Download your South Africa racing information for FREE now:
South Africa Express Form – 28 December
Turffontein Standside, 28.12.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R105.000, 12:20GMT+2
Race Summary: Some very well-bred fillies go to post for this, none better than Vercingetorix-filly OASIS. Her mother Welwitschia was very good. OASIS could win on debut. GREEN SAPPHIRE has run well in all three her starts. She was runner-up in her last two and can go one better. BILINGUAL is knocking hard at the door and can contest the finish again. DUPONT EMERALD is a Querari-newcomer who would not be a surprise winner. GIMME A STORM and IZANAMI are capable of earning money. RING A LING was not disgraced on debut but is returning from a lengthy break.
Selections:
#9 Oasis, #1 Green Sapphire, #10 Ring A Ling, #4 Bilingual
Kenilworth, 28.12.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R135.000, 12:35GMT+2
Race Summary: GOOD FOR YOU and MUSIC OF THE NIGHT would’ve come on after encouraging introductions and will be competitive with that experience to count on, though preference is for the latter who benefits from a 2,5kg sex allowance. SO AMERICAN, BLOWN AWAY and PAY THE PALACE should know more about it after satisfactory debut performances, so they could improve to have a say in the outcome. Well-bred newcomers ABSOLUTELY YES and NEW WORLD shouldn’t be underestimated, especially if attracting market support. Watch the betting.
Selections:
#4 Music Of The Night, #8 Good For You, #3 Absolutely Yes, #6 New World
Turffontein Standside, 28.12.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R120.000, 12:55GMT+2
Race Summary: A modest field. BAD MEDICINE did show improvement last time out and could be ready to strike a winning turn. CHIEFTAIN’S SHIELD steps up in distance and could like it. MO MENT and THE MERCIFUL are carded to run on Saturday 21 December and those runs need to be looked at. YOJIMBO is clearly better than his last run and could be a danger. SNOW MOON is unreliable but is also not out of it. GIFT OF ROYAL, POPLAR PARK and RISING RUSSIAN are moderate sorts but capable of earning money.
Selections:
#6 Bad Medicine, #4 Yojimbo, #5 Snow Moon, #1 Chieftain’s Shield
Kenilworth, 28.12.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R135.000, 13:10GMT+2
Race Summary: SONG TO THE MOON has gone from strength to strength as a gelding. He produced a career-best performance when winning a similar contest at this level over 1800m on the Winter course last month and a 4-point penalty may not be enough to prevent him from completing the hat-trick. Familiar foes CHOLLIMA, GIMME MORE TIME and GREEN MANDARIN are better off at the weights so should get closer to that rival on these terms. Best-weighted ROYAL INVITATION isn’t without a chance either but unexposed filly OMIKAMI will likely pose more of a threat, as this extended distance should unlock improvement.
Selections:
#7 Song To The Moon, #6 Omikami, #5 Gimme More Time, #2 Chollima
Turffontein Standside, 28.12.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R110.000, 13:30GMT+2
Race Summary: GREY JET was a good winner on debut and chased home a good sort last time out. He can go one better again. ZIP CODE has struggled in some feature races of late but can do better in a contest like this. Stable companions POTBERRIE and GUERILLA WARFARE have shown improvement lately and can earn some money. OMBUDSMAN and LAVA FIRE have also done enough to suggest they can be involved in the battle for a cheque.
Selections:
#1 Grey Jet, #7 Ombudsman, #8 Lava Fire, #6 Guerilla Warfare
Kenilworth, 28.12.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R110.000, 13:45GMT+2
Race Summary: SHEETS AND GOGGLES stayed on encouragingly to finish third over track and trip last time in her first start over this distance and she needn’t improve much in her peak outing to shed the maiden tag. BLIND AMBITION, MEURSAULT and LOUI’S STAR also showed progress over this trip recently and with further improvement could make life difficult for the selection.
Selections:
#7 Sheets And Goggles, #5 Clever Candy, #6 Loui’s Star, #1 Blind Ambition
Turffontein Standside, 28.12.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R127.500, 14:05GMT+2
Race Summary: DESTINY OF FIRE was not disgraced when only 5.5-lengths behind World Of Alice last month. That should be good enough form to go close to winning in this line-up. CEUTA is very consistent and may have needed her last run. She will strip fitter this time and should fight out the finish. SALENIO PENINSULA found one better on the day last time out but is still learning about racing and is not out of it. ACROSS THE POND may be at her very best at the Vaal but she does have a winning chance. QUANTUM might sneak some minor money. HONG KONG has not done much wrong in two starts and deserves respect as well.
Selections:
#8 Destiny Of Fire, #2 Salenio Peninsula, #1 Ceuta, #3 Across The Pond
Kenilworth, 28.12.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R110.000, 14:20GMT+2
Race Summary: MY ARCHANGEL improved after a rest during which he was gelded to finish second over 1200m earlier this month, racing prominently throughout before staying on gamely under pressure to finish ahead of re-opposing GURKHA. Both promising 3yo geldings should have more to offer over the extra 200m. SUPERHERO finished a well-beaten second on debut over 1200m but he, too, should improve for the step up to this distance. TRIPPING THUNDER, DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT and NORDIC PRINCE are likely to fight out the minors.
Selections:
#3 My Archangel, #6 Gurkha, #8 Superhero, #1 Tripping Thunder
Turffontein Standside, 28.12.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R150.000, 14:40GMT+2
Race Summary: ALMOND SEA was undone by being slow away last time. She is lethal over this minimum trip and can set the standard. KARATE KID is unbeaten in three starts over 1000m and impressed last time out so should be a threat. Stable companions CHIEFTAN and MASTER CASPER have the ability and will be doing their best work at the finish. ADDRESS THE NATION returned to form with a nice win last time out but this is a tougher task. Stable companions from the Sean Tarry yard RONDEBOSCH, BANFF and RODEO DRIVE have all shown talent but the betting support will tell who is the right one of the three on the day.
Selections:
#1 Almond Sea, #3 Karate Kid, #6 Master Casper, #7 Rondebosch
Kenilworth, 28.12.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R135.000, 14:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Intriguing fillies and mares Class 3. CALLMEGETRIX filled the runner-up berth in consecutive starts, with close-up finishes over 1400m behind re-opposing rivals FATAL GEM and GIMMETHATPEARL. She is better off at the weights with both rivals so she looks good value to avenge those narrow defeats. Consistent FUN ZONE and versatile PRINCESS IZZY have the form and experience to play leading roles which can also be said of progressive last-start winner HAMPSTEAD HEATH.
Selections:
#3 Callmegetrix, #4 Gimmethatpearl, #8 Fatal Gem, #9 Hampstead Heath
Turffontein Standside, 28.12.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R225.000, 15:15GMT+2
Race Summary: An interesting contest. FROZEN FANTASY ran well in a much better race than this last time out and could win if repeating that performance. MOUNT ETNA is hat-trick seeking but is badly drawn. INDIAN OCEAN is better than her last run suggests but does have to give weight away to all her rivals. WONDERFUL has won her last two but is trying the Highveld for the first time. LADY FALLON and SOLDIER’S EYE are two others to consider.
Selections:
#9 Frozen Fantasy, #10 Mount Etna, #1 Indian Ocean, #3 Lady Fallon
Kenilworth, 28.12.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R85.000, 15:30GMT+2
Race Summary: TRIPPI’S SILK and TSUNAMI WARNING are out of sorts but both have the means to be competitive at this level off reduced marks. The latter is also open to improvement after recent gelding, so could present generous Eachway value. KING VISERYS caught the eye last time over 1000m and he may find this extended distance more to his liking, while the drop back to this trip could suit MOHANDAS, who has the form and experience to make his presence felt. WILLIAM WEST and LOVERS LANE aren’t taken lightly either.
Selections:
#2 Tsunami Warning, #8 Boundless Love, #4 King Viserys, #9 Mohandas
Turffontein Standside, 28.12.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R250.000, 15:50GMT+2
Race Summary: PISTOL PETE is knocking hard at the door and was beaten by two good horses in his last two starts. It could be his winning turn. ICE STAR has upped her game with some good wins and could earn more money. SHELDON has been consistent lately and is not out of it. DANTONFROMSANDTON may have needed his first run after gelding and could show vast improvement. TAXI TO THE MOON does seem at very best up the straight and can be a threat. NETTLETON has won her last three and could go in again.
Selections:
#5 Pistol Pete, #8 Taxi To The Moon, #7 Dantonfromsandton, #9 Nettleton
Kenilworth, 28.12.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R120.000, 16:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Hard-knocker CARRIACOU sets a good standard and will be competitive from gate 2. However, it could pay to follow the progress of promising 3yo colt MAJOR MASTER who ran on from a long way back to finish fourth at this level over 1600m last month and should appreciate reverting to this shorter trip. DAS GUTE, from a better draw, COMMANDING, after an improved last run, and unexposed 3yo ELIZABEDI GOLD complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#1 Major Master, #2 Carriacou, #4 Commanding, #7 Elizabedi Gold
Turffontein Standside, 28.12.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R100.000, 16:25GMT+2
Race Summary: LAUGHING WILLIAM lacked a bit extra when he really needed it last time. This shorter distance could suit at a course he has won at. JUST VAR has improved of late, winning twice in a row, and can complete the hat-trick. KOTINOS is well drawn and should fight out the finish. KING OF NUMBERS is unreliable but does have a winning chance. AFTER HOURS is carded to run on 21 December and that run will need to be looked at. ORIENTAL BOUQUET could be the surprise package off a new low merit rating.
Selections:
#2 Laughing William, #3 Just Var, #4 Kotinos, #5 King Of Numbers
Kenilworth, 28.12.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R120.000, 16:40GMT+2
Race Summary: CAPTAIN’S DESTINY has improved with blinkers fitted and is competitive at this level off her current mark. She beat ALLTHEBOYSIVELOVED and BABELICIOUS in a similar course-and-distance event last month and is weighted to confirm her superiority. However, those familiar foes have more scope for improvement so aren’t incapable of turning the tables. Class-droppers HOPE CHEST and FESTIVAL CHIC will have more to offer at this level and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Selections:
#5 Pink Pigeon, #2 Alltheboysiveloved, #10 Hope Chest, #3 Babelicious
Kenilworth, 28.12.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 1100m, Turf, R120.000, 17:15GMT+2
Race Summary: ELUSIVE WINTER benefitted from an equipment change when improving to win at a higher level last time over 1000m and could follow up with a repeat of that performance over the extra 100m, despite under a 6-point penalty. Hard-knockers BLUFF ON BLUFF, ALL ABOUT AL and NIGHT TIGER have the form and experience to pose a threat, as does unexposed 3yo ONE LINER who isn’t underestimated on his return from a break.
Selections:
#10 Elusive Winter, #6 All About Al, #7 Night Tiger, #3 Bluff On Bluff
Best Win: #10 ELUSIVE WINTER
Best Value Bet: #2 TSUNAMI WARNING
Best Longshot: #2 TSUNAMI WARNING
