It is the start of the Winter Series at Turffontein on Sunday with the running of the Non-Black Type Betway Secretariat Stakes over 1400m.
The newly introduced series is for three-year-olds and comprises three races over the next two months with a bonus of R500,000 going to the winner of all three legs.
Before we get there, I want to make mention of the brilliant day last weekend, where I managed to secure victory in the Grade 2 WSB Guineas aboard Sail The Seas for Snaith Racing.
As mentioned in last week’s article, he is a lovely horse and without doubt, he is now one of the best three-year-olds in the country. I suggest you keep following him through the season because there is more to come.
Now on to Sunday’s card and Race 1 a Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1160m. There are a number of well-bred unraced horses so it’s important to watch the betting and the canter past for the best guide to their chances.
I ride one of those well-bred unraced horses in Anchorage, and I will be hoping for a decent effort and to finish in the money.
Spiritrix won a lovely race on debut and could be anything, so she sets the standard and is the filly we all have to beat.
Tina Lovelace ran a decent race in a feature last time out and is the main danger, but I do think she is vulnerable to the less exposed fillies.
Merryweather and Eight Hats both have fair form to their name and can run into the money.
Race 2 is a Juvenile Plate over 1160m and I ride Red Penny who won a really good race last time out. However, I am slightly concerned about the drop in trip and on that, I’ll be hoping to finish in the money. A victory will be a very pleasant surprise.
Charming Cheetah is the horse we all have to beat. He won a feature race on debut and then never disgraced himself in the SA Nursery, so he is the one to beat.
Tin Pan Alley ran well enough last time out against what looks to be a very special filly in Green Diamond, and he is the main danger.
Zalatoris was extremely impressive on debut but this is a definite step up in class and it will be interesting to see how he goes.
Race 3 is a Maiden Plate over 1160m and once again it’s important to watch the betting and the canter past for the best guide to the chances of the unraced runners.
However, of the raced runners, my best bet on the card comes up in the form of Soho Heartthrob who ran a superb race on debut. The form of the race has been franked because the winner came out to win again in convincing fashion.
A repeat of that run will see him prove hard to beat and a banker in all bets.
Lava County ran a good race in defeat last time out and he rates the main danger because he is still unexposed and further improvement can be expected.
Of the older horses, Old Fashioned was disappointing in his latest start but can run into the money on best form.
Race 4 is a Pinnacle Stakes over 1800m and I ride Tamarisk Tree who won a lovely race last time out. I thought it would be a tough race for him, but he goes for four in a row and I think whatever beats me will win.
I do make my main danger Parisian Walkway who gets the 4kg apprentice allowance off his back which will be a massive help, and he clearly didn’t enjoy the soft going in his last two starts. If you ignore them, he was the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas winner and that sets the standard by a long way.
Navajo Nation ran a good race last time out when fourth in a feature race and he seems to be improving with each run for the new stable, so he is one for wider bets.
Race 5 is a MR 74 Handicap over 1600m and I think Coppola is the horse they have to beat.
He is in good form and jumps from a decent gate, so he can definitely get another win under his belt.
The Ultimate King won a good race after being gelded and with further improvement, he can be far better than rated and is the main danger.
Laughing William goes around the bend again and he’ll appreciate that, so off a good draw he is a definite inclusion in all bets.
Pretty Analia goes got three in a row, and while this is a tougher assignment, she must go into wider bets.
Race 6 is a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m and I ride Truth who is having his second run after a break which is a concern. But he is a really good horse and I think he’ll appreciate the step up in trip and on that, I make him one of the main contenders.
Main Defender is the horse we all have to beat and he isn’t the best weighted horse for nothing.
His win last time out was full of merit and a repeat of that will see him take all the beating.
Musical Score won a really good race last time out and off a good draw this time, he is one to consider for wider bets.
Many of these are prepping towards the Hollywoodbets Durban July, and they include all of Purple Pitcher, Atticus Finch and Legend Of Arthur (steel shoes on) and while this will probably be too short for them, they are classy horses and can run into the money.
Race 7 is the Betway Secretariat Stakes over 1400m and I ride Potberrie who is returning from a small break. But if he comes into this race close to peak fitness, then he will hopefully be able to finish in the money and must be included in all bets.
Royal Force looks to be a very progressive gelding and his win last time out was extremely impressive. A repeat of that will see him take all the beating.
Immediate Edge has been gelded after his disappointing run in the SA Derby and even though this might be too short for him, he is clearly a very classy horse and is one for the shortlist.
Zanthar has been quite disappointing, because I thought he would have won a couple more races by now, but if he produces some of his best form then he is a definite runner.
Race 8 is a MR 106 Handicap over 1000m and I ride Quantum Theory. I make him one of my better rides on the card and once again I think whatever beats me will just about win.
Mount Pinatubo is a very classy horse and he ran a superb race after a rest last time out. With the natural improvement expected, he is probably the horse we have to beat.
Cosmic Star was unlucky last time out but brings brilliant form into the race and he rates one of the main contenders.
Dreamland ran a good race last time and could be one for wider bets.
Race 9 is a MR 93 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m and I ride Kia Kaha who has a couple of lengths to find on a few of these horses but she is a nice filly and I wouldn’t leave her out of wider bets.
Virgin River is the filly we all have to beat. Her current form is really good and she has the ability to win a race of this nature. The fact the going is firming up will suit her frontrunning style and she is my value bet on the card.
Cosmic Queen is having her third run after a rest and while she was disappointing last time out, she is a massive runner on her best form.
Stable companion Simply Majestic has been disappointing of late but if she returns to her earlier form, she provides some good value for bets.
Race 10 is a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m and I ride Mist In Ireland who won a nice race last time out. But this is a definite step up in class and she will have to improve to follow up in this race.
Phantom Express is in really good form and that form sets the standard here and she is the filly we all have to beat.
My One And Only was very disappointing last time out but she had a break after that and she gets a tongue tie fitted which could assist in bringing her ability out, so she is the main danger.
Captain Selvie won a really good race last time out and she could be very well underrated, so she must go into all bets.
Shake It returns from a lengthy break but she clearly is well above average and my suggestion is watch the market as that is likely to prove the best guide to her chances.
BEST BET
Race 3 No 8 Soho Heartthrob
VALUE BET
Race 9 No 6 Virgin River
PICK 6
R256
Leg 1: 1, 2
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 3: 1, 5
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 6
Leg 6: 6