Turffontein runners, 19 August

Three runners from Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock’s stable is represented in races on the inside track at Turffontein on Saturday.

First up is the well-bred Sea Anemone (Race 2, 1600m), who has shown glimpses of being a smart and progressive sort, but hasn’t quite put it all together yet. The filly by Dynasty is in a competitive line-up in which Robbie Sage’s distance specialist Cape Lights is the one to beat. Mike commented: “You can draw a line through Sea Anemone’s last run. She went to the front and nothing went her way. That wasn’t what we wanted. I’d give her a nice eachway chance in this race.”

Zinovi (Race 4, 1000m), a stakes-placed, juvenile winner last season, takes a leap in class against older horses and Mike said: “He comes in fresh off a bit of a rest and this is a tough line-up. I’d say he has a place chance.”

One can only speculate how the handicappers came up with an 82 rating for the Maiden, Mvelelo, in Race 9 over 1600m. Mike has entered him for this handicap following his second place in a small field last week and said: “We’re having a crack at this handicap and we’ll see if the handicappers are right in their assessment of him. If they are right, he has a chance of being competitive because he is doing very well in his work. I like the fact that he has the inside draw, cheek pieces go on and JP felt he had the race won last time but Mvelelo shifted under pressure. Include him.”