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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE@2025.01.23
Turffontein Standside, 23.01.2025, Race 1, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R95.000, 12:30GMT+2
Race Summary: BILINGUAL had legitimate excuses for finishing behind WINTER MIRACLE last time and could turn the tables if she’s overcome those issues. ACT ON SNOW wasn’t a long way adrift of those rivals on debut and she ought to improve to pose more of a threat. BLAZING BEAUTY is another who would’ve come on appreciably with the benefit of an introductory outing. CYBER SPIRIT and CHILLI MARMALADE have the form and experience to make their presence felt too.
Selections: #4 Bilingual, #3 Winter Miracle, #9 Act On Snow, #1 Cyber Spirit
Turffontein Standside, 23.01.2025, Race 2, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 13:05GMT+2
Race Summary: DYLAN’S CHAMP wouldn’t be winning out of turn after finishing second in 4 consecutive starts. However, he’s closely matched with COUNT HUHTIKUU whose fast-finishing third over 1450m last time gave the impression he could improve sufficiently over this extended trip to reverse that form. Both are drawn wide and concede weight to the filly GOLDEN ALEXIA who is favourably positioned in gate 3 and open to any amount of improvement stretching out to this distance. Well-bred newcomer IMMEDIATE EDGE, APACHE CHIEF on his Highveld introduction, and PIBE DE ORO appeal most of the remainder.
Selections: #11 Count Huhtikuu, #4 Dylan’s Champ, #14 Golden Alexia, #3 Pibe De Oro
Turffontein Standside, 23.01.2025, Race 3, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R110.000, 13:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Progressive TWELVE OCLOCK HIGH carries a 5-point penalty for a recent start-to-finish 1450m victory but that shouldn’t halt his momentum, as this extended trip will likely unlock further improvement. Fellow last-start winners BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW and HAT TRICK OR TREAT, who sprung a 50-1 shock with a tongue-tie fitted (retained here), ought to remain competitive under their resultant penalties. DON’T CRY FOR ME has the form and experience at a higher level to make his presence felt off a reduced mark. Debut winner SPUMANTE DOLCE is unexposed so shouldn’t be underestimated.
Selections: #2 Twelve Oclock High, #3 Busstopinhounslow, #1 Don’T Cry For Me, #7 Spumante Dolce
Turffontein Standside, 23.01.2025, Race 4, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R105.000, 14:15GMT+2
Race Summary: CHERRY OH BABY has run well in both starts after a lengthy layoff and should play a leading role with improvement expected over this trip after a staying-on second over 1400m last time. GERBERA fits a similar profile and it could pay to follow her progress. On pedigree, she should relish stretching out to this trip after encouraging introductory sprints. Well-bred IZANAMI is also likely to appreciate this sterner test of stamina. LACEWING, ASIAH’S TIARA and INTRO complete the shortlist.
Selections: #7 Gerbera, #1 Cherry Oh Baby, #5 Izanami, #3 Asiah’s Tiara
Turffontein Standside, 23.01.2025, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R100.000, 14:50GMT+2
Race Summary: DESTINY OF FIRE ran on well from a wide draw to finish 5.50 lengths off 108-rated World Of Alice (at level weights) in a Grade 3 feature over 1600m and a return to this distance will be to her liking. She is better than rated and needn’t improve to give weight and a beating to exposed hard-knockers, such as PRINCESS ILARIA, SOUTHERN STYLE and CARNELO. On the evidence of her encouraging handicap debut last month, lightly raced MOCHA MACAROON could pose the biggest threat.
Selections: #1 Destiny Of Fire, #2 Mocha Macaroon, #3 Princess Ilaria, #8 Southern Style
Turffontein Standside, 23.01.2025, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R150.000, 15:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Promising 3yo CONFEDERATE has won twice and finished second four times in 6 starts. He has improved since being gelded and the step up to this trip could be what he is looking for now. WE ARE THE LOGANS, WHAFEEF and ARGO ALLEY have the form and experience to threaten the selection. The filly SOLDIER’S EYE isn’t taken lightly over her preferred trip off a reduced mark, while MAJESTIC PALACE and stablemate DECEPTION PASS needn’t improve much on encouraging last starts to have a say at the finish. Good race.
Selections: #5 Confederate, #3 Whafeef, #8 Majestic Palace, #6 We Are The Logans
Turffontein Standside, 23.01.2025, Race 7, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R110.000, 16:00GMT+2
Race Summary: Cases can be made for most but it could pay to side with improving well-bred filly WARNING SOUND who is open to any amount of progress stretching out to this trip. Fellow last-start maiden winners TUSCAN STAR and GLAMOROUS LADY should also improve to be competitive on handicap debut. MISS SCALETTA, frontrunner TWOSTEP QUEEN and stablemate ACROSS THE POND concede weight to those rivals but have the ability to play leading roles. BOSUM BUDDY and QUEEN OF LOVE have claims too.
Selections: #9 Warning Sound, #8 Glamorous Lady, #10 Tuscan Star, #2 Across The Pond
Turffontein Standside, 23.01.2025, Race 8, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 16:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Veteran hard-knocker WILLOW EXPRESS is competitive at this level and a return to this distance suits. Last-start winner DJ JUNIOR is closely matched with that rival and there shouldn’t be much separating the pair again. Lightly raced POCKET WATCH has scope to improve after a recent gelding operation so shouldn’t be underestimated. However, preference is for class-dropper TWO MILES WEST who will appreciate reverting to this distance off a reduced mark. Thriving DOITWITHDIAMONDS and familiar foe COPPER MIST, on better weight terms, are others with a genuine Eachway chance.
Selections: #2 Two Miles West, #3 Willow Express, #6 Dj Junior, #4 Doitwithdiamonds
Best Win: #1 DESTINY OF FIRE
Best Value Bet: #9 WARNING SOUND
Best Longshot: #9 WARNING SOUND
