Turffontein is home to the only feature race action of this weekend with the running of the R125 000 Allez France Stakes for fillies and mares over 2200m on Saturday. The Ideal World filly Patchit Up Baby has her second run for trainer Ormond Ferraris and enjoys the services of ace rider, Piere Strydom. She could record an overdue win.
Patchit Up Baby – Strydom should suit her
The former Duncan Howells trained Ashburton- based Patchit Up Baby is having only her third run of the season on Saturday and caught the eye after a five month break following an unplaced effort on Super Saturday, when running on well behind Gr1 winner Bilateral in a conditions plate over the Turffontein 2000m.
That was a fair effort given her suspect fitness, and her Gr1 SA Oaks third placing behind Pine Princess in the SA Oaks of 2015 suggests she will have no problems with the extra 200m.
She does face a fairly task though against Gavin Van Zyl’s topweighted hardknocking Silvano mare Vino Veritas, who meets her on 4,5kgs after her one length beating last time.
Vino Veritas, who won this race last year, will make a bold bid for the double – and seldom runs a poor race, even if she has plenty to do.
Epsom Downs came from way back to win the Oaks Trial
Sean Tarry has enjoyed a quite run in recent weeks but his duo of Enchanted Silk and Epsom Downs warrant inclusion.
S’manga Khumalo rides the Kahal mare Enchanted Silk, who has not been in the winner’s enclosure since June 2015 when she won the restricted KZN Breeders 1900 race. Interestingly, she won the same race in 2014.
She came off a five month break when running downfield over 1400m in a pipe-opener last time and is bound to improve again.
Epsom Downs won the Listed Oaks Trial and 2 of her first 4 starts. She has failed to spark in recent runs and was down to run at Turffontein on Tuesday evening.
Michael Azzie – could upset matters
Mike Azzie-trained Jet Master filly Kissimmee has not won since September 2014 but is improving as she strengthens up and ran a good race last time in a lower rated handicap over 2450m when chasing Zafira home to be beaten under a length.
This is a lot stronger, but she is not without hope.
Stephen Moffatt has the Kahal mare Dream Galaxy and Luala in the race.
Dream Galaxy was not disgraced in the Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap when running gamely for fifth and then confirmed that when winning an MR 82 Handicap at her last start in a memorable race ridden by international visitor, Hayley Turner.
Luala is 6 years old and while she has run two seconds recently, looks to be past her best.
The rest are much of a muchness with outside chances to most – and being a fillies and mares event, it may pay to go a bit wider in the exotics.
