Winning Form is excited to bring you their top tips for Turffontein’s racing action on Saturday, 30th December. Alongside Winning Form’s expert selections, we also feature Magic Tips by the renowned eMeM!
Race 3: SQUARE THE CIRCLE (3)
Race 7: ROCK DEEJAY (9)
Race 9: FORTISSIMA (8)
Race 2: SCHIPPERS (1)
Jockey: G Lerena – Trainer: E Verdonese
The swift filly SCHIPPERS has been runner-up in all three of her races to date and looks set to go one better this Saturday. Last time on soft going over this course and distance, she was narrowly beaten by a highly promising colt and finished nearly two lengths ahead of the odds-on favourite Square The Circle, who is racing in the next event. She still has plenty of room to improve and is definitely one to watch!
Jockey: R Munger – Trainer: M De Kock
This is the day’s highlight: a fiercely competitive five-furlong handicap sprint featuring the powerful THE THINKER formline. Trainer Van Vuuren’s charge impressed with a strong finish beating the top-notch Naafer over a longer trip last month. Despite a hefty seven-pound penalty, he excels at this sprint distance and is looking to follow up his win. However, stiff competition comes from the runners trained by De Kock, MUJALLAD and ALFOLK; with a personal pick for MUJALLAD. The grey colt is arguably at his best sprinting and was narrowly beaten by a top-class rival just over two months ago. He finished just half a length behind that rival, but now carries 4kgs less and is tipped to prevail.
Jockey: A Delpech – Trainer: J Soma
ROYAL HONOUR has been slightly underwhelming since returning to South Africa but showed promise by moving up strongly before tiring behind FORTISSIMA in his penultimate start over two miles. The drop in distance today should suit better and he could close the gap on that rival. SAMURAI BLADE is an interesting contender who has some useful form up to ten furlongs but has never been labelled a true stayer.
Jockey: G Lerena – Trainer: G Woodruff
The top-weighted ALI BON DUBAI is a strong stayer who recently achieved a commendable ten-furlong victory at a slightly lower level. He has been penalised with an additional four pounds but will relish the longer distance and clearly thrives on this galloping track. Trainer Woodruff’s gelding is still ahead of the handicapper and looks a solid bet.
Race 3: ROMANO (5)
Jockey: R Danielson – Trainer: D Sham
ROMANO has been tested well, but caught the eye in only his second local start recently. The former Port Elizabeth resident faced a tough draw over this course and distance on yielding ground but finished strongly just outside the money. That form was boosted when the horse that finished 6th, Party Beat, comfortably beat his maiden rivals later on. This bay gelding has a much better draw this time and is expected to perform well.
