Runner comments, Turffontein Tuesday 5 December

The next Highveld race meeting takes place on the standside track at Turffontein next Tuesday, 5 December. Mike de Kock has five runners on the eight-race programme and there could be a winner or two among them.

Spring In Heaven (Race 4, 1800m), ran two much improved races when unfancied recently and she looks to be near her best now. Mike commented: “She seems to have come into a good vein of form and has a money chance.”

Sharapova (Race 6, 1600m) is overdue her second career win. She has been fancied a number of times but has found a few to beat her. Perhaps her half-sister Gimme A Nother’s win in last Saturday’s Betway Fillies Mile was a good omen and Mike said: “Sharapova is in good shape, working well. We’re trying a mile with her, based on her last 1400m run she might prefer a mile now, she was running on. She should be right up there at the finish.”

Simple Simple (Race 7, 1160m), has been racing over slightly further against slightly stronger and is another that looks to be close to her next victory. Mike said: “She gets into the action most of the time and perhaps with Richard up she can get her head in front over the shorter trip. Eachway prospects.”

Arividicio and Tayooba will do battle for the stable in Race 8 over 1160m, the former also dropping in distance. Mike commented: “Arividicio is on a competitive mark now, he has dropped from the high 90s to a MR81 and I’d like to see how he goes down the straight here, he is a fair sort of horse. Tayooba is working well and she has a good draw. I think she will run the way she’s been working. Include both.”