RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE@2024.12.16
Turffontein Standside, 16.12.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 800m, Turf, R130.000, 12:15GMT+2
Race Summary: A very interesting race. CAROLINE ISLAND did finish ahead of stable companions ZACATOO and ARASHI when all three made their debuts last month. CAROLINE ISLAND was the shortest priced of the three which suggests she is the best of the trio but it will be a case of who has made the most improvement since then. BINGO catches the eye. The Rafeef colt makes his debut and it would not come as a surprise were he to beat the Tony Peter-trained runners.
Selections:
#6 Caroline Island, #5 Arashi, #4 Zacatoo, #1 Bingo
Turffontein Standside, 16.12.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 2400m, Turf, R150.000, 12:50GMT+2
Race Summary: EXPLOSIVE BOND has found class stayer Poets Warrior a bit better in her last two starts. There does not look anything like the quality of Poets Warrior in this line-up and she should get a deserved victory. UNITED COUNCIL was not disgraced over a shorter distance last time out and has won over this course and distance. If there is a threat to the selection it is probably her. APACHE FIGHTER is consistent and should make the frame. FETCHING FLYER and RUBY REBEL are both carded to have run last week at the Vaal and that run will need to be looked at. ONE RELIGION does not always show her very best but can take home some more money.
Selections:
#1 Explosive Bond, #2 United Council, #3 Apache Fighter, #5 Fetching Flyer
Turffontein Standside, 16.12.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R120.000, 13:25GMT+2
Race Summary: JET QUERARI was backed to win on debut and although it was a weak race he was not disgraced and could be the right one of the runners who have raced before. There are, however, two newcomers from champion trainers. FUTURENAIRE is a Futura gelding that represents trainer Sean Tarry. HARRY NYQUIST is a colt that represents Mike de Kock. Watch the betting on both those runners as they can win if above average. LONELY AS A CLOUD could be the joker in the pack now dropped in distance.
Selections:
#8 Jet Querari, #6 Futurenaire, #5 Sky On Fire, #10 Panthera Uncia
Turffontein Standside, 16.12.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R100.000, 14:00GMT+2
Race Summary: A competitive first leg of the Pick 6 and it might pay to go wide this leg. JUST VAR is hat-trick seeking and trainer Grant Maroun has done a very good job with him. Stable companion BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW has improved of late and does have Piere Strydom aboard. Another stable companion, RATTLE BAG, is in very good form and will not go down without a fight. BLIZZARD SNOW was a disappointment last time out but jockey Gavin Lerena has stuck with him and he should be a threat. LIBECCIO, BOB LEE SWAGGER and COUNT YOUR CHANCES are all capable of pulling off a surprise.
Selections:
#4 Just Var, #3 Busstopinhounslow, #2 Blizzard Snow, #1 Rattle Bag
Turffontein Standside, 16.12.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R150.000, 14:35GMT+2
Race Summary: A tough race to settle on a winning pick. STORM BRASCO finished 5.50 lengths behind Sandringham Summit in February. That is possibly the pick of the form in the race. He does, however, return from a break and his fitness will need to be taken on trust. RED BOMBER has not shown his best in sprints of late but can bounce back to score over this distance. TAXI TO THE MOON was only run out of it late last time out and will give them something to hunt down. THE SPECIALIST and TRUTH have both been very disappointing of late but are capable of getting involved with the finish.
Selections:
#6 Storm Brasco, #1 Red Bomber, #2 Taxi To The Moon, #5 Truth
Turffontein Standside, 16.12.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R200.000, 15:15GMT+2
Race Summary: DYCE probably needed his first run after gelding but has been back to his very best since then, winning his last three starts. Jockey Piere Strydom was aboard him for all three of those wins and he can do the job once again. I AM GIANT is a decent sprinter but might need this run returning from a break. RULERSHIP should contest the finish yet again. Stable companion GOLDEN SICKLE did not show her best in KwaZulu-Natal. She was pretty good on the Highveld and should fight out the finish. TIME FO ORCHIDS was a disappointment last time out but has a place chance.
Selections:
#1 Dyce, #4 Rulership, #5 Golden Sickle, #2 I Am Giant
Turffontein Standside, 16.12.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R500.000, 15:50GMT+2
Race Summary: FIERY PEGASUS did everything but win last time out. She was only caught very late by a heavily backed World Of Alice and she can go one better this time. VJ’S ANGEL looked a threat before the weight told on her last time and she should at least finish closer to rival FIERY PEGASUS. I am sure trainer Mike de Kock would like to take home the prize in the race named after him and his star filly. That should bring both SILVER SANCTUARY and WHITE PEARL into the picture. SILVER SANCTUARY flopped in the Summer Cup but could do better back against her own sex. WHITE PEARL is at her best around a turn and is another to consider for the places.
Selections:
#8 Fiery Pegasus, #7 Vj’s Angel, #1 Silver Sanctuary, #4 White Pearl
Turffontein Standside, 16.12.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R200.000, 16:25GMT+2
Race Summary: MAIN DEFENDER found trouble in the Summer Cup so that run is best ignored. He is a mighty force when at his best and has been very good at this course and over this distance. He can bounce back to his winning ways. TEXAS RED has had a very good year, winning twice and getting touched off last time out. He can be a threat again over a course and distance that suits. It is hard to see the other runners winning under the conditions of this race. JOKER MAN, SILENT WAR and WE ARE THE LOGANS have all not been at their best of late but could earn some minor money.
Selections:
#1 Main Defender, #2 Texas Red, #3 Joker Man, #4 Johnny Hero
Turffontein Standside, 16.12.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R100.000, 17:00GMT+2
Race Summary: A competitive handicap. More was expected from BAKWENA last time out. She was not disgraced, though when fourth. She was a very easy debut winner and can bounce back to score. DRIVELIKEAMASTER did all that was asked when winning on debut. This is a tougher task but he could have more to offer. BIG BOY BRUCE did not stay the 1400m last time and could be a real threat over this shorter distance. TAKE YOUR PLACE and THUNDERBIRD are recent maiden winners but seem to be improving so could be better than their current handicap ratings.
Selections:
#1 Bakwena, #2 Drivelikeamaster, #4 Big Boy Bruce, #6 His Lordship
Turffontein Standside, 16.12.2024, Race 10, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R90.000, 17:35GMT+2
Race Summary: A very open last race. TWICE AS WILD has not won for some time now but this big field handicap might suit and she could get a Christmas time victory. NAZARE was not beaten far in her last two starts and should fight out the finish. CAPTAIN EFFICIENT is consistent and clearly not out of it. BREGARDT is unreliable but quite capable of winning when in the right mood. DELPHI DANCER showed some improvement last time and has a place chance. DANCING DORA is very consistent and has a winning chance. TOGETHER AGAIN is very unreliable but did win her latest start. TRENTINO should improve and could be the surprise package.
Selections:
#12 Twice As Wild, #9 Dancing Dora, #2 Nazare, #3 Captain Efficient
Best Win: #1 EXPLOSIVE BOND
Best Longshot: #12 TWICE AS WILD
