Race 1
Race Summary: REAL STUNNER caught the eye on his Highveld debut when staying on from a long way back to finish 5th over 1200m and this extended trip, with the benefit of that comeback outing, will be more to his liking. LUWAK has shown enough to be compeitive and returns from a break having been gelded, so is open to improvement. RED SUNRISE should have a role to play too if confirming the improvement of his last start. Watch the betting on newcomers FLYING ON MY MIND and filly SHADOWLINE.
Selections:
#1 Real Stunner, #8 Luwak, #9 Red Sunrise, #11 Shadowline
Race 2
Race Summary: DUCHESS OF PALOMA edged WINDS OF GRACE in a recent meeting over 1450m and will likely confirm her superiority on these terms (better off at the weights and ideally drawn). Little separated KENSAL GREEN and WITCHING HOUR in their course-and-distance meeting earlier this month and both should be competitive. The former is lightly raced and open to improvement, as is her familiar foe on 1.5kg better terms and with blinkers fitted for the first time. Improving LUCKY CHANCE and returning INTO DANCING aren't underestimated.
Selections:
#1 Duchess Of Paloma, #2 Winds Of Grace, #6 Witching Hour, #7 Kensal Green
Race 3
Race Summary: PAGE BOY confirmed the improvement of his comeback run with a last-start victory at a slightly lower level. He is open to further progress and a 3-point penalty isn't likely to halt his momentum. Maturing OLYMPIAN GOLD fits a similar profile and on pedigree, the step up to this trip should be to his liking. DUAL PROPHECY is another last-start scorer in the lineup but hasn't been seen since that July success. Recent maiden winner SIX OF ALL has improved since relocating to the Highveld so isn't taken lightly.
Selections:
#2 Page Boy, #6 Olympian Gold, #1 Dual Prophecy, #7 Mizzen Sword
Race 4
Race Summary: Good race. Summer Cup entries THE ULTIMATE KING and PUMPKIN PIE will need to produce a forward showing in this lineup if they're to realise next month's Grade 1 ambitions. The lightly raced latter is open to any amount of improvement stretching out to this trip for the first time, so it could pay to follow his progress. HAWKBILL, MOUNT DARWIN and KUDZU are honest hard-knockers with the form and experience to make their presence felt too.
Selections:
#6 Pumpkin Pie, #2 Hawkbill, #1 The Ultimate King, #7 Mount Darwin
Race 5
Race Summary: Several of these are engaged to run at earlier meetings, casting doubt over their participation here. Unbeaten STORMY DAY is highly thought of and likely to improve for the step up in trip, so she must be followed until beaten. MISS HANNIGAN, ACROSS THE POND, PRINCESS ILARIA and JUNIPER GREEN are hard-knockers at this level and could make life difficult for the selection. FROZEN FANTASY isn't taken lightly either.
Selections:
#6 Stormy Day, #5 Princess Ilaria, #2 Frozen Fantasy, #1 Miss Hannigan
Race 6
Race Summary: BIG UNIT caught the eye on his Highveld introduction when a fast-finishing 2nd over track and trip, so he will be hard to beat with any improvement. FULLY LOADED is closely matched on the form of that meeting so shouldn't be far off the mark. Improving 3yo geldings WINSTON'S WONDER and TAKE NO PRISONERS, as well as lightly raced 4yo FUTURENAIRE have the means to be competitive and remain open to improvement.
Selections:
#1 Big Unit, #2 Fully Loaded, #8 Futurenaire, #10 Winston's Wonder
Race 7
Race Summary: Tricky. Best-weighted THAT'S MY BABY and out-of-sorts BOB'S YOUR UNCLE are favourably treated by the conditions and at their best, will likely play leading roles. However, it could pay to side with versatile last-start winner MAX THE MAGICIAN, with the resultant 4-point penalty unlikely to prevent another bold bid. Thriving ALADDIN'S LAMP will probably find this trip too short but he is capable of running well fresh. SLINKY MAPIMPI didn't go unnoticed in a Grade 2 last time and a similar effort will put him right in the firing line. SILVER TUDOR and FRENCH BOLT could have a say at longer odds.
Selections:
#4 Max The Magician, #2 Slinky Mapimpi, #7 Aladdin's Lamp, #1 That's My Baby
Race 8
Race Summary: MERRYWEATHER stayed on encouragingly at a higher level last time over 1200m so this extended trip and drop in class should see her play a leading role. WILLOWILD had legitimate excuses for a no-show last time, which was her 2nd start after a lengthy absence. She is capable of a lot better and will be at peak fitness now, so she could represent the value. LADY SABRINA has the form and experience to make her presence felt too. PARIS FUN, ZAHRA DOMINIA and UNIVERSAL GIRL are improving fillies with earning potential.
Selections:
#2 Willowild, #5 Merryweather, #1 Lady Sabrina, #7 Zahra Dominia
Best Win: #1 BIG UNIT
Best Value Bet: #2 WILLOWILD
Best Longshot: #2 WILLOWILD
