Gauteng Fillies Nursery winner Hidden Beauty tries the sand for the first time.
MR92 Handicap over 1000m at Vaal (sand) on Tuesday
The Highest purse on offer in midweek is that put aside for the winner of the MR92 Handicap over 1000m at the Vaal’s sand track on Tuesday. Just nine go to post and with three of them in under sufferance, there doesn’t look to be many that can win it, writes Steve Furnish.
Shouldering top weight of 61,5kg is the National Assembly filly Candy Cotton. At her best on sand, Candy Cotton has won four times over 1000m and three of those successes were gained over today’s course and distance. A runner up to Worood when out at the weights in the non black type Sandy Beach Stakes and then more recently only run out of it late when second to the useful Mina Salaam, Louis Goosen’s charge is at the top of her game right now. Expect a big run.
Hidden Beauty
The only coupling in the race is that of Paul Matchett who saddles both Hidden Beauty and Giggs. A fluent winner of her first two outings over today’s distance as a juvenile last season, this daughter of Victory Moon went on to win the Gauteng Fillies Nursery in just her fourth career start. She contested Gr1 features in Natal in her three subsequent outings last season and her third placing to the likely Cape Fillies Guineas Winner Princess Victoria in the Allan Robertson, showed her to be close to the best of her generation. Now reverting to 1000m in this her seasonal debut, Hidden Beauty has to be a very serious runner here if anywhere near ready and taking to the sand.
Giggs
Without Denise Lee’s apprentice allowance, stable companion Giggs would have been in under sufferance here. Third in the Ruffian Stakes over today’s distance back in Mar ’10, she too showed promise early on. This daughter of Solskjaer has clearly performed well below best in her most recent starts though and returning from an eight month break here, she is perhaps best just watched.
Blingle Bells
An ultra consistent campaigner over the past twelve months, Leon Erasmus’ charge has gained all three of her career victories over today’s trip. If finding her best form she would undoubtedly be thereabouts here. She has finished well behind Candy Cotton on the last two occasions that they have met though, and she did also finish well down field when racing in similar company to that of today’s last time out.
Ibrox Park
Another to have shown potential as a youngster, Dominic Zaki’s charge goes well on the sand and the form of her win over today’s trip back in September has worked out well. Once rated some 13 points higher than her current mark on turf, Ibrox Park ran her best race for quite a while when beaten just three quarters of a length over 1200m on that surface last time out, and if showing a similar amount of improvement here, she would be involved.
Agapanthus Nana
After flying up from off the pace to win going away by three on debut, the lightly raced Aganpanthus Nana was then thought good enough to contest the Gr2 Fillies Championship won by Ebony Flyer. She faded right out in that event though and was then not seen out until putting in a similar effort in a strong MR80 Handicap over 1200m at Clairwood in September. The dark horse.
Polish Lady
Lucky Houdalakis’ charge is yet to score over a trip shorter than 1200m. She was running on when fourth to Ibrox Park over today’s distance in September, but she was beaten fair and square by Dominic Zaki’s charge in that event and she is now 1,5kg worse off at the weights.
Howhighcanufly
Although this daughter of Jet Master has only managed to win one of her ten starts, and is yet to score on the surface, she has bumped some fair sorts along the way and is probably better than currently rated. Indeed, she was finishing best of all over today’s distance on turf last time out and Ibrox Park was some four lengths behind her. She could well improve here and although she is marginally in under sufferance, she could make the frame.
Princess Rue
Kom Naidoo’s charge gained her only success over today’s distance and she did run her best race for quite a while when only beaten two lengths over today’s course and distance last time out. That was in much weaker company though and some 11kg under sufferance here, she cannot be fancied.
About The Pace
The pace is usually on over today’s trip and although just nine go to post there is enough speed in the race to ensure that that is the case again here. Hidden Beauty is undoubtedly the class act in the field and she could yet prove to be at her very best over 1000m. Whereas she returns from a break here though and races on the surface for the first time, Candy Cotton is at her best over the course and distance and she is fighting fit.
