Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile race day at Turffontein on Saturday:

Trainer comments 
PEERMONT EMPERORS PALACE CHARITY MILE GRADE 2 (Race 7)
Mike Azzie
Hat Puntano won this race a year ago but since then had a fetlock problem after the Queen’s Plate, and we’ve brought him back slowly. He’s come on a lot from his last run, and has had a couple of gallops. His merit rating is a bit high but he should be competitive again. Of my other two runners, if Full Mast had pulled a decent draw I would be confident he would be in the first three. He’s coming on very nicely, but now will need plenty of luck in running. Arctica always gives of his best, and is a strong front runner. He comes into this in good form, and can end in the money. “

Sean Tarry
Bulleting Home’s last run is best ignored. But his merit rating has dropped, and if Piere (Strydom) gets the best out of him he can feature. Doing very well at home. Matador Man had a very impressive prep and is thriving at the moment. From the inside draw has a good chance. Social Order needed his last race, and will be finishing strongly. This race will tell us a lot about where we are with him, but is another who is doing very well. Tilbury Fort’s form has been excellent since being gelded. He runs well fresh, likes the course and distance, and has to be a factor.

Robbie Sage
Coral Fever is badly drawn and this distance is a bit short.

St John Gray
Captain Aldo has found this distance a bit far in the past but we remain hopeful.

Mathew de Kock
Noble Secret’s prep has gone extremely well although the mile could be a bit short. It’s no secret that the Summer Cup is his goal but he seems to have matured into a classy individual and we hope he can go close.

Candice Dawson
Infamous Fox’s No 16 draw is a problem but he needed his last run and I expect him to improve. This race has always been our mission for him. We’re all hoping he’s as good as we think but he has to prove it. Maybe we should have brought him out earlier. In retrospect I probably would have liked this to be his third run after the layoff but he is very well.

GRAHAM BECK STAKES GRADE 2 (Race 4)
Sean Tarry
Chimichuri Run steps up in distance, has a bad draw, and gives away weight to the field. However his ability is not in doubt, and while things will need to work out for him when the gates open, he is a massive runner. In Cahoots is a nice horse who needed his last after gelding, which he also needed. Not too far off the best as a juvenile, and has a place chance.

Mathew de Kock
Alyaasaat is coming into the race fit and well. This 1400m is a bit sharp. He’s looking for 1600m and 1800m but is capable of winning over 1400m. Chimichuri Run is obviously the biggest danger. Firdoas is a smart filly and can’t be discounted with the weight off her back. She’s a 1400m specialist and should be right there.

Tobie Spies
Rule The Night has been doing well and we are expecting him to contest the finish.

Paul Peter
Benji and Inexhaustible are both doing well at home but are in all honesty are running against a very tough field, but I’m hoping they can run a place.

Brett Crawford
Duke’s Dozen is doing well. He has had one start and ran very well. He is working well at home so we are expecting a competitive run from him.

Yvette Bremner
National Park is a very nice horse – a really, really nice horse. I don’t think he will go further than a mile. He might go further when he’s older, but at this stage a mile is his chop. But he’s a very nice horse. This he’s already proven over a short straight, long straight, grass, worst going, headwind, a fast Polytrack – he defied everything.

HSH PRINCESS CHARLENE STARLING STAKES GRADE 3 (Race 6)
Sean Tarry
Celtic Sea has a wide-ish draw, and has to give away weight. But she’s a top filly, will appreciate the Turffontein Standside track, and she will be low flying late. Crimson Royale disappointed last time over further. Running with blinkers for the first time shouldn’t be far off. Sand Princess is a nice filly who will be running on strongly. Doing well, but may find this a little sharp.

Mathew de Kock
I think we will learn a lot from this race (about the ability of our three-year-old fillies). Ghaalla is extremely fit. This is her run after a rest, her peak performance. She’s looking for a mile (1600m) or 1800m but she is extremely fit. Isle De France has done nothing wrong. She won well first time out and shows good work at home. She is the real deal but needs to prove it tomorrow. This distance is ideal at this stage. Nafaayes is a little more unassuming than the other two. She’s done nothing wrong, she’s drawn No 1 and has a definite chance.

Candice Dawson
Rock Sensation is a nice filly but she wants further. We’ve chucked her in the deep end to test the waters and see how good she really is. A good performance could warrant a trip to the Cape.

St John Gray
Ronnie’s Candy is in a pretty strong field but we are hoping for the best.

Paul Peter
Afrostar is in good form and doing very well at home. I think she has a good Eachway chance.

Yvette Bremner
Mary O’Reilly is a really big strong filly. She’s only had two starts, so still in a way learning about racing. I think last time when she won she hit the front a little bit early. She shot five lengths clear and then she pricked her ears because she didn’t know where the winning post was. But in being fair to her, she had only run that 1000m up the straight. Then we put her in that 1300m at the Polytrack and she sat up behind another filly and then Lyle just let her out and she quickened straight away. She’s very good – she’s as big as any colt. I have not changed anything from last year. I will stay in PE and Carl (Hewitson) will travel to Johannesburg again. He was successful last year with Via Seattle and we are hoping this time it will be with Mary O’Reilly in the same feature event.

YELLOWWOOD HANDICAP GRADE 3 (Race 9)
Sean Tarry
Chariot Of Gold needed her last race and it was an absolute bonus to have her rating dropped three points. Has a good draw, and with 52kg will be right there.

Mathew de Kock
We’re throwing La Linea in at the deep end. It’s the first time she’s going 1800m but she should enjoy it. We’re hoping for the best.

Candice Dawson
I think it was too far for Royal Utopia last time and that she’s better over 1800m – 2200m. She’s not well drawn but she’s got good gate speed and is a front runner. Sylvan On Fire is also doing well at home, I just hope Gavin (Lerena) can get her over from that draw. She should be running at them at the finish. I feel both fillies are well handicapped.

Geoff Woodruff
Insignis is fit and well and should like this distance.

Paul Peter
Fort Ember is easily my best ride on the day and I really like her in this race. She’s easily my best ride on the day. I think will do very well. The kid (Carlos Herrera Gomez) has been working her. She’s fit and he knows her very well.

GOLDEN LOOM HANDICAP LISTED (Race 8)

Robbie Sage
William The Silent is working well and should be in the final shake-up once again.

Paul Peter
Rebel’s Champ is working well at home. In good form and I think will go very close in this race’

Mathew de Kock
This 1000m is a bit short for Mujallad. We’re trying blinkers and we’re hopeful.

Candice Dawson
Rocky Valley is doing really well but as it is a handicap he carries a lot of weight and is not in his favour against the sprinters with the light weight. We’ll give it a full go.

EMPERORS PALACE READY TO RUN CUP NON-BLACK TYPE (Race 5)
Sean Tarry
Vi Va Pi Pa was beaten by a very good filly last time (Isle De France), and should be thereabouts. But Van Zyl’s filly (Railtrip) looks hard to beat.

Mathew de Kock
Greatest Wish is looking for much further so in this company he might battle. I wouldn’t discard him in the future, however.

RACE 1
Sean Tarry
Tambalang will improve on her comeback run, but may still need this slightly to bring her to peak fitness. But not out of it by any means.

Robbie Sage
Dromedaris always gives of his best and is in with a chance once again.

Mathew de Kock
Kilrain been slightly disappointing since coming back from Zimbabwe. His last two runs have been with blinkers and have been bad but his run prior to that, without blinkers, was good. So we’re taking them off and hope that will do the trick.

Geoff Woodruff
Pagoda has been disappointing of late. He has been losing his races at the start. We have schooled him without Blinkers and are hoping for improvement. Ali Bon Dubai has turned into a useful stayer. I am very happy with his last run. With a lightweight he should be competitive.

St John Gray
Parisienne Chic is against the boys and it is a competitive race. She could place.
Brett Crawford
American landing is doing well and is distance suited, so expect a good run from him.

RACE 2

St John Gray
Mountain Madness is doing well and I am hoping for an improved run.

Geoff Woodruff
Owlinthetree had a good first run and should find this distance more suitable.

Paul Peter
Mighty Rock is a decent sort who shows decent work and could run a place.

Mathew de Kock
Hawwaam seems a smart colt but is very coltish. He will only benefit from this run. Include him in Trifectas and Quartets.

Candice Dawson
We’ve decided to run Approach Control from the draw because he is a nice horse but needs the experience. They’re not using whips in this race so it will interesting to see what happens. He may be green and lack the experience.

RACE 3
Sean Tarry
Against The Grain: is doing well and has an obvious chance after not being disgraced against winners in his last two. It looks a competitive race despite being drawn by ballot though.

Geoff Woodruff
Mojito Magic is coming off a break but is fit and well and should run a good race.

St John Gray
Old Man Tyme is in a tough race to win but let’s see.

Tobie Spies
Summer House is up against a cracking field but did well on debut and we are hopeful and expect her to be there or thereabouts.

RACE 10
Paul Peter
Greet Dragon is a first timer who shows good work at home. Can run a place.

Mathew de Kock
Balustrade is coming off a long layoff. She’s a four-year-old and has been working well. She probably wants a bit further and I’m sure she will go close.

Yvette Bremner
Rebel Wilson: We sort of decided as she had good maiden form in PE that we would take her up because their maiden stakes are a helluva lot more than ours. She might just pull it off and earn good money.

RACE 11
Sean Tarry
Safe Harbour will need the run, but you can expect her to be finishing strongly. Preparing for the G-BETS Summer Cup. French Navy is also prepping for the Summer Cup, and will need the run. Warrior’s Rest had a very good win last time, when still needing it. A definite winning chance if this race hasn’t come too soon.

Mathew De Kock
It’s well documented that we rate Buffalo Bill Cody but he is coming off a layoff and is not at peak fitness. He can only improve from here but in this race we are relying on his class. We’re not sure which path to take but with him but after Saturday we’ll have a clearer idea.

Race 12
Sean Tarry
Bold Viking has strengthened up as an older horse, and now seems to be suited by shorter trips. Will be running on strongly. Desert Rhythm’s last run against far stronger was most encouraging. She now takes on males, but with luck in the running will have a big shout.

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