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The second and final leg of the Air Mauritius International Jockeys Challenge will take place at Turffontein on Sunday and as ever the four races involved are not easy to assess.
The first of the races is a MR 62 handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m and Frankie Dettori looks to be the man to side with. On pedigree his mount Turn Back Time should enjoy the step up in trip. She is by Trippi out of a Jet Master mare who won four times from 1000-1600m.
She did not settle perfectly last time over 1450m, so from that point of view the step up in trip might be a concern. Furthermore, she has a tricky draw of seven in the 12 horse field. However, Dettori is a master of settling a horse. Turn Back Time’s ability is thus tipped to pull her through. She showed plenty ability when staying on well in her last start, a MR 91 handicap for three-year-old fillies over 1450m race, where she bumped some promising sorts including the winner Dame Eleanor.
Barcelona Babe hasn’t been disgraced in her first two starts on the Highveld and might show some improvement here, so is the choice for second under S’Manga Khumalo. Flying Dream with Anthony Delpech up, Cool Fantasy with Pat Cosgrave up and Tales Of Mambo with Fergus Sweeney aboard are the most fancied of the rest.
The second leg is a MR 66 Handicap over 1600m. Fangia, who will be ridden by Aurelian Lemaitre, has at last landed a decent draw. He jumps from pole position. He won his only previous start over course and distance off a three point lower merit rating, but that was from a wide draw. Captain Chips ran well over this trip last time in his comeback from a four month rest and he is well drawn again. Fergus Sweeney rides.
Let’s Go West ran a cracker on his Highveld debut when having to overcome an unfavourable high draw on the Vaal Inside track over 1400m and just failing. He now has a fair draw and Grant van Niekerk is up. Lisnoble has been going close to a third career win lately and has Dettori up from a tricky draw. Roaring Tiger is 1,5kg worse off with Let’s Go West for a head beating but is well drawn over what should be a suitable trip. Aldo Domeyer rides.
The third leg is a MR87 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m and Samarra under Aurelian Lemaitre is the selection to win. She doesn’t have an easy draw of seven but has some good form and proved last time when stepped down to 1160m she enjoys this sort of trip.
Paree has struck this season as one with some class and if dropped out by Aldo Domeyer over a suitable trip and settling well, she could go close by running on strongly. Monarch Air is drawn in pole over a suitable trip and S’Manga Khumalo has gone close on her before, so they could earn some points for the South African team.
The fourth leg is a MR 73 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m and the promising French Legend could be the one, having won her maiden in facile fashion and then running a decent fourth on Thursday to the top class Brazuca. Aldo Domeyer is aboard from a good draw and the Cape jockey should have a good day on his international debut.
Dettori has an interesting mount in Open Road, who has been highly tried so must be held in some regard. She has dropped in the merit ratings and might enjoy the drop in trip too, although the high draw makes it tough. Queen’s Jet beat Samarra last time, so the latter’s performance must be monitored in the previous race. Fergus Sweeney rides, albeit from a tricky draw. Chartwell has always struck as one with ability and has been doing well for a new yard, so she could be thereabouts from a fair draw under Robert Havlin. Honolua Bay under Grant van Niekerk should do well from a good draw too.
The outsider choice to win the official race 10 on the card, in which punters can bet on who will be leading jockey on the day, is Aurelian Lemaitre followed by Aldo Domeyer and Frankie Dettori.
The best bet on the card could be in race 4 in the form of Devadip. He caught the eye running on strongly over 1400m last time and should relish the step up to 1800m, although he might have a bit to do under Gavin Lerena as he will probably be dropped out from a wide draw.The first race sees an intriguing clash between two eye catchers, Military Award and Pilou, but the former has been given the nod as one with experience around the turn and a slightly better draw.
Bondiblu could be worth a look at in race three too, as she is drawn in pole and her recent form has been good from 1800-2000m.
Preview and form for the meeting at Turffontein on Saturday. Selections by David Thiselton.
Race 1
Preview: MILITARY AWARD ran on strongly on his second career start over this course and distance and only just failed, so should be involved here from a fair draw. PILOU by Western Winter is a full-brother to useful sprint-miler Bichette and a half-brother to Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 winner Viva Maria. He made a fine debut over 1200m when overcoming a tough draw on Grand Heritage day and running on from behind to finish a 6,5 length third to the top class Doosra. He has a tough draw here but should be running on again. ARLINGTON has Piere Strydom up from a good draw and could improve over this step up in trip. (David Thiselton 9-10-8)Race 2
Preview: BONDIBLU ran on strongly when dropped out last time from a wide draw over 2000m and she now has pole position off the same attractive merit rating and should go close. LEOPARD LILY won easily last time when coming from off the pace and sneaks into the handicap here with the minimum weight. Strydom is up from draw three and she could make it a hattrick over a trip she should enjoy. TIGER FLAME is 2kg better off with Banking April for a 0,2 length beating over 1700m so has a chance from the same draw. In form Randall Simons rides. BANKING APRIL won last time despite pulling over 1700m, If settling better she could make it four-in-a-row, but she does have a seven point merit-rated raise to contend with. SISTERS OF MERCY is consistently thereabouts and is drawn well over a suitable trip and off a competitive merit rating. CHRISTMAS CAROL returns from a layoff having been tried in a number of classics last season, so she can’t be ignored off a lowered merit rating with Gavin Lerena up. (David Thiselton 7-10-3-1-4-2)Race 3
Preview: TOM FOOL’s last two starts read well and he has a plum draw over a suitable trip with a 1,5kg claimer who knows him well aboard. HAWAIIAN SUN is drawn well over a suitable trip and has dropped to a competitive merit rating. STREET FLYER has the blinkers back on and is course and distance suited. CASHIN can be a factor if settling better than last time and he does have Delpech up. URGENT FURY is in fine form and could be a factor with Lerena up, despite having to cope with a six point raise for his last win. (David Thiselton 7-5-8-4-3)Race 4
Preview: DEVADIP caught the eye staying on strongly over 1400m last time. He is by Captain Al and his half-sister has won over this trip, although a wide draw is a concern. THANKS AGAIN ran on well over 1600m last time but was a bit one paced in the latter stages suggesting he will relish this step up in trip. HAMAAN ran on well on debut over 1400m and was only 1,4 lengths behind Devadip. He is by Silvano and looks likely to enjoy the step up in trip. (David Thiselton 8-11-9)Race 5
Preview: TURN BACK TIME wasn’t disgraced first time out the maidens against a promising sort and over a step up in trip which should suit could give Frankie Dettori his first winner in SA. BARCELONA BABE is never far off them and is off a competitive merit rating over a suitable trip. FLYING DREAM is in fine form and with Delpech up can make a bold bid for a hattrick off just a four point higher mark than her last win. The first three selections above all have difficult draws and COOL FANTASY should be involved from a good draw. TALES OF MAMBO bounced back to form last time and could be a factor with a repeat. (David Thiselton 2-3-5-11-8-1)Race 6
Preview: FANGIA has won his only start over this course and distance to date and at last gets a good draw over this suitable trip and CAPTAIN CHIPS made a good seasonal reappearance so should do well her from a good draw over a suitable trip. LET’S GO WEST is knocking hard and his draw of six is nice considering his handy to front-running style. LISNOBLE is knocking on the door and enjoys this course and distance. ROARING TIGER should enjoy the course and distance. (David Thiselton 2-1-3-10-8)Race 7
Preview: SAMARRA is in good form and this looks an ideal trip so she could go close from a fair draw. PAREE has a touch of class and if it pans out well from a tough draw she could be involved. MONARCH AIR must have a shout from pole position over a suitable course and distance despite being raised five points for her last win over 1400m. (David Thiselton 12-3-11)Race 8
Preview: FRENCH LEGEND looks a good sort in the making and has a good draw over a suitable trip. OPEN ROAD has been highly tried and has shown signs of ability so could be off an attractive merit rating and might appreciate the step down in trip. QUEEN’S JET will appreciate the drop back in trip and should be competitive if producing her best from a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 1-10-9)Race 9
Preview: EMILY JAY made a good debut and is well drawn over a step up in trip which should suit. SHA-BOOM SHA-BOOM should go close if able to overcome a wide draw. ROSE WATER is a consistent sort who can earn again over a suitable trip. (David Thiselton 13-7-2)