Our runners at Turfontein, Scottsville

Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock is excited about the prospects of first-timer Heather’s Boy in Race 1 over 1450m on the inside track at Turffontein. The three-year-old is a son of Rafeef and the second foal of stakes-winning mare, Folk Dance. He cost R900,000 as a yearling and is showing good work ahead of his debut.

Mike commented: “Heather’s Boy is a really good-looking horse, one that racing enthusiasts should have a look at. His dam was a good race filly. She won her own 1200m debut and went on to win the Grade 3 Ladies Mile. She was also placed to Nother Russia in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes. Her first foal, by Danon Platina, won a 1400m at two and finished fifth in the Grade 1 Premiers to Sandringham Summit. So it’s all looking good so far.”

He added: “There is good form in this race, every runner has a shout on what we’ve seen and if you look at Computaform, it shows a few of them were backed in their previous runs. I hear there are a few fancied in this race, too. But Heather’s Boy has a good draw first time out, it’s a factor at this track, so we look forward to see how he goes.”

Mike has three other runners at the meeting. Fireburst goes to post in Race 2 over 1450m. She is by Fire Away out of Rat Burana, owner Mary Slack’s erstwhile Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint winner – a pedigree of note. Fireburst started favourite on her 1200m debut when two fancied runners were scratched, and there wasn’t a lot of stable confidence that day despite her short price. Mike said: “She ran a good race, but the field cut up that day and it didn’t look all that strong, so we’ll have to see if the form can be franked. Fireburst has improved nicely and she will enjoy the extra 200m. If it wasn’t for her wide draw I’d be more confident. Even so, I do give her a winning chance.”

Platina Princess finished nine lengths back in a 1200m sprint on her return to the track on 31 August and she’s back for a follow-up run in Race 7 over 1450m. Mike said: “Her comeback run was disappointing. She needed it a bit more than we thought she would. We’ll be fitting her with a tongue tie for this race and she enjoys the course and distance. She’ll probably need this run too, but you can’t leave her out because she is a filly with ability.”

Wolf Mountain had promising form before his last run when he received a bump and finished tailed off. He has been gelded, is showing good work and is at the bottom of the handicap in Race 8 over 1450m. Mike assessed: “I don’t think the 1450 will be a problem for him, he should run a decent race, but he will improve for the run.”

The stable has one runner at HWB Scottsville on Sunday. Artist’s Model lines up in Race 4 over 1600m, two weeks after his fair 1400m debut. Mike commented: “Artist’s Model is better for the experience. If you look at the replay of his first run, he gets a bit cramped for running room about 150m out. He had to ease and became unbalanced. Muzi Yeni didn’t ride him out after that. He’s going to enjoy the extra 200m and has a winning chance, I’d say.”