Mike de Kock’s top-class Tiger Ridge mare Nother Russia gets a golden opportunity to emulate her illustrious Mum when she steps out in her maiden Cape start in today’s Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes.
Nother Russia – top class
Winner of the 2010 Paddock Stakes and a L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate victress, Mother Russia was a champion daughter of Windrush and won 13 of her 27 starts – including a total of four Gr1’s. Her smart daughter – with ‘only’ a solitary Gr1 score under the belt – thus has some way to go to follow in her golden hoofprints. But could enjoy the limelight on the big day after a near perfect prep.
Gr1 Empress Club Stakes winner Nother Russia showed her match readiness with a well taken win in the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge at home five weeks ago . She has settled in well in the Cape where the De Kock yard reports that the beautiful chestnut is loving the beach. She has plenty in her favour, including her favourite man Craig Zackey in the irons. How appropriate that she follows her champion Dam and gives Mike de Kock his next Paddock Stakes win?
Goodtime Gal – trojan galloper
Mike Robinson’s Goodtime Gal is probably at her best over 200m shorter and stopped late in the Victress Stakes when beaten 2.40 lengths into fourth. She ran eighth behind Bela-Bela in this race last year but has improved this season and is very capable of running into the places here.
Majorca Stakes winner Nightingale ran on well for third and under two lengths behind Star Express in the Victress Stakes. The Silvano mare – there are five daughters of the champion sire in the field – was hampered when running a cracking fourth behind Bela-Bela last year and from a similar gate can go very close again. She is entered for the Sun Met and a big run here can seal her place.
The Gr3 Final Fling Stakes winner Silvan Star has not drawn too smartly but is a mare who likes to race at them late and regular partner Richard Fourie can overcome that negative. She will prefer the 1800m after running on steadily at her last start and has earned a bite at this tasty Gr1 cherry after some excellent improved form this term.
Gimme Six – top class on her day
First of the Snaith trio, the Gr2 Daisy Fillies Guineas winner Gimme Six has run two excellent prep races and does not know how to run a poor race. She gets the service of Bernard Fayd’herbe and can turn the tables on her Diana Stakes conqueror Goodtime Gal. She is another deserving of a Gr1 win.
Juvenile Gr1 winner Lady In Black has not been herself and has failed to fire in two starts this season. The daughter of Dynasty stayed on quietly for fourth behind Snowdance in the Cape Fillies Guineas and with a decent draw may be worth including in quartets.
Surprise Victress Stakes winner Star Express has drawn in the Youngsfield Military Base but overcame a similarly poor gate last time. She may well have been flattered in a slow run-race there and she gets another chance of a Gr1 prize after running fifth and just over 2 lengths behind champion Bela-Bela last year. She is in the pink of health.
Safe Harbour wins the Lanzerac Ready To Run Cup in 2016
Anton Marcus takes the ride on Sean Tarry’s Safe Harbour. The daughter of Elusive Fort was scratched from her intended engagement in the Victress Stakes three weeks ago with an abscess. She lost her form prior to that and looks held by Nother Russia – although she has experience of the Kenilworth track and is another who appears to enjoy the Cape.
The Gr2 SA Oaks winner Wind Chill gives trainer Joey Soma a very rare Cape runner. She comes out of an eleventh placed finish in the Summer Cup and is a filly who may want a further 200m to show her best.
Second of the Mike de Kock duo, the Silvano mare Orchid Island comes in fresh off a slightly disappointing Summer Cup effort when she stayed on one-paced for sixth and just over 3 lengths behind Liege. She had decent classic form last term and, if not for her 16 draw, she could well run a big race for the place money.
It looks very tough for the balance.
An open weight-for-age contest and a prestigious and sought after prize in the SA stud book! Nother Russia can clock up her second Gr1 success and she is the selection to hold Nightingale, Silvan Star and the very decent Gimme Six. Include Lady In Black in bigger perms.
