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This weekend’s
Gauteng race meeting is scheduled for Turffontein’s Inside Track on Sunday, where Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock will saddle four runners.
Turnthebeataround (Race 3), is a filly bred for ground, and Mike put her straight into a 2000m race at the Vaal after her fair 1450m debut. She faded out after leading an open Maiden field into the closing stages of the contest and he said: “I’d like to think we can ignore that run. She was ridden the opposite way we wanted – she went off to the front, we wanted her restrained early – so we’ll see what happens this time. She’s capable of featuring, has a place chance.”
The encouraging factor about that run was that the winner, Prime Example, franked the form with a follow-up win at the Vaal on Thursday. Whether Turnthebeataround can win it remains to be seen. She had Sean Tarry’s Broadlands all of seven lengths ahead of her when they were beaten by Prime Example. On that line of form, Broadlands looks hard to beat.
The stable is well represented in the afternoon’s topliner, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1500m in which Forever Mine and Humdinger both have bright chances on form.
Mike said: “We’re prepping both fillies for a 1400m feature at Turffontein in March and they’re coming along nicely, I am happy with their progress. Forever Mine is quite fit and well-drawn, she’s likely to be competitive at the weights and has won over the course and distance.
“Humdinger has won over 1600m, but that was against weaker, I believe she is best over 1400m. She is well handicapped, the extra 100m in this company will test her, but she is in with a decent chance as she is very fit after two good recent runs.”
Four-year-old Clafoutis has dropped down the ratings from a high MR105 to MR94 and should be competitive in Race 8, to be run over 1600m, her favourite trip. “Clafoutis ran a cracker last time in a race won by Wokonda. She took off late, she’s a better filly ridden from off the pace, which we’ve done in her last two starts. She’ll be ridden similarly on Sunday and if she kicks on like she did last time, she’ll be right there at finish,” said Mike.
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The Cape’s summer season is nearing the end with the traditional season closer, the Cape Derby, to be held on 25 February at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. This season drew a record number of participants from around the country, breaking field size records not seen in the Cape for many years.
Cape Racing earlier this week announced increases to its prize money levels and further increases to their “RaceCape” incentive scheme. They stage a breezy seven-race programme on Saturday. This is a typical, late summer card with an interesting opener – a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m featuring 11 first-timers. Trainer Justin Snaith noted confidently in Computaform that his newcomer, Snow Pilot, ‘will go very close’.
Snow Pilot is a colt by freshman sire Lancaster Bomber out of former champion race mare, Snowdance. His trainer’s enthusiasm for a top debut in what looks like an above-average field of young colts and geldings should be respected.
Snow Pilot’s in-form rider, Richard Fourie, has six other chances on what should be another successful afternoon for him. His mounts Jades Caberneigh (Race 2), Mary Lamb (Race 3) and She’s My Captain (Race 7), look most capable of taking the spoils.
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