The first of the final quartet of Turffontein night meetings for 2016 takes place this evening. It is interesting to reflect on the shaky beginnings of a popular facility that is seven years old this month.
It really feels like only yesterday that an emotional Larry Wainstein thanked Phumelela and warned detractors that ‘the lights would stay on’.
Gr3 Three Troikas winner Sensible Lover lumps top weight
A quality R125 000 Fillies and Mares Pinnacle Stakes heads the well patronised eight-race programme that kicks off at 17h20 and, all going well, will be all over shortly after 21h00.
Tuesday summer evenings under the lights have become an institution for many Joburg racegoes and the popularity is in sharp contrast to the lukewarm switch on in November 2009.
This followed years of acrimony and debate over the need and practicality – from the impact on the horses stabled there to the crime in the surrounding areas.
RA CEO Larry Wainstein – ‘sport must go on’
The sale of Germiston and Newmarket (the original J’oburg night racing venue) had not generated much public favour for the racing operator and Wainstein’s statement after the inaugural race was run, sums up the tensions at the time.
“All I can say is this the start and if this is what’s to come, I think it’s been a battle that’s gone over for years and I thank the Phumelela Board for almost insisting that the lights go up. There are a lot of detractors, all I can say is those people who are detracted in this racing game, we don’t need them they don’t have to come. If they don’t want to race under lights, don’t race under lights….but don’t stop the sport, the sport has to go on…,” he said.
The 1400m Pinnacle Stakes is a minefield slap bang in the middle of the Pick 6 and the temptation to go narrow in exotics unravels on closer inspection.
The quality Australian-bred mare Sensible Lover has been rested 13 weeks and must come into it if she bounces back fresh.
This daughter of Good Journey has been frustrating to follow as she has produced her best efforts in stakes company, often arriving too late.
She is much better than a three-time winner though and would only need to produce close to her best to challenge.
Sean Tarry-trained Tahini has drawn wide out at 11, but stamped her class last time with a giantkilling run after a break – beating Gr1 winners Querari Falcon and Juxtapose, as well as the Gr3 winner, Negroamaro.
Fit and well, Tahini will be in the mix – although some may be wary of the second-run-after-a-rest syndrome.
Mike Azzie has a coupling of the disappointing Frosted Honey and recent winner Penny Serenade.
Frosted Honey had nice early form
Frosted Honey looked special early on and features quite high on our ratings. The daughter of Western Winter has had only one run in a year, and should be watched for fitness and improvement.
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The nicely-bred Penny Serenade ran on smartly to beat Paree over 1200m last time. This daughter of Silvano has a famous win over the high-class Trophy Wife at this track to her credit – she could be better than we may realise.
Errico Verdonese brings the promising Judpot filly The Smell Of Rain back for the first run of her 4yo term after a 26 week break.
She has won 3 of 4 starts and this course and distance winner could challenge, if not needing it. Watch the betting.
Anthony Delpech – travelling
The lightly raced Fort Ember has done little wrong, winning 3 of her 5 starts. She steps up in class but goes for a hat-trick and looks way above average.
Anthony Delpech and Mike de Kock team up with the Fort Wood filly Nikki.
A lower handicap winner of her penultimate jump, she appeared to not stay the 1800m and drops in trip again. Include her in bigger perms.
Be Mine Tonight is the old lady of the race but is well drawn and has won 6 times. She showed good pace in her prep last time.
There are some quality fairer sex gallopers in here, which make it a tricky one to unravel.
It could fall to Tahini if Bling Khumalo can beat her draw. But all of Sensible Lover, Fort Ember and Penny Serenade would not be winning out of turn.
