Jet Trail finished third in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas in 2009.
Conditions Plate over 1600m at Scottsville (inside) on Sunday
As we edge towards the season’s top sand feature at the end of the month, it’s another relatively quiet weekend on the turf. In general handicaps are the order of the day, but there is an intriguing little conditions event taking place at Scottsville on Sunday, writes Steve Furnish.
The Glen Kotzen trained Imperious Star, the highest rated of the seven.
Imperious Star
Imperious Star is a previous winner of the Gr1 Woolavington.
A daughter of Navarone, Imperious Star impressed when winning four of her first five career starts and after finishing fifth in the Gr2 Natal Fillies Guineas, when reported as being lame on the near hind in May last year, she went on to win the Gr1 Woolavington. She wound up her campaign in that season with a second placing in the prestigious Gr1 Garden Province Stakes and at that stage of her career she looked to have a very bright future ahead of her. Imperious Star was given a break after the Garden Province and on returning to action in Cape Town in December, she battled to find her form. She was laid off for a further five months after her excursion to the Western Cape and although she again failed to fill a place in the Quartet in her subsequent three outings, she did run a couple of fair races in defeat, most notably when a 2,8 lengths fifth in this year’s Garden Province Stakes. Once rated six points higher than her current mark in the handicap, Imperious Star is nicely treated at the weights here on best form.
Jet Trail
As with Imperious Star, the Jet Master mare Jet Trail showed real potential earlier in her career, but she too has had a couple of lengthy layoffs. A close up third in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas over today’s distance back in 2009, Jet Trail has been coming to hand very nicely since returning from her latest break in August. She showed her well being with a third placing over 1200m on her return, and having never previously raced over a trip that short, it was a good effort. As a result of that she was sent off a well supported favourite (22/10 into even money) when racing in a similar event over 1450m just twelve days ago, and with some in hand, she very comfortably accounted for her seven rivals. Jet Trail has a pull at the weights with all except Imperious Star here and now having her third run after the rest, and racing over what is probably her best trip, she should at least fight it out.
Casey Da Lady
As well as the probable favourite, the in form stable of Alec Laird is also represented by the 5yo daughter of Casey Tibbs, Casey Da Lady. She too showed flashes of ability early on in her career and was far from disgraced when fifth in the Gr3 Gauteng Fillies Mile back in Nov ’09. She has only managed to find the winner’s enclosure twice in 22 starts since then though, and not particularly well in at the weights here, a place, once again is probably her best hope.
Autumn Gold
Once rated 99 by the official handicapper, Sean Tarry’s charge was running close to the likes of River Jetez, Gibraltar Blue and Here To Win just over a year ago. Since finishing a close up second in a pinnacle event at Turffontein last October though, she’s been battling to find her form and prior to finishing third over 1200m last time out, she had failed to fill a place in the Quartet in twelve starts. Autumn Gold was staying on in that latest outing though, and in command of a fair turn of foot on her day, she is sure to be better suited by the extra here. She’s fairly treated at the weights on her earlier form. It will be interesting to see how she goes here.
Lineal Factor
Since finishing down field in each of her first two career starts, Glen Puller’s charge has been as consistent as they come. Indeed, she’s yet to finish worse than fifth in sixteen starts. Her two latest successes have both been gained over 1400m , but she did shed her maiden tag over today’s course and distance and her ratings do suggest that she is equally effective over today’s trip. Improvement will be needed if she is to trouble the likes of Jet Trail and Imperious Star here, but an honest effort can be expected.
Meezah
The only representative from the powerful stable of champion trainer Mike De Kock is the Goldkeeper filly Meezah. A winner of three of her eight starts to date, Meezah progressed nicely after shedding her maiden tag in October. She was given a break after winning over 1400m at Greyville in March, and when flying up late to win a MR78 Handicap over 1300m at that same circuit on her return in July it looked as if she would go on to better things. Then stepped up in class in her only subsequent outing, Meezah was very disappointing in comparison, but it is worth noting that she was encountering soft going for the first time in her career that day, and she was reported as taking no interest. Meezah ran on well in her only previous outing over today’s distance and now having her third run after the rest could still improve plenty if putting her best foot forward. A dark horse
Young Caesour
An out and out front runner, the 5yo Young Caesour is as gutsy as they come and has fully deserved her two career wins. Since gaining the latest of those successes just over a year ago though, she has failed to find the winner’s enclosure in eleven starts. She has run some very good races in defeat of late, most notably when a runner up in the listed Off To Stud Handicap over 1800m on the old course here in July. She has no easy task at the weights, but she has performed well at this circuit and racing off a very light mass with apprentice De Melo on board, there has to be a chance that she could steal it.
About The Pace
With just seven runners going to post there is a strong possibility that the pace will not be a true one. The gallant Young Caesour is usually found setting the fractions though and set to carry a featherweight, could well set off at a fair clip. Either way, the horse on the comeback trail Jet Trail has proven to be very effective racing handy and she did in fact make all when shedding her maiden tag over 1600m at Clairwood way back in Aug ’09. Jet Trail has been very shrewdly placed by his trainer since returning to action in August and he clearly has a lot in his favour here.
