Classy. Stuart Pettigrew’s six-time winner Salutation could bounce back to form
The R125 000 Allez France Handicap (NBT) to be run over 2200m at Turffontein on Saturday showcases a veritable lucky dip of out of form but classy older horses, and a few lightly exposed pretenders to better things. Emotion and past loyalties may well be a better bet than pure science or mathematics in this case.
Fillies and mares affairs are often minefields of uncertainty and this non black type feature is surely the most open race we have featured all year. Fourteen fillies and mares ranging from 3yo’s to 6yo’s and from one to six time winners, race in honour of a former Arc winner. Allez France was a French Thoroughbred Hall of Famer who was the first filly in horseracing history to earn $1 million.
Purchased from her Kentucky breeder by French art dealer Daniel Wildenstein, she became his first important horse and the spur for his substantial investment in racehorses and bloodstock. During her racing career from age two to five, Allez France was the leading filly in France.
In 1974, under new trainer Angel Penna, Sr., Allez France went undefeated and won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. She was also crowned French Horse of the Year. In 1976, she was retired as a broodmare to Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. Allez France was the dam of the successful sire Air De France (1984–2004), who sired 11 stakes winners.
After her death, Allez France was honoured by being buried next to Man O’ War and other greats at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington, Kentucky.
Complex
There are no such exalted types in this race, but there is plenty of proven ability amongst the older horses at the top of the handicap. Mike De Kock’s Atlantic Oak is one such example. The beautifully bred daughter of Singspiel won this race last year and carries topweight here.
Besides a win in a Conditions Plate at Scottsville and a third placing in the Gerald Rosenberg, Atlantic Oak has lost all semblance of any form. She has been rested since running 29 lengths behind in a 3200m Gr3 Handicap at Turffontein.
Her stablemate Qin Wei is a beautiful daughter of Western Winter, who has won 2 of 4 starts, but faded rather badly late at her last start. She could have come on with that run which followed a two month rest, and she has the scope to be anything over the extra ground here.
Tough
Stuart Pettigrew’s tough as teak 6yo Requiem mare Salutation is a winner of six races, and has won at Listed level over ground. Salutation is poorly drawn at 12, but has bumped some tough fields recently, and will enjot the more sedentary company here. Her stablemate Mon-pazier returns from a nine month break after an eight length fifth to Ilha Bela in the SA Oaks last season.
The Varsfontein Stud bred Monpazier shed her maiden over the course and distance, but may need a few runs to get back to optimum fitness. Alec Laird’s Himalayan Hill is a powerful five time winning galloper and one of the mature ladies in the race. She ran a close up fifth behind Atlantic Oak in this event last year.
Himalayan Hill last won at Scottsville in 2012 when grabbing the Listed Off To Stud Handicap beating Checetti and Queen’s Command over the 1800m. She will go to post a fit mare after two outings in January, and ran a solid fourth last time behind Demanding Lady in a Pinnacle Stakes
Sweetie
St John Gray’s Turkish Delight is yet another five time winning mare, who is no star, but always worth including. While poorly drawn at 14, Turkish Delight signalled her fitness and well being last time when running just over 3 lengths behind the fair sort Canterbury Tale in an MR 80 Handicap in very soft conditions.
Turkish Delight had some fair males behind her there, and could be edging back to her best. The Geoff Woodruff yard is enduring a quiet patch, and the long striding Alessandria will have to improve dramatically on her last shocking run over the Vaal 1800m behind Varlet.
Alessandria has no issue with stamina concerns and could prove dangerous if allowed to dictate matters out front. Ormonde Ferraris’ Markof-distinction has done absolutely nothing in her six runs since winning the Listed Oaks Trial on 7 April last year. She has been rested two months and may be found wanting on the fitness front also.
Promising. The Mike De Kock trained Qin Wei is poorly drawn but has won two of her four outings
Pinnacle
Tyrone Zackey and Sherman Brown team up with the rather consistent Go Deputy 4yo Sacred Temple, who ran on strongly over the course and distance in a Pinnacle Stakes at her last outing. The Highlands Stud bred filly has a nice turn of foot, and with a good draw and an in form jockey is bound to come into the play.
Weiho Marwing’s 3yo Sky Pirate looks very promising and has won 2 of her 4 outings. She showed great character and resolve when withstanding a strong challenge from the extremely capable De Kock filly Bluroute last time. Sky Pirate’s dam won up to 2000m and she looks likely to stay at her first dip beyond 1800m. She is well drawn and has a light weight in her favour.
Stay or Leave?
We could go around in circles attempting to pick this race apart. The proven ability is amongst the older brigade and we are going to suggest that Salutation could score an overdue seventh win at the expense of Turkish Delight and Sacred Temple.
De Kock’s Qin Wei and Marwing’s Sky Pirate are up and coming 3yo’s but who have quite a tough task over the testing trip against the old school. Go wide in the exotics and hopefully go all the way!
