PREVIEW:TURFFONTEIN (STAND SIDE TRACK) - 7 JULY 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 19h00 Thursday 5 July 2012.

ACE 1:Juvenile Plate (F) 1400m Bend

CHERRY ON THE TOP looks hard to oppose on his two good wins from two starts this far. Will find extra. SEA SHADOW has won three from five and looks to be the biggest danger. BEAUTIFUL MURIEL on her maiden has more to find for the win but is better than the balance. SENORITA CASEY won her maiden at the seventh attempt last time. More to find. SOUTH EASTER GIRL won against on debut last time but against weaker.

SELECTIONS: 1st - CHERRY ON THE TOP ** (2); 2nd - SEA SHADOW (1); 3rd - BEAUTIFUL MURIEL (3); 4th - SENORITA CASEY (6); 5th - SOUTH EASTER GIRL (7)

RACE 2:Juvenile Plate (F) 1400m Bend

ZESTFUL showed good improvement last time when running on this C & D. HEAVENISARACEHORSE finished strongly on debut last time to finish a short head back in second despite losing a length at the start. Will improve. LIVING WITH HEART won on debut this C & D last time. Has claims. GEMMAYZE STREET needs to repeat earlier form. YUKON GOLD won at the second attempt last time. Faces slightly stronger.

SELECTIONS: 1st - ZESTFUL * (5); 2nd - HEAVENISARACEHORSE (9); 3rd - LIVING WITH HEART (1); 4th - GEMMAYZE STREET (8); 5th - YUKON GOLD (4)

RACE 3:Maiden Plate 2450m Bend

ANGIES FANCY has had three runs and she has been improving with every run. Will be staying on. PLATOON improved by almost ten lengths last time. Respect. THE DIE IS CAST is also improving. FLOATING BANKER ran his best race last time but still faded late. THE CLOCK TOWER improved by fifteen lengths last time. One to be wary of.

SELECTIONS: 1st - ANGIES FANCY * (10); 2nd - PLATOON (1); 3rd - THE DIE IS CAST (3); 4th - FLOATING BANKER (2); 5th - THE CLOCK TOWER (5)

RACE 4:Maiden Plate (F & M) 1160m Straight
 
CAT'S MISTRESS improved by twelve lengths in her second start last time. Could be the one to beat, Ran on strongly last time. HURRICANE VELVET has nice steady form and has placed this C & D. Watch for another good run. KATE'S EMBLEM made a very good debut last time when running on to finish a head back in second. ELEGANT TUNE is coming back to form again. Could earn. Stayed on last time. SHARP EMOTIONS  could have more to find but has an apprentice claiming 4kg.

SELECTIONS: 1st - CAT'S MISTRESS * (9); 2nd - HURRICANE VELVET (2); 3rd - KATE'S EMBLEM (10); 4th - ELEGANT TUNE (1); 5th - SHARP EMOTIONS (2)

RACE 5:MR 98 Hcp 1160m Straight

OH DRISCOLL has shown consistency but is overdue another win or two. Has won this C & D. Needs a better finish. LEGAL ACTION showed good improvement last time. Has a good chance. MALAGA-BELLE got up well to win over 1000m last time. Has won and placed this C & D. Not without a chance. ACROSS THE ICE showed good improvement last time when running on. Chance if repeating that run. PAELLA is never too far back but has been fading late.

SELECTIONS: 1st - OH DRISCOLL * (7); 2nd - LEGAL ACTION (6); 3rd - MALAGA-BELLE (2); 4th - ACROSS THE ICE (3); 5th - PAELLA (5)

RACE 6:MR 97 Hcp  1600m Bend

STRAW MARKET has faced stronger and will be running on. ACAPELLA is holding form well and will be doing good work late. VARLET is consistent but may prefer the inside track. Has a money chance all the same. TENDER TWILIGHT disappointed last time but should be right there. MILLENNIUM WIND will be doing his best work late and won well this C & D last time.

SELECTIONS: 1st - STRAW MARKET * (1); 2nd - ACAPELLA (6); 3rd - VARLET (5); 4th - TENDER TWILIGHT (3); 5th - MILLENNIUM WIND (8)

RACE 7:Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July (R3 Million) 2200m Bend

This must be one of the most open Durban July's in many years. In my selections I have largely gone for jockeys who know what it is like to win a July. Before I go any further I must add that one should not ignore the chances of the favourite JACKSON and even though I haven't included him in my PA he must be added as well as all remaining exotics. PIERRE JOURDAN (Gary Alexander/Robbie Fradd) is coming back in to form for the big race and ran a good gallop last week. Also finished second in last year's race. Will have every chance. Robbie Fradd won this race on DYNASTY (Dean Kannemeyer) from a 20 draw. TALES OF BRAVERY (Vaughan Marshall/Felix Coetzee) was only two lengths behind IGUGU in the J & B Met in January. That in itself gives him a small chance, but the distance could find him wanting late on. Jockey would be no stranger to the winners enclosure for this race. CASTLETHORPE (Mike Bass/Karl Neisius) ran into trouble in this race last year. May struggle this year. BEACH BEAUTY(Dennis Drier/Sean Cormack) won the Greyville 1900 last time. That used to be the pointer to this race. Finished less than two lengths behind IGUGU (Mike De Kock) in the J & B Met despite having been bumped late. Outside chance. CHESALON (Mike Bass) has Jeff Lloyd aboard, who has flown from Australia in an attempt to win the very race that has eluded him for so long. Is coming back to form and could be running on. JACKSON (Brett Crawford/Karis Teetan) is a worthy favourite but jockey, who is really in top form, and horse may not be equipped to deal with a rough run race. Having said that, he must be included everywhere. Stable companion POLAR BOUND (Brett Crawford/Stuart Randolf) cannot be fancied on current or earlier form against weaker. SMANJEMANJE (Tyrone Zackey/Grant Van Niekerk) could also have more to find. My pick of the Mike Bass runners is ENGLISH GARDEN (Bernard Fayd'Herbe). Both trainer and jockey have won this race before and he is coming back in to form. Expect a good run from him. TOP SELLER (Vaughan Marshall/MJ Byleveld) does not have the form to win. GOLD ONYX (Sean Tarry/Gavin Lerena) ran on well to win the Cup Trial at Clairwood last time. That was a very good prep run and he will have his supporters. Both trainer and jockey are in excellent form. SOLO TRAVELLER (Mike De Kock/Muzi Yeni) did not run well in the Cup Trial last time. But one can never discount trainer Mike De Kock in almost any race, particularly a race with such a high international profile. SAGE THRONE (Colin Scott/Richard Fourie) had the best gallop of all the horses last week and even though this may not mean that much, it did show that he is well and must have a chance. POMODORO could be the pick of the Sean Tarry runners, especially with Piere "Striker" Strydom aboard. Piere knows how to win the July, having won on LONDON NEWS (Alec Laird) and TRADEMARK (Mike Bass). He fought back to share first place with ROYAL BENCHER in the Derby at Turffontein. He then disappointed in the Daily News last time, finishing almost five lengths behind JACKSON when carried out wide into the straight. Was still running on late. Do not ignore. ROYAL BENCHER (Alec Laird/Brandon Lerena) got it all wrong in the Daily News last time, losing a length, running wide and fading late. At best, a place prospect. VETTEL (Mike De Kock/Anton Marcus) could be the one to catch if Anton Marcus skips clear into the home straight with 400m to go. There is nothing wrong with his form and does have staying power and will see out this distance plus more. Stable companion GORONGOSA, with Kevin Shea aboard has won nine from twelve starts. Kevin Shea has won this race before, the most notable winner being IPITOMBE (Mike De Kock). Has yet to meet such a quality field but is so well drawn that I have to like him. She has a very good turn of foot that she could be the one. ILHA BELLA, the fourth Mike De Kock inmate. Jockey Anthony Delpech had first option as to which horse to ride and on that, ILHA BELLA must have a very good chance. Is also drawn up Marriott Road with a draw of nineteen. She is a classy filly and should not be ignored. Will be running on. WHITELINE FEVER (Sean Tarry/Raymond Danielson) may prefer the shorter trip.
ETON SQUARE (Gavin Van Zyl/Glen Hatt) takes on his toughest assignment to date. Has only run on four occasions for two wins and two seconds. Will be running on and with only 53kg on his back and a nice draw could finish closer to the front of the field than the back.

SELECTIONS: 1st - GORONGOSA * (17); 2nd - VETTEL (16); 3rd - SAGE THRONE (13); 4th - ENGLISH GARDEN (9); 5th - PIERRE JOURDAN (1); 6th - JACKSON  (6)

RACE 8:MR 79 Hcp 1600m Bend

D G'S BOY takes on stronger this afternoon but has the form to have a chance in this field. DAN'S APPROVAL has not been disgraced in defeat against similar fields in the past. usually stays on well. LANCEWOOD has improved in his last two starts and won his latest effort very easily. Could repeat. TWO GUN KID did not show in a feature last time. Should improve on that run and must have every shout. MASS DESTRUCTION will be running on.

SELECTIONS: 1st - D G'S BOY * (8); 2nd - DAN'S APPROVAL (1); 3rd - LANCEWOOD (2); 4th - TWO GUN KID (4); 5th - MASS DESTRUCTION (7)

RACE 9:Maiden Plate 1160m Straight

SHARP DESIGN made a good debut last time over shorter. Look for an even better run this afternoon. CROWN GOLD would have won his last race had he not hung badly at the end. Good chance on that improved effort last time. MAC THE DANCER has had two fair runs. Should improve. REGAL PRESS has steady form but needs to find a more sustained finish. SIZZLING GUY may be better suited to shorter. Money chance though.

SELECTIONS: 1st - SHARP DESIGN * (8); 2nd - CROWN GOLD (1); 3rd - MAC THE DANCER (12); 4th - REGAL PRESS (5); 5th - SIZZLING GUY (7)


BEST BET:                RACE 1 - NUMBER 2 CHERRY ON THE TOP (9/10)

VALUE BET:            RACE 4 - NUMBER 9 CAT'S MISTRESS (9/2)

BEST OUTSIDER:    RACE 8 - NUMBER  D G'S BOY (5/1)

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 3 - 9