Turffontein plays host today on the standside track to an eight-race programme with three feature races – the Gr3 Jubilee Stakes, Non-Black Type Egoli Mile and the Non-Black Type Highveld Winter Juvenile Fillies Stakes.
The first is due off at 12h25.
Once upon a time, the R250 000 Gr3 Jubilee Stakes, which is run over 1800m today, was a ‘preferential consideration’ ticket for Highveld-based horses to shout for a berth in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, and to wind up their prep for the big race on 6 July.
The Golden and Preferential Ticket system for the Hollywoodbets Durban July has been scrapped, but the race remains interesting.
Purple Pitcher will be ridden by Smanga Khumalo today as Kabelo Matsunyane has Crawford stable commitments (Pic – JC Photos)
There are four Hollywoodbets Durban July entries in the line-up for the 15h55 feature today, including the game filly Indian Ocean, Pomodoro’s Jet who transfers ex Crawford’s Philippi yard, Tarry’s Pyromaniac and Robyn Klaasen’s dual Gr1 winner, Purple Pitcher.
The latter, a gutsy son of the ill-fated New Predator, won the TAB SA Classic over today’s course and distance.
Under the merit rated band conditions of the race, the 120-rated Purple Pitcher is 1,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted, None Other. Smanga Khumalo takes over the riding honours from regular jock Kabelo Matsunyane, who partners Pomodoro’s Jet due to his Crawford stable commitments.
Roaming Spirit from the Mike de Kock stable should give punters a good start to the day in Race 1.
She produced a promising debut effort when taking on winners and males over 1000m on this course.
The daughter of Buffalo Bill Cody understandably raced green but the way she finished off her race was eye-catching.
She would have gained from the experience and with the natural improvement that is expected, she should be the one to beat.
Trainer Mark Khan sends out Dragon Dragon in Race 4. She is better than her last start over 1000m at the Vaal.
She finished second in her two previous outings over 1200m on the Inside course.
The daughter of Twice Over should be ideally suited to this distance and if putting her best foot forward, she should find herself in the winner’s enclosure.
Jockey Serino Moodley is not riding today.
| Weather | Mostly sunny, 03-16 degs, 7-20km/h easterly tail wind. Sunset at 5:23pm | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall | Last 24 Hours: Nil | Last 7 Days: 7mm | |
| Irrigation | Last 24 Hours: 6mm | Last 7 Days: 6mm | |
| Penetrometer Reading | 21 | ||
| Track Condition | Good | ||
| False Rail | 3,5m on the back straight to 5m on the bend with a 5m spur at the 700m mark. | ||
- The Bipot starts in the first race at 12h25
- The Place Accumulator starts in the second race at 13h00
- The Pick 6 starts in the third race at 13h35
- The first Jackpot starts in the fourth race at 14h10
- The second Jackpot starts in the fifth race at 14h45
