The local national weekend programme comprises four racemeetings with nine feature races spread across three of them. After the dizzy highs of Classic Day, one quickly realises that it cannot be champagne every weekend – but there is plenty of good quality competitive Listed race action, without any of the big-name superstars on show.
The major venue of the weekend is Turffontein with seven of the ten races carded on the standside track being features of varying levels.
Mike de Kock once again has powerful hands throughout the afternoon with the likes of Soft Falling Rain’s daughter GIN FIZZ looking a decent sort and taking on seven rivals in the Ruffian Stakes.
Her stablemate, the grey Australian-bred FROSTED GOLD should be fancied in the boy’s equivalent, the Storm Bird Stakes – where Sean Tarry brings a filly into the mix in the shape of CAVIVAR. The Var flyer gets 2,5kgs from the male winners – it should be an interesting race with lots of confidence also abounding in the Hollywood Syndicate camp with smart debut winner LOOK TO THE SKY. See the comments below.
The Hollywood Syndicate also have ex-Cape based SEATTLE FORCE running in the Listed Derby Trial. While he is only 80% ready, there is some confidence – see the comments!
In the final race of the day, Piere Strydom rides the Elusive Fort filly, WILD THOUGHTS. Knocking hard at her last two starts, she could dispose of a modest field for us to end the day on a high.
The weekend roster commences at Fairview on the polytrack on Friday where nine well-subscribed races give players the opportunity to start the weekend with a bang.
Local star MADAME SPEAKER looks the nearest thing to the best bet of the weekend. She faces nine rivals in the seventh – the Listed Breeders Guineas – and she could have too much firepower at level weights. The Cape form is often stronger, but the local champion is no slouch.
The Klawervlei raceday runs alongside Turffontein on Saturday at Durbanville.
The champion breeders host the feature, the Klawervlei Sale Stakes – a minefield of a race with 6 unraced horses amongst the 11 maidens.
Best bet of the day at the Country Course could be the Australian-bred BOOMPS A DAISY in the third race. The daughter of Zoustar went down narrowly on debut to the more experienced Fluttering and if she copes with the Durbanville turn, she looks a ready-made Pick 6 banker.
The curtain comes down on the weekend racing with an eight-race programme on the Greyville all-weather on Sunday.
The Hollywood Syndicate have runners in the first two races with WINTER TWILIGHT having claims of an each-way chance in the first.
ALPHAMIKEFOXTROT always tries his hardest and while no star, he runs in a small field in the second and turns up very fit.
See the Hollywood Syndicate comments below for more.
But the Greyville focus could be on Anton Marcus and Brett Crawford who team up with the consistent ELUSIVE DIVA in the fourth. The 4yo has run four seconds with Marcus up – which suggests she either lacks heart or the mindset to put her head in front. The fact that the top jockey is trying again points to a possible recovery of our past investments on the daughter of Elusive Fort – and it helps that she faces a weak field.
Our regular get-out stakes quartet in the final race looks a difficult one to unravel.
JO MAMBO and SECOND TO NONE are both well drawn and look the obvious two roving bankers – but after that it’s a case of favourite numbers! PRINCESS ANALIA does not immediately jump out of the page but could provide some value in a tricky race.
Enjoy the racing!
Till next time.
Saturday 9th March 2019
Turffontein Racecourse
Race 3 – 13:35
1000m – Stormbird Stakes (Listed)
4 – Look To The Sky
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: Kabelo Matsunyane
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 11(11)
Predicted Betting: 10/1
He was an impressive winner on debut and that formline has held up nicely. He comes into this race a fresh horse and if he repeats that debut effort, he should be too good for this field. We give him an excellent each way chance.
Winning Form Comments: Eye catching debut win. Has plenty of scope and looks a big danger.
Race 6 – 15:20
2000m – Derby Trial (Listed)
7 – Seattle Force
Trainer: Stuart Pettigrew
Jockey: Calvin Habib
Wgt: 53.0kg
Draw: 3(15)
Predicted Betting: 33/1
He makes his local debut in the province and has faced much stronger in the Cape. The strategy for this race will be to bounce him out the stalls and commit to a handy position where he can use his big action out in front. He has a nice galloping weight to shoulder and although he is 80% ready for this outing, he should give a good account of himself.
Winning Form Comments: Makes local debut, but has faced stronger. Include.
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Sunday – 10th March 2019
Greyville Poly Track
Race 1 – 13:10
1000m – Maiden Plate
2 – Winter Twilight
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: Diego De Gouveia
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 2(7)
Predicted Betting: 7/1
He did himself no favours in his last start, hanging in late and causing interference to the runners behind him. As such, he was demoted from 2nd to 4th. The slight drop in trip will suit him tonight and he should run a big race. We give a good each way chance.
Winning Form Comments: Good course debut last time. Chance if repeating.
Race 2 – 13:45
1000m – MR 73 Handicap
7 – Alphamikefoxtrot
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: Muzi Yeni
Wgt: 52.0kg
Draw: 8(8)
Predicted Betting: 7/1
He has been doing relatively well in the handicaps and having run a decent race on Tuesday at the Vaal, he will be making his way down to the coast on Saturday for this run on Sunday. If this race hasn’t come too soon, he should give a good account of himself, but he is one of those horses that has to have everything in his favour to win.
Winning Form Comment: Decent course record and drops in MR. Watch.
Race – 10
1000m – Barrier Trial
12 – Travelling Light
Trainer: Garth Puller
Jockey: Serino Moodley
Wgt: 56.0kg
Draw: 3(15)
She isn’t a big filly, but what she lacks in size, she makes up for in appearance. She really is a classy looker and has put up some very exciting workouts, which could indicate that she is well above average. This will be entirely a learning experience for her and should bring the run for her debut run in a few weeks.
eMeM’s Top Bet for Fairview (08/03)
Race 8: JUDD’S ROCKET (3)
Jockey: Muzi YENI – Trainer: Gavin SMITH
JUDD’S ROCKET travels down from Gauteng for Friday’s event and has faced some very smart opposition thus far. He is fast approaching a competitive rating and the drop in class makes him hard to oppose.
eMeM’s Top Bet for Durbanville (09/03)
Race 3: BOOMPS A DAISY (4)
Jockey: Greg CHEYNE – Trainer: Brett CRAWFORD
BOOMPS A DAISY is a very well-related daughter of Australian super sire Zoustar. She found plenty of support on debut when just touched off, and on that run she will have the main dangers in this line-up held.
eMeM’s Top Bet for Turffontein (09/03)
Race 4: GIN FIZZ (3)
Jockey: Gavin LERENA – Trainer: Mike DE KOCK
GIN FIZZ was ultra-impressive on debut when decimating her rivals over this course and distance. The well-bred daughter of Soft Falling Rain should be very hard to oppose on that run and looks tough to beat here.
eMeM’s Top Bet for Greyville (10/03)
Race 3: MISS FRANKEL (8)
Jockey: Keagan DE MELO – Trainer: Dennis DRIER
MISS FRANKEL hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, yet she is fast approaching a very competitive merit rating. With this being her peak run from pole position, she looks hard to oppose.
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