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Turffontein Picks - Saturday, 12 October

Racecourse : Turffontein (South Africa)
Racecourse : Turffontein (South Africa)

Race 1
Race Summary: CHOISAANADA and SPIRITO SELVAGGIO made promising 2yo introductions last season and would've come on appreciably in their time off since. Preference, however, is for the former who raced in open company on debut and is favourably drawn in stall No 5. TAKEYOURBESTSHOT, GOLD RUSH KID and GRAND OASIS have the benefit of experience and could improve to get into the picture. SANTIAGO'S PRIDE is also likely to progress after a satisfactory introductory outing. GREAT NOTION and WARNING SOUND are well-bred debutantes and shouldn't be underestimated in receipt of a sex allowance. Watch the betting!

Selections:
#6 Choisaanada, #10 Spirito Selvaggio, #12 Warning Sound, #11 Great Notion

Race 2
Race Summary: SNEAK PREVIEW and DAMOVA were victorious at a slightly higher level of the handicap last time out and should remain competitive under resultant penalties. ANGEL'S WISH had legitimate excuses for a disappointing last start and she retains the means to play a leading role over a distance more to her liking. AZUCAR, RAINY SEASON and ROYAL MAZARIN are capable stayers who should also appreciate stretching out to this longer trip. Maiden SNOW MOON isn't taken lightly stepping up to this distance under a 2kg claimer.

Selections:
#4 Damova, #3 Sneak Preview, #2 Angel's Wish, #1 Royal Mazarin

Race 3
Race Summary: WEARINGOFTHEGREEN was all at sea on debut over 1200m but ran on well in the closing stages once the penny had dropped to finish 3rd. With that experience to count on and this extended trip likely to suit, she could make sufficient improvement to turn the tables on JILTED who was 4.75 lengths ahead on that occasion. MOUNTAIN HIGH acquitted herself well in 4 starts as a 2yo last season and she, too, has scope to improve on her reappearance. Both ONO NO KOMACHI and PARIS PARTY will know more about it after pleasing debuts so shouldn't be underestimated. TIK TOK ADDICTION completes the shortlist.

Selections:
#3 Wearingofthegreen, #5 Jilted, #4 Mountain High, #7 Ono No Komachi

Race 4
Race Summary: IMPERIAL MASTER, TAMARISK TREE and THUNEE PLAYA are closely matched on recent form over this distance and there shouldn't be much between them again on these revised weight terms. APACHE SON has raced twice beyond 1600m and won on both occasions, so he could have more to offer going this trip for the first time. HAWKBILL has a chance off his current mark and could spark improvement reverting to this trip in his peak outing. SUGAR BLAST appeals most of the remainder.

Selections:
#3 Imperial Master, #7 Thunee Playa, #4 Tamarisk Tree, #6 Apache Son

Race 5
Race Summary: Having run over 1450m in a similar contest last month PUERTO MANZANO and MERCANTOUR have a fitness edge over these rivals making their seasonal reappearances. The former is unbeaten over this course and distance so warrants serious respect, while consistent MERCANTOUR isn't taken lightly under a light mass from an inside draw. FRANCES ETHEL, BEATING WINGS and SILVER SANCTUARY are well in under the conditions and are open to improvement this term after fruitful 3yo campaigns - their class could prevail. ATTICUS FINCH and WINCHESTER MANSION have performed well fresh so are best kept safe. Tricky!

Selections:
#6 Silver Sanctuary, #8 Atticus Finch, #5 Frances Ethel, #9 Beating Wings

Race 6
Race Summary: GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE made no impression from a wide draw in a course-and-distance Grade 2 last week but would have tightened up with the benefit of that outing. He is the best-weighted runner by some margin and is open to improvement in first-time blinkers. FATAL FLAW hasn't been seen since finishing 2nd in a 2yo Grade 1 over 1600m in late July. She has a bit to find on these terms but receives 8kg from that rival and has more scope to improve. Top-weight PRESLEY (blinker-strike), gelded TAIL OF THE COMET, GUY GIBSON and last-start track-and-trip winner DARING DASH have claims too.

Selections:
#3 Gimmeanotherchance, #10 Fatal Flaw, #4 Guy Gibson, #9 Daring Dash

Race 7
Race Summary: FORGIVENESS confirmed the form and improvement of her KZN comeback by winning in Durban over 1600m last month. She could follow up off an unchanged mark with the likelihood of further progress over this extended trip. Consistent I AM REGAL fought gamely under pressure to share the spoils over 2000m in her last start and a resultant 3-point penalty is unlikely to prevent her from making another bold bid for victory. AVOONTOAST, beaten 1.50 lengths, is weighted to pose more of a threat on 1.5kg better terms. Hard-knockers UNITED COUNCIL, APACHE FIGHTER and DARLING HARBOUR aren't underestimated.

Selections:
#5 I Am Regal, #6 Avoontoast, #4 Forgiveness, #8 Darling Harbour

Race 8
Race Summary: HAT'S QUEEN has raced twice beyond 1600m and won both. She was impressive in winning a similar contest over 1800m last time out and is good value to defy a 6-point penalty with the extra 200m likely to unlock further progress. LOVE TAP and ONE RELIGION are weighted to pose more of a threat on these revised terms. However, MARY READ could emerge as the biggest challenger as she is also open to improvement stretching out to this distance for the first time. It is worth noting Calvin Habib, who rode HAT'S QUEEN last time, rides MARY READ instead. IDEAL FUTURE and BOOM BOOM come next.

Selections:
#2 Hat's Queen, #4 Mary Read, #6 Love Tap, #7 One Religion

Best Win: #2 HAT'S QUEEN                                           
Best Value Bet: #6 SILVER SANCTUARY                                           
Best Longshot: #6 SILVER SANCTUARY                                           


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