Nebraas back on active duty

TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE stages a nine race meeting today and there look to be some fair opportunities for punters.

- DAVID THISELTON

There are two Pinnacle Stakes events and two high class handicaps, while the other five races are all maidens.

In the first race, a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2400m, topweight Nebraas has not won a race for a whopping 794 days but has returned to form lately and that includes a 0,25 length second in the Listed TAB Gold Bowl over 3200m where he beat United Council by 6,75 lengths in testing conditions.

Zackey

He should make a bold bid under Craig Zackey as he is only 2kg worse off with United Council from that run.

Silent War is an interesting runner from pole position in his first attempt at a staying trip.

He is by Gimmethegreenlight, who was ostensibly a miler, out of a Commands Australian-bred who was a sprinter.

That does not augur well for him staying, at first sight, but both Gimmethegreenlight and Commands have produced stayers an Silent War does usually finish well, so there is a chance he will stay.

United Council is better off at the weights with Nebraas by 2kg if it is taken on official merit ratings and she not only appears to be better at this trip than 3200m, but Gavin Lerena is aboard too, so she could also take first prize.

In the second race over 1160m, a Maiden Juvenile Plate, Chericherilady showed good pace in her second start over this trip and was only found out late when going down by 3,30 lengths.

She should have come on from her first two runs and although the draw bias no longer seems to be significant these days she is drawn on the right side by trends.