Flashback to Brave Mary and happy Matchett owners in 2017
Trainer Paul Matchett and the owners of the exciting unbeaten Master Of My Fate filly Basadi Faith will be encouraged by the record of Gauteng raiders in the R750 000 Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship.
The 2yo feature has been won by raiders from the North in four of the last five renewals – so history and raw ability look to be on their side.
The veteran Matchett will know what it takes – he lifted the prized trophy in 2017 with the subsequently exported Brave Mary.
His unbeaten dual feature winner Basadi Faith steps up to the 1200m after fluent victories from 800m to 1160m in Gauteng. The bargain R45 000 buy was pressured for the first time at her last start in the SA Nursery where she showed courage and resolve to fend off the late attentions of Cavivar.
Undefeated Basadi Faith – can she make it 5? (Pic – JC Photos)
The latter was considered good enough to campaign at feature level against the boys and is sure to enjoy the extra here. Her trainer Sean Tarry last won the race ten years ago with Give Me Five.
The Hollywood Syndicate’s runaway debut winner Travelling Light steps into the deep end and is difficult to assess. The daughter of Gimmethegreenlight is rumoured to have plenty of ability and surely warrants her early chance to show her merits.
God debut winner Travelling Light (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
With reasonable fifth placed finishes in both the Pretty Polly and the SA Fillies Nursery, the Tobie Spies-trained What You Are is the most experienced campaigner in the field – but will need to improve again.
Rio’s Winter ran in the SA Nursery off a smart long odds debut win at the Vaal, but failed to stay with the big guns and was beaten over 5 lengths by Basadi Faith. She should be happier over the 1200m.
A Scottsville 7 length debut winner in February, Yessiricanboogie may have needed it when beaten 5 lengths by Singforafa in the Strelitzia. Expect improvement from the daughter of Time Thief!
Undefeated in two starts, the Snaith’s R1,1 million purchase Somewhere In Time has done nothing wrong and produced the goods when coming home an eyecatching course-and-distance winner at her first jump in the holiday province in mid April. Richard Fourie rides the daughter of Captain Al and SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith is no doubt keen to tick this race off his on his impressive CV.
Dorrie Sham’s R40 000 purchase Royal Lily followed up her third place on debut with a fluent win at the same track over 1100m earlier this month. A tricky one to guage.
The superfast Singforafa (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
Described by winning Strelitzia Stakes rider Craig Zackey as one of the quickest fillies he has ridden, Singforafa has won two of her four starts and looks a really promising sort in the making. It will be interesting to see the tactics adopted at this track. Randall Simons takes the ride.
Third of the Spies quartet, Me Time ran a smart race in the Strelitzia when coming out of the pack to chase stablemate Singforafa home. She shows plenty of toe and has her first start in the KZN Capital City.
Recent Scottsville 1000m debut winner Miss Florida is the second of the Snaith duo and based on jockey arrangements is probably not the stable elect. She showed plenty of pace and ran green before winning easily at fancied odds. She steps up 200m on Saturday.
Dennis Drier has indicated that his Strelitzia Stakes fourth placer Naoshima will find this trip more to her liking and the Greyville poly debut winner is held in high regard.
A winner of 2 of her 3 starts at home, Vandah’s Spirit ran on steadily for a 2,50 length third in the Strelitzia Stakes at her first KZN start – when doubtless in need of the outing.
Miss Honey beats Emerald Band to win the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes on Met day (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
A surprise winner of the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes on Sun Met day, her stablemate Miss Honey battled to find her feet in the same race when a 3,45 length fifth to the flying Singforafa. Jockey arrangements suggest she is the least fancied in the three way coupling.
The third of the Bass-Robinson trio, Roll In The Hay won her second start at Durbanville beating Mon Cherie by 5 lengths. She could improve further to challenge and the stable has made a good start to the 2019 SA Champions Season.
Gary Alexander’s recent shock debut winner Gaian Glory won her first start over the Turffontein 1000m going away and the daughter of Visionaire can’t be faulted at this point. She could be just about anything and jumps on the wide outside of her field.
In her stiffest test to date, we are going with Basadi Faith to maintain her clean slate and to edge out Somewhere In Time and Cavivar.
