With plenty of rain in the region and a forecast of 60% showers for this afternoon, it is possible that today’s Turffontein meeting could see a change in the going.
The card’s Gr2 feature is named in honour of the early 1960’s champion Colorado King, who raced here and in the USA with great success.
Colorado King
Trained in South Africa by Syd Laird, Colorado King won ten races including the Cape Guineas, Cape Derby and the Durban July Handicap.
Sold to an American racing partnership, he won a further six races in 1964, including the Hollywood Gold Cup, the American Handicap – where he equalled the world record for 1800m – and the Sunset Handicap by seven lengths.
In 1965 he won only once in nine starts before being retired to stud where he met with limited success as a sire.
Saturday’s race is run at weight-for-age plus penalties for Gr1 and Gr2 wins and could see the fairer sex dominating matters with the very capable Fort Ember and Sylvan On Fire topping the SP ratings.
Fort Ember – solid front-runner!
The hardknocking course and distance winning mare Fort Ember has won two of her last three starts against her own sex and comes in as a well weighted, very fit and dangerous front-runner.
The Yellowwood Handicap winner Sylvan On Fire meets Cash Time on a 3kg positive swing at the weights after beating the Fortune charge under a length last time. The daughter of Silvano goes well at this trip and she is big runner at the weights.
Sylvan On Fire – could make it an all girls exacta
The London News Stakes winner Dawn Assault enjoys the track and trip and is a tough handicapper who looks very capable of giving cheek in this field.
Dawn Assault (green silks) – must have solid place prospects
SA Oaks winner Secret Potion has not run for 12 weeks and looks likely to need the outing.
Ashley Fortune and Piere Strydom team up with the consistent Cash Time who looks overdue for a fourth career win. He enjoys a 3kg turnaround with Divine Odyssey for a 4,75 length defeat – but that was his second run after a rest and he could be cherry ripe to register what would be his biggest win to date.
Sean Tarry’s Social Order was beaten 14 lengths in the Drum Star and even with a 6kg weight turnaround with the winner, could battle to win here.
Listed Drum Star Handicap shock winner Divine Odyssey found his best form last time and while he has more to do could well be equal to the test,
Divine Odyssey – a bit tougher this time but could confirm
The Dazzler is 1,5kgs better off with Divine Odyssey for a two length beating in the recent Drum Star Handicap. He has proven a consistent earner and may prefer the extra 200m here.
Topweighted Liege is battling to find his better earlier form and looks a place prospect at best.
Recent dual Flamingo Park winner True Words showed plenty of ability on the turf early on when still trained by Joey Ramsden. The son of Byword needs plenty of improvement but makes for a fascinating entry – especially if the rains come!
Tobie Spies throws True Words in the deep end
It’s not an easy race or a contest to find an exotic banker – and the going could make it even trickier.
We are siding with Sylvan On Fire to win it at the expense of Fort Ember, with Cash Time chasing the girls home.
