The weekday race meeting at Turffontein on Thursday 20 March promises to be highly competitive with four Class B events on the eight-race card.
The first of these is Race 2, a Graduation Plate over 1200m, where Grand Crescendo appeals most.
This gelded son of One World started his career in Cape Town when still a juvenile but did not make any impact. Brought up-country, he scored a quick-fire double over 1400m.
So impressive was his development that trainer Candice Dawson entered him in the Grade 1 Champion Stakes for two-year-olds at Greyville, where he finished third, beaten less than a length by VJ’s Angel.
After that run he was given a break. His comeback run was in the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge, but on that day everything that could go wrong, did.
Last time out he showed why he is so highly rated and was just pipped by Winds Of Change, another runner who has placed in a Grade 1 race.
On Thursday Grand Crescendo should get back to winning ways being the best weighted and stripping fitter.
He should, however, expect both Musical Score and Buffalo Storm Cody to breathe down his neck all the way.
Musical Score, trained by Lucky Houdalakis, drops back to his best distance after trying his luck in the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas last time out. It will be his first run since being gelded, and that may just bring about more improvement.
Buffalo Storm Cody, from Tony Peter’s yard, also makes his comeback as a gelding and looks ready to prove his class.
In Race 7, a FM88 Handicap over 1000m, lightly raced Fastnet Filly is the one to be with as she continues her hot streak for the father-and-son team of Brett and James Crawford now that she races on the Highveld.
Five of her nine career runs have come since she turned five and they have yielded three victories and two close runner-up finishes.
This daughter of Fastnet Rock also started her career in Cape Town without success but has been on a tremendous upward trajectory since relocating to the Highveld.
She is now rated 20 points higher at 87 since her move up-country and has taken every ratings increase in her stride.
From gate 3, and with Kabelo Matsunyane again in the saddle, she will take a power of beating.
Clive Robinson
