RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE@2024.12.07
Turffontein Standside, 07.12.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R120.000, 15:05GMT+2
Race Summary: VIBE SA has been costly to follow but wouldn’t be winning out of turn, having finished 2nd in each of his last 5 starts. KWAGGA BLITZ, runner-up in 3 of his last 5, has the form and experience to challenge for race honours. MIZZEN SWORD is better than his last run suggests and has shown enough to play a role in the outcome. CAN YOU DANSE, LETONA and MYSTIC VISION are unexposed and could improve sufficiently to get involved. Watch the betting on well-bred newcomer CRONUS.
Selections:
#2 Vibe Sa, #1 Kwagga Blitz, #6 Cronus, #3 Mizzen Sword
Turffontein Standside, 07.12.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R105.000, 15:40GMT+2
Race Summary: MAVERICK QUEEN stayed on encouragingly to finish 3rd on debut, despite an alarming market drift. She would’ve come on with that experience and needn’t improve much to open her account. Returning KOMATI RIVER and blinker-strike TIPPERARY have the form and experience to expose any chinks in that rival’s armour, while newcomer BATTLE OF BRITAIN shouldn’t be underestimated in this company, especially if the market speaks in her favour. LIKE A PRAYER and CHERRY OH BABY are unexposed so could get into the picture with any improvement.
Selections:
#8 Maverick Queen, #6 Cherry Oh Baby, #2 Komati River, #1 Tipperary
Turffontein Standside, 07.12.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R130.000, 16:15GMT+2
Race Summary: COSMIC SPEED hasn’t been seen since finishing unplaced in a 2yo Grade 1 over 1600m on 28 July. He will appreciate this shorter trip on his reappearance and, on the strength of his earlier juvenile form (including a 1200m Grade 1 2nd and 1400m Grade 2 win), needn’t be fully tuned to make a winning comeback. CYMRIC has a bit to find on form and at the weights,p but his superior fitness should stand him in good stead. FRENCH BOLT, BOSUM BUDDY and RONDEBOSCH also have a fitness edge so aren’t taken lightly. Older EDWARD RYE is open to improvement but has no more than a place chance on these terms.
Selections:
#1 Cosmic Speed, #2 Cymric, #4 Rondebosch, #6 Bosum Buddy
Turffontein Standside, 07.12.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R120.000, 16:50GMT+2
Race Summary: ICHACHA and SERRANO won’t be maidens for much longer. Both are consistent performers with solid credentials and scope for further improvement. However, it could pay to side with the former whose experience over this trip gives him the edge. He’s taken to get his head in front after finishing 2nd in 3 of his last 4 starts. SANTIAGO’S PRIDE, OBSIDIAN, LIGHTINTHESTORM and CASUS BELLI complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#2 Ichacha, #3 Serrano, #4 Santiago’s Pride, #8 Casus Belli
Turffontein Standside, 07.12.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 2400m, Turf, R105.000, 17:25GMT+2
Race Summary: TO THE RESCUE has regained momentum recently with a tongue-tie fitted and wasn’t winning out of turn in a similar 2400m contest at this level last month. He carries a 4-point penalty and is 2kg worse off with ROYAL MAZARIN but should confirm his superiority. The latter finished behind DAMOVA in his previous outing but is also better off at the weights with that rival. BANHA BRIDGE has dropped to a competitive mark and should make his presence felt, especially with the aid of his rider’s 1.5kg allowance. Last-start maiden winner CLEAR THE PATH is improving and shouldn’t be taken lightly either.
Selections:
#2 To The Rescue, #6 Damova, #1 Banha Bridge, #4 Clear The Path
Turffontein Standside, 07.12.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R150.000, 17:55GMT+2
Race Summary: WHAFEEF attracted betting support when bouncing back to form with a reassuring 2nd over 1800m last month. He would’ve tightened up with the benefit of that comeback outing and he’s good value to build on that improvement, despite a 3-point penalty. Consistent COMMAND PILOT returned a beaten odds-on favourite in the same race but could redeem himself on 2kg better terms and with the cheekpieces worn that day dispensed with. SOUTHERN BLAZE is at the top of his game and the 4-point penalty for his hat-trick win is negated by his rider’s 1.5kg claim. STREWN SKY and QUATERMAIN aren’t without hope.
Selections:
#2 Whafeef, #4 Command Pilot, #5 Southern Blaze, #7 Quatermain
Turffontein Standside, 07.12.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R120.000, 18:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Versatile hard-knocker FOSTINOVO is effective over this distance and the drop in class will be to his liking. HAIR TRIGGER should enjoy switching to the Standside track with its longer run-in, so it could pay to follow the progress of this maturing 3yo gelding. Last-start winner RATTLE BAG and LIBECCIO, whose eye-catching comeback 2nd was very encouraging, should make their presence felt off slightly higher marks. PRESSONREGARDLESS, PURPLENINJATURTLE, returning MK’S DREAMS and enigmatic LAUGHING WILLIAM appeal most of the remainder.
Selections:
#7 Hair Trigger, #2 Fostinovo, #8 Libeccio, #5 Rattle Bag
Turffontein Standside, 07.12.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R135.000, 19:05GMT+2
Race Summary: FRANCINE confirmed the form/improvement of her encouraging October comeback by winning at this level last month and a resultant 5-point penalty is unlikely to halt her momentum. However, lightly raced runner-up CALANTHA is 1.5kg better off and, with any improvement, should reverse that form. VALIEVA, THERE SHE GOES and, even returning CHROME TOURMALINE, are hard-knockers whose form and experience at this level will stand them in good stead. Unexposed KINGS AGAIN and rejuvenated last-start winner WE WILL ROCK YOU also have the means to get involved.
Selections:
#6 Calantha, #2 Francine, #11 There She Goes, #5 Valieva
Turffontein Standside, 07.12.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R105.000, 19:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Sparingly raced FASTNET FILLY justified betting support when winning over this course and distance on her Highveld debut after an 8-month absence. She remains open to improvement so could defy her opening handicap mark. Unexposed QUASIKAT fits a similar profile and should be competitive on her handicap debut. TWICE AS WILD, DANCING DORA, GLAWARI and RAINING RUBIES are hard-knockers who won’t be far off the mark. SEVENTEEN AGAIN shouldn’t be underestimated on her return from a break. She has shown enough over 1000m to have a say in the outcome and the extra 160m could well unlock improvement.
Selections:
#2 Fastnet Filly, #5 Quasikat, #6 Seventeen Again, #8 Raining Rubies
Best Win: #2 VIBE SA
Best Value Bet: #2 WHAFEEF
Best Longshot: #2 WHAFEEF
