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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE@2025.03.29
Turffontein Standside, 29.03.2025, Race 1, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R200.000, 11:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Champions Day has arrived and with it, a betting bonanza not to be missed – including a MEGA Pick 6 carryover, TWO BiPots and THREE Jackpots. WHISPERING DEATH will be all the rage in the opener and can be confidently backed to deliver the goods in Leg 1 of Jackpot ONE. He confirmed the promise of his debut 2nd with an authoritative last-start victory over 1450m and this extended trip switching back to the Standside track should unlock further improvement. GOLDEN WARRIOR should get closer on 3kg better terms. IDEAL SUMMER and ROYALE JACKET are other likely improvers with earning potential.
Selections: #1 Whispering Death, #3 Golden Warrior, #4 Ideal Summer, #6 Royale Jacket
Turffontein Standside, 29.03.2025, Race 2, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R350.000, 12:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Cases can be made for each of these runners. ARASHI and GLASTONBURY have the form and superior experience to challenge for race honours. Debut winners CLAIRWOOD ROSE and ELEGANTRIX have also shown enough to be competitive and remain open to improvement. East Cape raider GOLDEN PALM is not to be underestimated, having made the arduous journey north after a runaway last-start victory. Fellow recent scorer ONE FINE WINTER confirmed the promise of her debut 2nd in a feature against male rivals by winning as she liked over a similar trip last time with a ton in hand. It’ll pay to follow her progress!
Selections: #7 One Fine Winter, #1 Arashi, #4 Glastonbury, #2 Clairwood Rose
Turffontein Standside, 29.03.2025, Race 3, Gallops, 1160m, Turf, R500.000, 12:40GMT+2
Race Summary: First-up scorers CHARMING CHEETAH and KING HARALD could be anything. The former was friendless in the market but defied an alarming market drift to win a Listed race on debut, and both subsequent runners from that race franked the form by winning next time out. One of those is re-opposing TINA LOVELACE who didn’t finish a long way adrift on debut and benefited from that experience. Well-related KING HARALD, on the other hand, justified betting support when making his winning introduction (beating winners). GREEN DIAMOND was a good 2nd on debut and should improve to feature.
Selections: #1 Charming Cheetah, #3 King Harald, #6 Tina Lovelace, #5 Green Diamond
Turffontein Standside, 29.03.2025, Race 4, Gallops, 1100m, Turf, R105.000, 13:15GMT+2
Race Summary: The opening leg of a carryover Pick 6 MEGAPOOL you don’t want to miss. QUASIKAT carries a 3-point penalty for winning a similar event 3 weeks ago but that shouldn’t prevent another forward showing. BLIZZARD SNOW is weighted to turn the tables on her last-start conqueror so is a must for all perms. DIVINE MOONLIGHT and THERE SHE GOES are also closely matched on that form and also have to be included. The latter was unlucky to encounter traffic problems at a crucial value stage in that race, so could be worth siding with at a big price. JUNIPER GREEN and FLIGHT OF A CONDOR have claims too.
Selections: #12 There She Goes, #1 Quasikat, #4 Blizzard Snow, #3 Divine Moonlight
Turffontein Standside, 29.03.2025, Race 5, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R120.000, 13:50GMT+2
Race Summary: Class-dropper FULLY LOADED is proven at this level but his record on this course could be better. He also concedes weight to all and returns from a 3-month absence so is worth opposing. PALACE DANCER is an obvious candidate for success given her form and consistency but she is engaged to run earlier in the week which casts doubt over her participation. As such, PRESSONREGARDLESS represents an attractive betting proposition. He wouldn’t be winning out of turn after finishing 2nd in back-to-back recent starts (comeback outings), the latest at a higher level off the same rating.
Selections: #6 Pressonregardless, #2 Palace Dancer, #11 After Hours, #7 King Of Numbers
Turffontein Standside, 29.03.2025, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R1.000.000, 14:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Case of quality over quantity. FATAL FLAW and VJ’S ANGEL are Grade 1 winners over this distance and weighted to be competitive. The latter was a fast-finishing 2nd to exciting SPUMANTE DOLCE in the Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas over track and trip 2 starts back and the De Kock-trained filly is well worth giving another chance after suffering her first defeat – for which she had legitimate excuses. Older rivals BEATING WINGS (2nd over course and distance on her reappearance) and WHITE PEARL, who wasn’t disgraced in a Grade 1 against male opposition, also have genuine each-way credentials.
Selections: #5 Spumante Dolce, #6 Vj’s Angel, #1 Beating Wings, #7 Fatal Flaw
Turffontein Standside, 29.03.2025, Race 7, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R1.000.000, 15:00GMT+2
Race Summary: WILLIAM ROBERTSON was scratched from last year’s renewal but lines up this time at the top of his game after a career-best performance in the Grade 3 JJ The Jet Plane (former Tommy Hotspur) Stakes over track and trip under 62kg. He is better off at the weights with all of runner-up GOLDEN SICKLE (2kg), 3rd-place finisher MOVER AND SHAKER (4kg), 4th TIME FO ORCHIDS (6kg), and stablemate CHOCOLATE SOLDIER (3.5kg). LUCKY LAD is a multiple Grade 1 winner over 1200m but isn’t taken lightly over this trip for last year’s winning combination. Course-and-distance specialist PISTOL PETE warrants respect too.
Selections: #1 William Robertson, #6 Golden Sickle, #8 Pistol Pete, #2 Lucky Lad
Turffontein Standside, 29.03.2025, Race 8, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R2.000.000, 15:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Top-rated ROYAL VICTORY is a dual course-and-distance Grade 1 winner. He sets a good standard but hasn’t won since landing this prize last year. PURPLE PITCHER won the SA Derby on the same day 12 months ago and will line up in good form and physical condition. FIRE ATTACK was last season’s Champion 2YO Colt on the Highveld and has maintained a high level of form this term, albeit without winning. He has filled the runners-up berth in his last 3 starts, the latest at Grade 1 level, so wouldn’t be winning out of turn. IMILENZEYOKUDUDUMA, SON OF RAJ and ATTICUS FINCH appeal most of the remainder.
Selections: #10 Fire Attack, #2 Purple Pitcher, #1 Royal Victory, #5 Imilenzeyokududuma
Turffontein Standside, 29.03.2025, Race 9, Gallops, 2450m, Turf, R1.250.000, 16:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Smashing renewal of the Grade 1 SA Derby. Unbeaten IMMEDIATE EDGE has risen rapidly through the divisions and remains open to further improvement over this extended trip after a hard-fought narrow victory in the Derby Trial. However, runner-up WILD INTENT is weighted to avenge that defeat on 3kg better terms. Triple Crown Leg 1 (Gauteng Guineas) winner PARISIAN WALKWAY is bred to appreciate this sterner test of stamina so should make his presence felt, although the same applies to unexposed GREY JET (4th in SA Classic) and LEGEND OF ARTHUR who placed in both legs. Filly OLIVIA’S WAY comes next.
Selections: #6 Wild Intent, #7 Immediate Edge, #2 Legend Of Arthur, #3 Grey Jet
Turffontein Standside, 29.03.2025, Race 10, Gallops, 2450m, Turf, R750.000, 16:50GMT+2
Race Summary: A runaway winner of the Grade 1 Fillies Classic over 1800m in her last start, FIERY PEGASUS need only prove as effective over this extended trip to confirm her superiority over 4 re-opposing rivals. WORLD OF ALICE (3rd) and stablemate GERBERA (5th) were soundly beaten that day but will likely pose more of a threat stretching out to this distance. COCOMELON, the 3rd string to Sean Tarry’s bow, acquitted herself well enough in the Oaks Trial to suggest she could also trouble the selection. TODOQUE and HAT’S QUEEN have form up to 2000m so are respected, as is FETCHING FLYER who has been 2400m.
Selections: #1 Fiery Pegasus, #2 World Of Alice, #6 Todoque, #7 Cocomelon
Turffontein Standside, 29.03.2025, Race 11, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R500.000, 17:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Progressive 3yo COSMIC SPEED won at Grade 1 level last time over 1600m, beating re-opposing rivals TEXAS RED and BARBARESCO. Both familiar foes are weighted to pose more of a threat (2kg better terms). MAIN DEFENDER was scratched at the start on that occasion but could redeem himself over a course and distance that he has only once been beaten in 5 appearances. Grade 3 course-and-distance winner GIMMEFABULOUS and rejuvenated GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE complete the shortlist.
Selections: #1 Main Defender, #7 Cosmic Speed, #2 Barbaresco, #3 Texas Red
Turffontein Standside, 29.03.2025, Race 12, Gallops, 2850m, Turf, R300.000, 18:00GMT+2
Race Summary: The pace in this staying contest will be crucial. POETS WARRIOR is a free-striding frontrunner with no stamina doubts. He is unbeaten at this course and under this jockey, so is good value to score on his Highveld reappearance. Last-start winners BREEZE OVER and UNITED COUNCIL are also hard-knocking stayers with the form and experience to play leading roles. Bothought to remain competitive, despite resultant penalties. MARAUDING HORDE and MY SOUL MATE have raced over distances slightly shorter but are open to improvement over this extended trip. EXPLOSIVE BOND isn’t taken lightly under just 52kg.
Selections: #1 Poets Warrior, #2 Marauding Horde, #4 Breeze Over, #6 My Soul Mate
Best Win: #1 WHISPERING DEATH
Best Value Bet: #12 THERE SHE GOES
Best Longshot: #12 THERE SHE GOES
