Some of Gauteng’s top sprinting females will line up in the Gr3 Sycamore Sprint over 1160m at Turffontein this Saturday.

Lucky Houdalakis will saddle top weight and 2016 Gr2 Camellia Stakes winner Joan Ranger (Horse Chestnut) who will concede from 0.5kgs to 8kgs to her 15 rivals. The four-year-old was not disgraced when third to Exquisite Touch (Var) in the Listed Bauhinia Handicap last time out and should enjoy the extended trip in Saturday’s race. She is slightly worse off at the weights from that run with Old Em (Trippi) (beaten under two lengths on that occasion) which suggests things should be close between the pair here.

Last season’s Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Heaps Of Fun (Visionaire) is one of four in the race for champion trainer Sean Tarry. She was a disappointing favourite when unplaced last time out when sixth in the Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes, but her penultimate run saw the filly finish under three lengths behind Joan Ranger over 1200m. She now meets that rival on 0.5kgs better terms which suggests Joan Ranger should once again finish in front of Heaps Of Fun.

Her stablemate Tiger’s Touch (Where’s That Tiger) won this race 12 months ago and was not striding out last time out when last of eight. She makes her first start since October.

Yet another from the Tarry yard, Swift Sarah (Dynasty), was not persevered with last time out and was promoted to first after original winner Jungle Mist (Black Minnaloushe) was deemed to have carried her out. Takes a step up in class here.

The Gary Alexander trained Crystal Glamour (Seventh Rock) was beaten by both Old Em and Joan Ranger when seventh in the Bauhinia last time out and is now marginally worse off with the former and better off with the latter.

She’s A Dragon (Jay Peg), who ran third in the 2016 Gr1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m, is making her second run after a rest but needs to show a return to earlier form to feature.

Penny Serenade (Silvano) was two lengths off Swift Sarah and now meets that runner on 1.5kgs better terms for a 1.8 length beating.

In-form trainer St John Gray saddles promising 3yo Last Chirp (Announce) here. The latter is dropping back in trip having finished unplaced last time out in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas. Her earlier form was good though, and she did finish a close third, after making much of the running in the Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes.
Former G1 SA Nursery runner up Shaama (Redoute’s Choice) is another dropping back in trip after a seventh place finish in the Gr3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m last time out. If not finding the 1160m a bit on the sharp side, the Australian bred could well be a factor here with just 53.5kgs on her back.

Arissa (Silvano) needs to improve her last start effort when ninth in the Bauhinia Handicap, while former Gr1 Gold Medallion runner up Seattle Singer (Sail From Seattle) is another needing to improve on her unplaced effort in the Bauhinia.

Al Danza (Captain Al) makes her Gauteng return after a seventh place finish in the CTS Sprint where beaten under seven lengths by Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes winner Live Life (Trippi), while Lumya (Toreador) is another looking for black type –and looking to put an unplaced effort behind Exquisite Touch behind her.

Seattle Lady (Sail From Seattle) and Movie Show (Mogok) both appear under sufferance here, even if the latter accounted for a number of fellow Sycamore runners when a close third in the Bauhinia Handicap, when beaten just 1.65 lengths.