Justin Snaith makes no secret of the fact that Met day is about showcasing the champion yard’s stars and winning as many races as possible.
He looks to have a strong hand in the R1 million Gr1 Majorca Stakes where high-class 4yo Snowdance bids to register a rare double.
Snaith Racing (photo: Wayne Marks)
While things didn’t go her way in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate where she was beaten out of the money by stablemate Do It Again, the daughter of Captain Al is lethal against her own sex and could find her winning thread again. She was a supremely easy winner of this race last year and while the KZN season did not go her way entirely, she was a facile winner at her penultimate start, which was nothing more than a training gallop.
.Top-class Snowdance bids for the double (Chase Liebenberg Photography)
But it won’t be all plain sailing on Saturday with the likes of fast ascending 3yo’s Clouds Unfold and Front And Centre, as well as the high quality 4yo Lady In Black to contend with.
The unbeaten Dynasty galloper, Front And Centre, was a super impressive winner of the Cape Fillies Guineas when she carried too many guns to beat Silvano’s Pride a length and a half. Anton Marcus has been aboard at of her four starts where she has progressed from 1200m to 1600m seamlessly and with ease. She could well make it five straight victories on Saturday.
The 3yo Clouds Unfold goes back to the mile (Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Clouds Unfold had to be switched late and finished third and 2,25 lengths behind Front And Centre in the that Gr1 fillies classic. She subsequently came out and blew her opposition away to win the Sceptre Stakes earlier this month. While there may be a school of thought to suggest that Clouds Unfold doesn’t quite get the mile, she is worth another chance as she now races at peak fitness and will have no excuses.
The highest rated filly in the race, and yet another outstanding daughter of Dynasty, Lady In Black, has been a model of consistency and comes in with the advantage of a pole position draw on Saturday. She ran her heart out when pushing Oh Susanna all the way to the wire to be beaten only half a length in the Paddock Stakes. Dropping down to the mile she makes an interesting opponent for the local stars.
It looks quite tough beyond those top four.
Adam Marcus’s Brave Move appears to have gone off the boil at her last three starts and could do no better than midfield in the Paddock Stakes. While a really game and tough mare, she is probably a few lengths off the top-rated quartet, but could earn back end of the quartet credit.
Super consistent Rose In Bloom (Chase Liebenberg Photography)
The tough as teak Rose In Bloom ran a gutsy third in this race behind Snowdance last year and has since travelled to KZN and Gauteng with some distinction. She was not disgraced at her first start back at home when running on nicely for a 3 length fourth to Clouds Unfold in the Sceptre. She does, however, meet the Bass-Robinson star on 2,5kg worse terms, so could have her work cut out.
The evergreen Goodtime Gal is always thereabouts but is a few lengths off the top ladies. She was scratched last time with an abscess and her prep has not probably been ideal to make a winning bid in this illustrious company.
Second of the Ramsden duo, the very consistent Fresnaye just tired late in the Paddock Stakes when beaten 4 lengths by Oh Susanna. A very smart daughter of Western Winter, she must have place prospects.
Diana Stakes winner Love To Boogie has drawn wide and is a few lengths inferior to the better fillies. That said, she is seldom far off the action and could run into the money.
Freedom Charter – should enjoy the mile (Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Freedom Charter is an interesting runner. Campaigned recently over the sprints, she has been finishing with a flourish and caught the eye when chasing Clouds Unfold in the Sceptre Stakes last time. She will surely enjoy the extra, but will need to up her game.
The Ashburton-based Fiorella comes off a well-beaten fourth in the Ipi Tombe Stakes on Summer Cup day. The daughter of Captain Al has her first run in the Cape and could find it tough from her 11 draw in this company.
Second of the Snaith pair, Gold Bracelet winner Miyabi Gold gets the services of Piere Strydom and putting a line through her ordinary effort in the Paddock Stakes last time, she could be a nice quartet kicker in this field. She is relatively lightly raced and has definite scope to still improve.
Woodruff raider Sylvan On Fire
Joburg visitor Sylvan On Fire was outgunned in the Paddock Stakes which was slightly off her decent home form. Assuming that she improves with the benefit of having settled in the Cape, she could be another that could boost the quartets if things go her way.
There should be little between the younger pair of Clouds Unfold and Front And Centre – while the seasoned Snowdance and Lady In Black will be right in the mix. It could come down to luck in running.
