Horse Racing Tips: Sparkling Water Returns From 18-Week Break, But Is She Worth The Risk?

There are plenty of fascinating features of racing action to look forward to this weekend coming your way from horse racing at Turffontein, Kenilworth, and Greyville.

Turffontein (Saturday)

Race 5 – Desert Miracle 

Desert Miracle produced an eye-catching comeback run, finishing a short-head second behind Humdinger. The Mike De Kock-trained filly ran against a competitive field of runners on that day and should come on from that run. She’s loaded with an ability and will once again get the services of S’manga Khumalo in the saddle. Her biggest danger is returning from an 18-week break, so there should be more encouragement in her camp.

Race 6 – Iphiko

Ever since she returned from her 7-month break, Iphiko has been a completely different horse, winning all four of her starts to date. The daughter of Trippi comes into this race with the best form to her name but does face her toughest test against the likes of Big Burn. She looks to be a 1000m specialist and with Muzi Yeni in the saddle once again, she should take the power of beating.

Race 7 – Nebraas

All eyes will be on this year’s Durban July winner, Sparkling Water, who returns to the track for the first time since that memorable day at Greyville. She’s the class in the race but may just be in need of the run as she prepares for bigger races to come in the season. That said, the top selection in this field is the Sean Tarry-trained gelding, Nebraas. He gets the services of Rachel Venniker who takes 1.5kgs off his back and produced a fascinating comeback run last time out, finishing second over this course and distance. With that run under his belt, he should be able to go one better now.

Kenilworth (Saturday)

Race 5 – Love In Winter

Love In Winter has done well in his two starts to date, winning both runs with relative ease. He now gets the services of Corne Orffer and from a neat draw of barrier gate 4, the pair should be able to make it a hat-trick of wins. This son of What A Winter does look to have a touch of class about him and this could bring him on for better and bigger things to come.

Race 7 – Belgarion

Belgarion is and always will be a champion. He is a one-time Durban July winner and the highest merit-rated horse in this field, and although 62kgs may seem like a lot to carry, he should be able to win this with ease. He gets the services of Aldo Domeyer and the pair will be very hard to beat in the run to the line.

Race 8 – Jet Dark

Richard Fourie and Justin Snaith team up once again in the Cape Mile as we get to see the return of Jet Dark. This multiple-Grade 1 winning horse is the undeniable class of the race and if not too in need of the run, he should be a comfortable winner. He does tend to have slow gate speed, but his extraordinary turn of foot in the closing stages sets him apart from any other horse in a race during the last couple of furlongs.

Greyville (Sunday)

Race 2 – Sun Blushed

Sun Blushed is the top selection in a decent field of sprinters in Race 2 at Greyville on Sunday. The son of The United States has had just four runs under his belt and looks to be on the upgrade, finishing a short-head second in his penultimate start in Grade 2. Rachel Venniker retains the ride and will hope to get this chestnut colt back to winning ways.

Race 3 – Alphabetty

Alphabetty comes into this race as the odds-on favourite, but does look to be the right horse considering her debut run over this course and distance. That day, she finished fourth and ran on strongly, despite losing as many as three lengths at the start of the race. The form line has been franked and she doesn’t take on the best field here, with all due respect to the other runners.

Race 7 – Canadian Summer

Canadian Summer comes into this race as the class of the field after winning a Grade 1 in her last outing before a 14-week break. She holds the form over most horses in the race and despite the possibility of her being in need of the run, she should come home as one of the best bets on the card and a possible banker in the Pick 6.