PREVIEW:CLAIRWOOD - 13 MAY 2012

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

RACE 1:Work Riders' Maiden Plate 1200m Straight

CUCUMBER ALLEY has decent form and could win a race such as this. LAURENCE OFLENASIA made his Gauteng debut last time for a new stable. Was running on late. HAMMERSLEY will need to repeat his penultimate run when running on late. GENEROUS GENT showed some improvement last time. GOLDEN LARK improved by seven lengths last time. Respect.

SELECTIONS: 1st - CUCUMBER ALLEY * (4); 2nd - LAURENCE OFLENASIA (2); 3rd - HAMMERSLEY (3); 4th - GENEROUS GENT (1); 5th - GOLDEN LARK (6)

RACE 2:Maiden Juvenile Plate 1000m Straight

KITE SURFER (Mike De Kock/Anton Marcus) makes his debut. Keep an eye open on any betting moves on him as well as the other first timers. PEREGRINE KING has steady form. Anthony Delpech rides. WIND TRIP makes his debut. This son of Trippi should be watched. LORD AL (Dennis Drier/Alec Forbes) showed good pace last time when making his debut. Dennis Drier's horses run better second time around. BERMUDA BREEZE (Brown/Robinson/Keagan Latham) was heavily supported on debut but did not show. Respect.

SELECTIONS: 1st - KITE SURFER * (9); 2nd - PEREGRINE KING (12); 3rd - WIND TRIP (16); 4th - LORD AL (10); 5th - BERMUDABREEZE (2)

RACE 3:Maiden Juvenile Plate (F) 1600m Bend

The Australian bred, daughter of Encosta De Lago, ANEEFA (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) makes her debut. Should make a good debut. DYLAN'S PROMISE (Charles Laird/Anton Marcus) received betting support on debut last time but did not run accordingly. Should improve. FAST JET has had two fair runs although she did finish like an express train last time when running on from the back of the field. LADY BIANCA is fast but fades. PASHLEY has finished fourth in all three of her starts but they have ranged from fifteen lengths down to five lengths (last time) behind when staying on. That was her first time around the bend as well.

SELECTIONS: 1st - ANEEFA * (2); 2nd - DYLAN'S PROMISE (5); 3rd - FAST JET (6); 4th - LADY BIANCA (8); 5th - PASHLEY (10)

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

NORDIC LASS (Dennis Drier/Sean Cormack) was well supported on debut last time. Watch Dennis Drier's horses improve second time out! PRAYER OF PRAISE has the blinkers removed. Runs well with or without. SEXY AND FREE (Deon Visser/Anton Marcus) was scratched last week. Makes her debut this afternoon. Watch the betting. ABOVE EMERALDS (Charles Laird/Raymond Danielson) makes her debut. Blinkers are on. Watch the betting. She is a daughter of Black Minnaloushe and cost R275 000. PLATINUM FOX has steady form and would not be a surprise winner on form. Runs on.

SELECTIONS: 1st - NORDIC LASS * (16); 2nd - PRAYER OF PRAISE (1); 3rd - SEXY AND FREE (17); 4th - ABOVE EMERALDS (11); 5th - PLATINUM FOX (6)

RACE 5:MR 81 Hcp (F & M) 1200m Straight

BLOUBERG BEACH (Glen Kotzen/Sean Cormack) was returning from a five month rest last time. faded late. Should run well after that comeback run. UPITY ANN has very good form and usually finds a good finish. Is well suited to this C & D. ON A WING (Dean Kannemeyer/Karl Neisius) has very good form in KZN but only at Scottsville. Has yet to race at this track or Greyville. This is a bit stronger but must have a very good chance. LANGOUSTIER also has good form, but mainly over slightly further. HONOLULU has improved in her last three starts. Chance of placing again.

SELECTIONS: 1st - BLOUBERG BEACH * (1); 2nd - UPITY ANN (8); 3rd - ON A WING (2); 4th - LANGOUSTIER (5); 5th - HONOLULU (7)

RACE 6:MR 74 Hcp (F & M) 1200m Straight

CENTIMES (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) ran well in her post maiden last time. That was her first around the turn. Should be better down the straight. Looks hard to beat. SUE FOR PEACE (Dennis Drier/Sean Cormack) won on debut last time. May need to confirm but could win again this afternoon. MYSTIC ROSE was not disgraced against males last time. Should be better this distance. QUEEN SONJA is never far back but has a tendency to fade. RAISE THE RENT runs very well this C & D. Raymond Danielson rides.

SELECTIONS: 1st - CENTIMES * (2); 2nd - SUE FOR PEACE (6); 3rd - MYSTIC ROSE (8); 4th - QUEEN SONJA (10); 5th - RAISE THE RENT (1)

RACE 7:Pinnacle Stakes 1200m Straight

ANTIOUS (Brown/Robinson/Keagan Latham) won the Grade 2 Senor Santa at Turffontein in impressive style last time. He has won his last five starts and looks to be difficult to oppose. Will be running on. CASTLETHORPE (Mike Bass/Bernard Fayd'Herbe) looks to be the only one who may challenge ANTIOUS. Won a feature in PE last time after a six month rest. Will be a fitter proposition this afternoon. RUSHING WIND (Mike Bass/Anton Marcus) has not won in a while. May improve to find a place. MIKE'S CHOICE was running on last time. That was over the distance at Greyville but has far more to do for the win. MALIYAKHE ran on strongly last time this C & D to win. More to do.

SELECTIONS: 1st - ANTIOUS ** (1); 2nd - CASTLETHORPE (2); 3rd - RUSHING WIND (3); 4th - MIKE'S CHOICE (8); 5th - MALIYAKHE (5)

RACE 8:Highland Night Cup (R110 000) 2500m Bend

VETTEL (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) has very good form with two wins, two seconds and two third in only six starts. Has been staying on and has won either side of the 2500m trip. Looks to be the one to beat. KOMATIPOORT (Mike Bass/Karl Neisius) stays well but he has not won in a while. Respect trainer/jockey combination. VENGENCE (Joey Ramsden/Brandon Lerena) stayed on well when making his KZN debut last time. Is distance suited. SHOGUNNAR (Gavin Van Zyl/Raymond Danielson) won his maiden last time. That was only his second start but takes on far stronger. Will have to be special to win this one. MACCHIATO (Charles Laird/Anton Marcus) has not won in a while but did have his excuses last time.

SELECTIONS: 1st - VETTEL * (10); 2nd - KOMATIPOORT (3); 3rd - VENGENCE (6); 4th - SHOGUNNAR (12); 5th - MACCHIATO (4)

RACE 9:MR 70 Hcp (F & M) 1600m Bend

A competitive race. CELADORE has good form and could have an added bonus by having an apprentice claim of 2.5kg off the 55.5kg set to carry. Good chance at the weights. WINTER MIST has had three close up seconds. All three have been within a quarter-of-a-length behind. Will be running on. Strong chance. Bernard Fayd'Herbe rides. Stable companion, FAIRE SILVANO ran on well last time. Should prefer this distance. LADY TAMARA runs for the third time after a rest. Karl Neisius rides. Has won this C & D. FINDING NEVERLAND ran a very good post maiden last time. Anton Marcus who rode her when she won two runs back rides her again.

SELECTIONS: 1st - CELADORE * (10); 2nd - WINTER MIST (2); 3rd - FAIRE SILVANO (5); 4th - LADY TAMARA (1); 5th - FINDING NEVERLAND (4)

BEST BET:                    RACE 7 - NUMBER 1 ANTIOUS (2/1)

VALUE BET:                RACE 5 - NUMBER 8 UPITY ANN (9/2)

BEST OUTSIDER:      RACE 8 - NUMBER 3 KOMATIPOORT (9/1)

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 3 - 9