TURFFONTEIN SATURDAY 23 DECEMBER 2023

Turffontein Standside Saturday 23 December 2023 – Comments by David Thiselton

RACE 1 Preview: 1 MASTERSHIP, a half-brother to Rulership, ran a cracker last time out over 1160m from a tough low draw and being by Master of My Fate and having finished just 4,25 lengths behind Purple Pitcher in the BSA Sales Cup over 1450m he can see out this trip. 2 PRESLEY was 2,25 lengths ahead of Mastership over 1160m last time bit from a more favourable draw and he should enjoy this trip but has a tough draw. 10 LE GRAND CAFE ran a fair third on debut over 1500m and is drawn in pole. 3 FEEL ALL RIGHT is drawn well and if repeating his penultimate start can earn. (David Thiselton 1-2-10-3)

RACE 2 Preview: 2 GREAT BARRIER had decent juvenile form and after a fair comeback over 1160m should relish this step up in trip but does have a tricky draw. 5 CHOC’ LATE, a Futura half-sister to the Gr 2 runner up Supreme Warrior (Vercingetorix), can improve on her moderate debut over a step up in trip which she should relish although she also has a tricky draw. 3 MIZZEN SAIL has a form chance here and is drawn in pole so has to be included. 6 FRANCES ETHEL is by Rafeef and is a half-sister to the 101-rated middle distance horse Jaimala (Flower Alley) and the 93-rated sprinter-miler type Kitchakal (Master Of My Fate). (David Thiselton 2-5-3-6)

RACE 3 Preview: 4 AL BAYREG is improving and strikes as one who will relish a staying trip. 11 CRIMSON FOREST relished the step up to 2000m last time and might also enjoy this further step up. 2 JUDGEMENT DAY ran well enough over 2000m last time to have a chance here. 3 TWENTY DRACHMA’S has 2,25 lengths to make up on Al Bayreg from their clash over 1800m and he should manage this trip (David Thiselton 4-11-2-3)

RACE 4 Preview: 3 ELECTRIC GOLD ran a good second in the Victory Moon before being controversially scratched from the Summer Cup, so he should come in to this rearing to go. 2 SHOEMAKER ran a fine fifth in the Summer Cup and that makes him the one to beat here on form but he would have had to be freshened up unlike Electric Gold. 5 STAR COIN ran an improved race last time and is well regarded so should start coming into his own. 7 RENY has shown touches of class and if officially well weighted (David Thiselton 3-2-5-7)

RACE 5 Preview: 3 APACHE FIGHTER has been in fine form over middle distances and she enjoys this course and distance. 6 NAMAQUA BLOSSOM has always had the ability to be a decent stayer and should start coming into her own. 4 FLYING FIRST CLASS is honest and distance suited but does have a tricky draw. 2 UNITED COUNCIL is always thereabouts (David Thiselton 3-6-4-2)

RACE 6 Preview: 4 TROPPO VELOCE won in fine style last time and can continue to progress. 2 GOLDEN SICKLE has been in fine form since arriving on the Highveld and goes for a hat-trick over this trip. 3 ZIYASHA is distance suited and should be thereabouts. 1 CLIFF HANGER is in fine form but the number one draw is the wrong side to be on by trends (David Thiselton 4-2-3-1

RACE 7 Preview: 4 RULERSHIP won full of running last time and can progress further for his new yard. 3 DANILO DANILOVITCH loves the Turffontein Standside straight track and shoukd be right there. 1 MOVER AND SHAKER has a lot of pace and is always dangerous over a fast 1000m course and distance. 2 ALULA’S STAR has pace and can stay on over this trip so is in witch a chance (David Thiselton 4-3-1-2)

RACE 8 Preview: 1 MOONSHININGTHROUGH is full of ability and should be ready to strike despite having to carry topweight. 5 RAGNAR LOTHBROK has run well in his last two and can be involved. 4 ICE STAR is in good form for an in form yard but does have a low draw. 3 POWER BROKER could earn a cheque if producing his best (David Thiselton 1-5-4-3

)RACE 9 Preview: 9 VIRGIN RIVER looks to be well handicapped as her maiden win has worked out very well 3 CULLINAN BLUE is drawn on the right side and is a promising sort. 1 IN THE BEGINNING is full of ability and she made a fair comeback but has a tough low draw. 5 LUCY IN THE SKY has a lot of ability but does tend to start slowly although she is now off an attractive merit rating.

Great Barrier looks good for Candice 
Judgement Day is a good name for Peter 
Rulership the banker 

Good Punting 👍 

Rulership...same horse that beat the superstar Stanley Park. Then battled in various races in KZN. Joins the Peter yard and breaks the Turffontien course record in 55 sec over 1000m after being drawn in terrible barrier position. Peter obviously 10 length better trainer than Mike Miller...

On Thursday I was brought back to earth 

Today it looks straight-forward - think the fancied runners will co-operate; I fancy the following: Mastership, Taxhaven (if he stays), Star Coin and Virgin River in the last; both Troppo Veloce and Rulership also look hard to beat 

Enjoy 

Electric Gold

Good tactics... On Electric Gold in the small field

Opera Glass...

Eish this horse racing is so easy...just back Peter's stable..they cant lose.
He is one helluva a trainer ....

Ragnar Lothbrok...

The false start has effectively screwed up the race...