Turffontein, Champions Day, 01/05

With so many good horses competing, nothing like an early thread to gauge the opinions.

I am anchoring two horses into this meeting, as well as into the Sunday meeting at Greyville.

The two i am fairly strong on are :-

R3) Under Your Spell x (R4) Sheela, if either of these gets rolled, tears in my beer, and early at that. Being backing these two since the betting opened.

Here is a short summary of those i fancy :-

Race (1)
Happy And Glorious, if overcoming the draw, is weighted to finish ahead of Winter With Jo.

Race (2)
Battle Force, whilst under sufferance, should be in the mix if seeing out the extra.

Race (3)
Under Your Spell should win this at level weights.

Race (4)
Sheela looks something special in the making, follow until beaten.

Race (5)
Sweet Future, could be drawn on the correct side of the course, speedy, the one to beat.

Race (6)
On ratings, Running Brave the one to be with.

Race (7)
Rio Querari, if not suffering from the altitude.

Race (
Malmoos, unbeaten at the course.

Race (9)
Don’t Look Back holding form well.

Race (10)
South Boy, can round off a good day for Muzi Yeni.

Early thoughts ...

R1: Agree that Happy and Glorious the one to beat - but this is open and the value for me is Tinder Dry

R2: First choice for me is Ikigai - not that keen on Battel Force

R3: Agree with Under Your Spell - if that gets rolled I like Shield of Roses and Supreme Quest the value imo

R4: Not convinced about Sheela - some confusing formlines here; Pyromaniac and Mitch Got His Wish looked like world beaters in the debuts - and then MGHW got rolled by Rollwiththepunches - that one may be the value - yes well beaten by Sheela- but this time his going to get on his bike and make them catch him

R5: Sweet Future probably the right one - the 1160 may not be ideal, so Gallic Princess the value imo

R6: Agree on Running Brave

R7: Rio Querari beatable imo up here at the weights - True to Life the one for me with last year's winner Rivarine the value for the places

R8: Summer Pudding's race to lose

R9: African Adventure - but there could be an upset here imo - Factor Fifty and Imperial Ruby much better than their last efforts

Raining this morning - set to clear by this afternoon though - still seems possible that the going may turn up soft depending on how much rain falls at the track; if it does turn up soft, it could result in some form reversals - especially with the juveniles - and the other race to take special note of is the Gold Bowl - African Adventure has never run in the soft, but Factor Fifty, Imperial Ruby, Odd Rob and Don't Look Back all have some great form in soft conditions.

The other race that may be affected by the state of the track, is the Computaform Sprint - where Rio Querari ran arguably his worst race (although only 2 lengths off the winner) on a soft track at Greyville; True to Life is 1 from 1 in the soft, while Russet Air (2nd last year behind Rivarine) also has a good record in soft conditions

Draws down the straight (where in the last few weeks it the going was better down the stand side) may also be affected with the rain

Let's see how it looks tomorrow morning :dry:

All horses love “soft”. Fantastic for the champion runners.


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Just a heads-up, see Happy And Glorious in the first race is "quietly" shortening, Hwood 7/2 to 3/1 and WSB 7/2 to 28/10, use it, don't use it.

Good day's racing ahead.n Pity no Striker on the card today

I agree with some confidence on Happy and Glorius, but Fisher King is a big danger. Rapid Charge to make up Trifecta

Wonder why De Gouveia is not riding Expressfromtheus? Anyway, I am a bog fan of Zouaves and will stick to my liking. Ikigai, Chijmes, Asterix, Full Mast and Battle Force can all make the QT

Under your Spell looks like the bet of the day. Exacta with Shield of Roses or place bet SOR

Once again I am a sucker for the Beck colours, so Pyromaniac it will be. Mitch, Retallick, Sheela for the places

Cannot decide between Tropic Sun, Sweet Future and Celestial Love

I am not a fan of Running Brave. Has been costly not liking this one. Seeham, Sparkling Water and Netta make more appeal

It is a tall order for the Cape Raiders to expect to arrive and win. True to Life looks like the form horse and is tipped to win. Verichey, Chimichuri Run and Rio Querrari to make up the QT

Malmoos

African Adventure, Imperial Ruby and Don't Look Back to fight out race 9

Eyes on Tiger

Have fun all

Smorgasbord Win. Gallic Princess Place....My Double for tomorrow

Cant see african adventure giving dont look back 8kgs. Best bet 33/10 was a steal. Will stick by summer pudding. Being a capetonian rio querari no race show u jhb boys snaith is a master. Nice card tomorrow ! Enjoy the day and hit them hard. A roughie to include rios winter back over 1200m.

Tonight & tomorrow

TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE SATURDAY MAY 1 FORMGUIDES, SELECTIONS, PERMUTATIONS

by David Thiselton

R1

Preview: HAPPY AND GLORIOUS (5) stayed on well for second last time from a similar draw over this course and distance and can improve further. NOBLE STRIKER (2) proved his potential last time and now that he has got the hang of it he could follow up, although he has a tough draw this time. FISHER KING (1) won well over 1450m in his penultimate start and is drawn in pole. RAPID CHARGE (8 ) is a full-sister to Surcharge (Yulong Prince) and she can improve on her moderate debut. TINDER DRY (10) could earn here with a 1.5kg claimer up. (David Thiselton 5-2-1-8-10)

R2

Preview: BATTLE FORCE (11) is progressive and carries a featherweight so over a trip he should stay on pedigree he has a fine chance from pole position. EXPRESSFROMTHEUS (1) has come into his own and he is effective over this trip and loves the log straight of this course so can go close from draw three. WHORLY WHORLY (5) has been a revelation this season and dropping back to his favourite trip and being one of the joint best weighted runners he has a chance. (David Thiselton 11-1-5)

R3

Preview: UNDER YOUR SPELL (9) packs a strong finish and will attempt to remain unbeaten but the usually unfavourable draw of one does pose a problem. HEAVEN'S GIRL (5) has a favourable high draw by trends and can be bridesmaid to Under Your Spell for the third time. GIFTED GAL (4) won well on debut after being heavily backed and from a good draw has a shout although she coms from a family who tend to start their careers well before becoming disappointing. (David Thiselton 9-5-4)

R4

Preview: SHEELA (9) is highly regarded and can follow up on her impressive debut when squeezed out at the start and still winning going away by 3,75 lengths. SMORGASBORD (6) was backed to odds on when debuting over this course and distance and won easily. ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHES (4) was beaten seven lengths by Sheela over 1000m but bounced back with a fine win over 1160m and is now 3kg better off with Sheela although he des have a tricky draw of three. (David Thiselton 9-6-4)

R5

Preview: SWEET FUTURE (8 ) has exceptional pace and the ability to kick too so this long-strider is the one to beat from a fair draw. TROPIC SUN (5) is going from strength to strength and her exceptional pace will make her dangerous from a nice high draw. CELESTIAL LOVE (9) has won her last three in the manner of a top sprinter and she is going to be a tough nut to crack. (David Thiselton 8-5-9)

R6

Preview: SEEHAAM (4) will relish the step up in trip and could show herself to be a July final field prospect in this race. RUNNING BRAVE (1) has her third run since the Met so should be close to her peak and from a good draw of two can secure a handy or front-running role which is the way she likes it. SPARKLING WATER (6) is on the up and will enjoy this course and distance. NETTA (7) has improved and can also be involved. KELPIE (2) is better than her last two starts and has her third run on the Highveld over a strip she might get being by Dynasty and having SA Classic winner Divine Jury (Jallad) among her siblings although her dam herself was a useful sprinter. (David Thiselton 4-1-6-7-2)

R7

Preview: CHIMICHURI RUN (1) has a good draw for a change and over this slightly too sharp trip should be running at them. TRUE TO LIFE (9) won last time in an exceptionally fast time over course and distance but does have a tricky draw of five which is on the low side. RIO QUERARI (2) proved his ability when winning the Grade 1 Cape Flying and will make a bold bid although he has a tough draw of four by trends. RIVARINE (3) has a high cruising speed and a good kick as he proved last year so he could feature from a the standside draw. MIND READER (10) has developed into a bull of a horse and can be involved despite being the lowest rated runner. RUSSET AIR (4) flew up for a narrow second last year from a tough low draw and he will have to repeat that effort. BOHICA (6) is a talented sprinter who has a shout. ANNA CAPRI (12) could be a factor if breaking well as she has exceptional pace. (David Thiselton 1-9-2-3-10-4-6-12)

R8

Preview: GOT THE GREENLIGHT (1) will be cherry ripe and fresher than his two chief rivals, both of whom have had tough season, so he can use his exceptional turn of foot to maximum effect. MALMOOS (8 ) has proved himself top class especially over middle distances although from draw five in a nine horse field there is a slight risk of him being caught wide considering his gatespeed. SUMMER PUDDING (7) has a pole position draw so should get a good position and she will then gallop all the way to the line in her usual relentless fashion. (David Thiselton 1-8-7)

R9

Preview: AFRICAN ADVENTURE (1) has to carry a big weight but will relish the further step up in trip and might outstay them. DON'T LOOK BACK (5) has relished the long-straighted Highveld courses and also stays well so he has a chance receiving 8kg from African Adventure. SMOKING HOT (7) officially has a tough task at the weights but the best might not yet have been seen of her. (David Thiselton 1-5-7)

R10

Preview: EYES ON TIGER (1) has been knocking on the door but does have a tricky low draw. I DREAM OF GENIE (14) should go close on form but also has a tricky low draw. RAISETHEREDLANTERN (9) is better than his last run and is drawn on the right side. (David Thiselton 1-14-9)