THE KING had legitimate excuses for a sub-par comeback display in the Charity Mile. He would have tightened up with the benefit of that outing and is weighted to atone under these conditions. UNZEN didn’t land a blow from a wide draw in a 1450m Grade 2 on the Inside track but is well weighted and expected to fare better. Consistent MERCANTOUR is closely matched with that rival and should make his presence felt on these weight terms. THE SPECIALIST, costly to follow in 3 Highveld starts, isn’t taken lightly under 51kg. Beware KZN raider MEXICAN PETE.
Selections:
#1 Dave The King, #6 The Specialist, #2 Unzen, #7 Mexican Pete
Turffontein Standside, 30.11.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R300.000, 13:08GMT+2
Race Summary: The first of 7 features and Leg 1 of a massive Pick 6 carryover to get stuck into. MRS BROWNING and stablemate WINTER GREETING should have blown away the cobwebs with pleasing course-and-distance comebacks against male opposition and they are weighted to play leading roles. Versatile last-start winner WHITE PEARL remains competitive under a 4-point penalty. MIA MOO has won twice recently and shouldn’t be underestimated off an unchanged mark. Thriving ELEGANT ICE, consistent TROPPO VELOCE and unexposed CHASING HAPPINESS, in her hat-trick bid, aren’t taken lightly and must be considered for perms.
Selections:
#1 Mrs Browning, #2 White Pearl, #3 Winter Greeting, #9 Mia Moo
Turffontein Standside, 30.11.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R400.000, 13:45GMT+2
Race Summary: Crack sprinter LUCKY LAD lost an unbeaten course-and-distance record on his seasonal reappearance but that comeback run would have done him good. He sets the standard, especially with Richard Fourie back aboard. SHELDON, RED BOMBER and CHYAVANA make up a formidable 3-pronged attack for the Van Vuuren yard and they have the means to threaten the selection, as do MELECH and QUANTUM THEORY who are consistent and versatile performers. MOUNT PILATUS and CATS PAJAMAS impressed when winning last time out and cannot be ignored under 52kg. The same applies to promising 3yo PISTOL PETE who has scope to improve.
Selections:
#1 Lucky Lad, #5 Quantum Theory, #11 Cats Pajamas, #12 Mount Pilatus
Turffontein Standside, 30.11.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R350.000, 14:20GMT+2
Race Summary: Eagerly anticipated rematch of Grade 1 winner VJ’S ANGEL, who resumed winning ways last time, and recent Grade 3 scorer FATAL FLAW. The latter has the gate speed to overcome her wide draw and is 2kg better off for 0.50 lengths on their meeting in the 2yo Grade 2 Golden Slipper, so she gets the nod. WORLD OF ALICE reopposes on 1kg better terms and should have more to offer over the extra 200m. FIERY PEGASUS, 2nd in a 1450m Grade 2 against her elders, last-start Grade 3 winner OLIVIA’S WAY, and FROZEN FANTASY, who acquitted herself well against male opposition last time, complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#2 Fatal Flaw, #1 Vj’s Angel, #6 World Of Alice, #4 Fiery Pegasus
Turffontein Standside, 30.11.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R650.000, 14:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Last season’s Equus Champion 2YO Filly QUID PRO QUO is favourably treated under these conditions. However, the top-rated filly faces male opposition for the first time after a 125-day absence, so she is vulnerable to race-fit rising star GREATERIX who has confirmed the promise he showed as a juvenile by impressively winning both starts this term, the latest over this course and distance. He dominated from the front that day and is ideally positioned in gate No 1 to adopt similar tactics. Last-start winners MOONLIGHT TRADER, CHESTNUT BOMBER and ARTIST’S MODEL should make their presence felt.
Selections:
#3 Greaterix, #13 Quid Pro Quo, #5 Moonlight Trader, #6 Chestnut Bomber
Turffontein Standside, 30.11.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R6.000.000, 16:00GMT+2
Race Summary: Star-studded Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup. Top-weight SEE IT AGAIN scored on his reappearance as a gelding leading up to this race and remains open to improvement. However, ROYAL VICTORY is 4.5kg better off for a 1.20-length beating, so he is primed to make a bold defence of his title over a course and distance he is unbeaten. MAIN DEFENDER has questions to answer stretching out to 2000m, while Charity Mile winner WINCHESTER MANSION and 4yo fillies FRANCES ETHEL, BEATING WINGS and SILVER SANCTUARY have had ideal preparations which stands them in good stead. HOTARUBI and BARBARESCO have claims too.
Selections:
#4 Royal Victory, #1 See It Again, #3 Winchester Mansion, #2 Main Defender
Turffontein Standside, 30.11.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R300.000, 16:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Maturing THUNEE PLAYA copped a 10-point penalty for finishing 4th in an 1800m Grade 3 earlier this month but that shouldn’t prevent another forward showing, especially over this extended trip which is more to his liking. However, the same can be said of MARAUDING HORDE who is unbeaten over this track and trip. Both his course-and-distance wins were with blinkers on so it is encouraging that the headgear is refitted. GOOD COUNCIL is closely matched with that rival and won’t be far off the mark, while ATARIME has a bit to find on the form of a recent meeting to make his presence felt.
Selections:
#8 Thunee Playa, #10 Marauding Horde, #11 Good Council, #12 Atarime
Turffontein Standside, 30.11.2024, Race 10, Gallops, 3200m, Turf, R300.000, 17:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Lightly raced POETS WARRIOR dominated from the front, albeit under 52kg, when getting the better of several re-opposing rivals over 2400m four weeks ago. He faces a tougher test with 60kg to lug over this distance but he is relatively unexposed and open to improvement, especially over this extended trip, so could make sufficient progress to confirm his superiority. EXPLOSIVE BOND is 4.5kg better off for a 3.25-length beating so should have a say in the outcome. BATTLEGROUND and RAISEAHALLELUJAH should pose more of a threat on 4kg better terms. TWENTY DRACHMA’S and BREEZE OVER have place chances.
Selections:
#2 Poets Warrior, #11 Explosive Bond, #8 Battleground, #10 Twenty Drachma’s
Turffontein Standside, 30.11.2024, Race 11, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R150.000, 17:45GMT+2
Race Summary: PRESLEY (blinkers refitted) and DECEPTION PASS are better than disappointing recent performances suggest. They had legitimate excuses for those displays so shouldn’t be written off. CHAMPION WARRIOR and CAPTAINOFTHEGREEN have won back-to-back outings recently and they should remain competitive in their bid to complete the hat-trick, despite hefty penalties. Consistent WARHAWK BOMBER isn’t underestimated in first-time blinkers, while distance-suited MASTERSHIP ran above his rating last time and need only repeat that performance off an unchanged mark to play a leading role. It doesn’t end there!
Selections:
#2 Champion Warrior, #4 Mastership, #6 Warhawk Bomber, #1 Presley
Best Win: #3 GREATERIX
Best Value Bet: #10 FLIGHT OF A CONDOR
Best Longshot: #10 FLIGHT OF A CONDOR
