PREVIEW:TURFFONTEIN (INSIDE TRACK) -  12 MAY 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 16h00 Friday 12 May 2012.

RACE 1:Maiden Plate (F & M) 2200m Bend

NAUTICAL is improving. Anthony Delpech rides. FLAVIA is never far back but lacks finish. FLIGHT SPECIALIST flew up late to finish a close up second last time when showing an improvement by over twelve lengths. Respect. INDESCRIBABLE ran her best race in ten last time. Chance on that effort. FOX RIVER faded late last time but has a money chance.

SELECTIONS: 1st - NAUTICAL * (3); 2nd - FLAVIA (1); 3rd - FLIGHT SPECIALIST (2); 4th - INDESCRIBABLE (7); 5th - FOX RIVER (4)

RACE 2:Maiden Plate 1800m Bend

DIVINE INVITATION has steady form but could improve with blinkers this afternoon. HALVE THE DEFICIT (Sean Tarry/Piere Strydom) has improved with each run thus far. Expect a good run this afternoon. STROLLER has steady form over shorter and should be involved with the finish. ANY FLAG continues to make good and rapid progress. KING SCOTT ran on well last time. Claims on that effort.

SELECTIONS: 1st - DIVINE INVITATION * (3); 2nd - HALVE THE DEFICIT (2); 3rd - STROLLER (9); 4th - ANY FLAG (7); 5th - KING SCOTT (5)

RACE 3:Conditions Plate (F & M) 1450m Bend

BERRY BLAZE (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) was returning from a lengthy break last time. Ran well on her return. Should be difficult to beat this time around. LARUSSA finished well to win by over four lengths last time. That was over shorter. LOUVRE (Weiho Marwing/Piere Strydom) cannot be faulted on current form. Fades late but could be involved at the finish. SACRED FEMININE disappointed against stronger last time. JET IN THE SKY won her maiden by almost nine lengths last time.Looks promising.
SELECTIONS: 1st - BERRY BLAZE * (5); 2nd - LARUSSA (4); 3rd - LOUVRE (3); 4th - SACRED FEMININE (2); 5th - JET IN THE SKY (6)

RACE 4:Maiden Plate (F & M) 1200m Bend

CONNE MARA BLACK does not have the best of draws but if anyone can win from the widest draw then it should be Piere Strydom. Form is good and she should run well this afternoon. CRADLE SONG is very fast but she fades. Chance in this field. Anthony Delpech rides. RUBIES AND PEARLS has only run twice and she has shown some potential and should improve soon. ATALAYA has had two good recent efforts but still fades late. This shorter trip may suit. FLAUNT YOUR STYLE has shown small improvement in her last two starts. 

SELECTIONS: 1st - CONNE MARA BLACK ** (1); 2nd - CRADLE SONG (2); 3rd - RUBIES AND PEARLS (9); 4th - ATALAYA (3); 5th - FLAUNT YOUR STYLE (4)

RACE 5:MR 68 Apprentice Handicap 1450m Bend

COCO STRIPES has been consistent. Chance if running on. ACTIVE POWER ran on last time. Chance if repeating. RANDOM QUEST is a reserve runner with some good form. Chance if running. RETURNEE tends to fade but may score with an apprentice claim of 4kg off 54.5kg. ABOVE THE MOON improved by just over twelve lengths last time. Respect.

SELECTIONS: 1st - COCO STRIPES * (6); 2nd - ACTIVE POWER (12); 3rd - RANDOM QUEST (15); 4th - RETURNEE (14); 5th - ABOVE THE MOON (5)

RACE 6:MR 96 Hcp 1450m Bend

MEADOW MAGIC (Mike De Kock) takes a big drop in class and is coming back in to form. Looks to be the one to beat. THE PLUNDERER will be doing his best work late. C & D suited. BEACON FLARE (Weiho Marwing/Robbie Fradd) is ideally C & D suited and chance if running on. STRAW MARKET drops in class and has faced far stronger in feature races. has won this C & D. Piere Strydom rides. EXTRA COVER (Alec Laird) is never far back.

SELECTIONS: 1st - MEADOW MAGIC * (3); 2nd - THE PLUNDERER (8); 3rd - BEACON FLARE (6); 4th - STRAW MARKET (1); 5th - EXTRA COVER (9)

RACE 7:MR 80 Hcp 1450m Bend

HAVANA BEAT is in good form. Loves this C & D and has been running on well. ACAPELLA (Joe Soma/Piere Strydom) was finishing strongly last time. Has a good chance in this field. DAN'S APPROVAL (Alec Laird) ran on well to record her second win last time. That run was this C & D. Chance again. TIGER ATTACK (Geoff Woodruff) is back in form and should not be ignored. DAZZLING MOON has won twice and placed second once this C & D in only three attempts this C & D. May battle with 60kg on her back against the males.

SELECTIONS: 1st - HAVANA BEAT * (14); 2nd - ACAPELLA (6); 3rd - DAN'S APPROVAL (4); 4th - TIGER ATTACK (13); 5th - DAZZLING MOON (2)

RACE 8:MR 68 Hcp (F & M) 1200m Bend

SILENT ANGEL could prefer further. ran on very well over 1450m at this track last time. Respect. NEUROSE has found form in her last two. Won over further last time. HOLDEN looks to be coming to hand. Piere Strydom rides. DAPPLED BEAUTY could upset with Robbie Fradd in the irons. EXTRAORDINAIRE has faced stronger but needs to recapture earlier form.

SELECTIONS: 1st - SILENT ANGEL * (3); 2nd - NEUROSE (6); 3rd - HOLDEN (8); 4th - DAPPLED BEAUTY (9); 5th - EXTRAORDINAIRE (1)

RACE 9:MR 68 Hcp (F & M) 1200m Bend

PINE SHADE has good form over 1000m. Stays on and should be involved at the finish. CARIBBEAN CRUISE did not show in her post maiden over further. better bock over this distance. CASA NOSTRA just failed to catch the winner on sand last time. Yet to place on turf though. TATTERS won against stronger last time. That was on sand. Chance on turf. FLYING WENDY is never far back but jockey off form.

SELECTIONS: 1st - PINE SHADE * (1); 2nd - CARIBBEAN CRUISE (8); 3rd - CASA NOSTRA (3); 4th - TATTERS (4); 5th - FLYING WENDY (11)

RACE 10:Maiden Plate 1200m Bend

CUFF LINKS (Sean Tarry/Piere Strydom) was good on debut last time. Improvement expected. RIVER BLYTHE (St John Gray/Francois Herholdt) ran on strongly over the distance last time. Claims on that improved effort. KASHAN is improving as well. Anthony Delpech rides. HENRY HIGGINS will need to repeat his penultimate run over then distance at the Vaal. MCFEARLESS (Sean Tarry) has shown improvement with each run.

SELECTIONS: 1st - CUFFLINKS * (11); 2nd - RIVER BLYTHE (1); 3rd - KASHAN (4); 4th - HENRY HIGGINS (7); 5th - MCFEARLESS (9)

BEST BET:                    RACE 4 - NUMBER 1 CONNE MARA BLACK (5/2)

VALUE BET:                RACE 9 - NUMBER 8 CARIBBEAN CRUISE (12/1)

BEST OUTSIDER:      RACE 8 - NUMBER 1 EXTRAORDINAIRE (12/1)

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 3 - 9