Pottinger could be on the mark
TURFFONTEIN INSIDE has an interesting nine race meeting today and exotic players have a chance of a fair return.
In the first leg of the Bipot, the second race over 1800m, Kool Baikal proved last time over this trip he is up to his current merit rating of 70 when finishing second to the fair sort Clarkson.
He has a fair draw of four out of seven.
Pottinger comes off a good second over 2000m and is drawn in pole, so he should be right there too running off the same mark.
Sir Tallin
Sir Tallin tends to lose ground at the start but will be a big runner here if breaking on terms under Rachel Venniker, whose female rider allowance of 1.5kg is going to be valuable throughout the season.
The first leg of the PA, the third over 2000m, is a maiden handicap and Global Breeze could reverse form with Clap Of Thunder.
He has two lengths to make up on the latter from there meeting over 1600m. Firstly, being by Galileo sire Global View, he should relish the step up in trip. Under the handicap conditions coupled with the 1.5kg claim (plus 0,5kg overweight) of Venniker, he is 3.5kg better off for that two length beating. He also has a plum draw of two. Clap Of Thunder should handle the step up in trip too as he has been staying on over a mile and has consistently been thereabouts. He has a fair draw of five and in-form Kabelo Matsunyane stays aboard.
The Inkosana placed second in a maiden handicap last time over this trip and remains on the same mark, so could be right there too from a similar draw.
In the first leg of the Pick 6, the fourth over 2000m, Mirren bounced back to form in her first run for the Barend Botes yard over 1800m and is drawn in pole, so could take Piere Strydom to within five winners of his 5500 career winner goal. She is just as comfortable over this trip, although she was given a four point raise for that last run. Stunning Kitten can go close considering she beat Dark Travel last time and the latter had beaten Mirren earlier, although at the weights there should not be much in it. Saint Anastasia is by Master Of My Fate out of a Galileo mare, so should appreciate the step up in trip and is an interesting runner, although she does have a tricky draw of seven.
In the first leg of the Jackpot, the fifth over 1600m, the female claim of Rachel Venniker is highlighted because her mount Electric Gold was raised three points for his last win meaning the raise is nullified by the claim and he gets another go at running off what will effectively be the same merit rating. He has a plum draw of two, the same as last time, and should also be as effective over this tighter track (he won on the Standside track last time).
Bey Suyay
Bey Suyay is in fine form and this is the course and distance of his last win. Particularly eyecatching in his recent form is his penultimate start when splitting Vanderbilt and Castle Corner over 1400m in a fast run race as that race has worked out very well with both of the latter mentioned runners winning next time out.
Bey Suyay has a fair draw of five and Strydom is up. Indus Night has just 1.5 lengths to make up on Bey Suyay from the aforementioned 1400m race and should be in the shake up, although he has a tricky draw.
In the sixth race over 1600m, Gilded Butterfly looks hard to beat.
She is ultra consistent and being by Flower Alley out of a Silvano mare should start coming into her own. She does have a tricky draw of six out of seven but Matsunyane is an ever improving rider who should be able to make a plan in this small field of seven. Quiet Rebellion is 2,5kg better off with Gilded Butterfly for a 2,75 length beating if the 1,5kg claim of the apprentice who rode her last time is ignored, so she could go close under top jockey Keagan de Melo. Flame Flower is drawn well and has Venniker up, so can be right there if repeating her last run.