The unbeaten in two runs Persian Rug – will she be ready?
Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Chestnuts N Pearls looks the natural choices in the R600 000 Gr1 Thekwini Stakes. But she will have to get past the unbeaten Mike De Kock-trained Ideal World filly Persian Rug, who faces her toughest test to date when she steps into the major league at Greyville today.
Another chapter could well be written in the good luck story of the lovely big scopy Persian Rug.
The Mauritzfontein product races in the interests of De Kock assistants Nathan Kotzen and Steven Jell and looks to be way above average.
Distance
Despite racing green at both her 1400m starts, she is yet to be beaten and looks likely to enjoy every inch of the extra 200m. Current SA champion jockey S’manga Khumalo rides her again.
The 2yo female form is rather in and out, but her major opposition may come in the form of recent Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Chestnuts N Pearls.
Golden Slipper winner Chestnuts N Pearls is on the improve
The daughter of Horse Chestnut slammed a quality field on July day, that included the highly-rated, Princess Royal.
She had failed to come up to scratch at her penultimate start in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship but the extra 200m on Saturday is also likely to be up her alley and prove no problem for the Dennis Drier trained filly.
The only concern at this stage is probably the possible unavailability of regular rider Sean Cormack, who was injured at the same venue last weekend.
Cool Chick
Another major player will be Flying Ice.
Devon Air winner Flying Ice
Neil Bruss saddles the Listed Devon Air Stakes winner, who, like Chestnuts N Pearls, also got the better of Almashooqa when registering her second win from two starts at Greyville last time.
Bernard Fayd’herbe replaces Weichong Marwing on the Go Deputy filly and she faces her acid test over the extra 200m. But could well be up to it.
Mike Azzie has four runners in the race and after the failure of Frosted Honey in the Gr2 The Debutante last weekend, the Querari filly Melliflora looks a possible better bet. But that is said with little confidence, as La Strada finished best of the quartet in the Golden Slipper- albeit by under a length.
While she failed to deliver any threat in the Golden Slipper, Melliflora bounced back last time to score a convincing Conditions Plate win at Greyville in a small field.
Her stablemate Mella Maria finished a length ahead of her in the Golden Slipper, and impressed at her penultimate when beating De Kock’s Sharp Princess – who subsequently finished behind Frosted Honey in the Gr1 feature.
Gallant
Lauderdale has been thereabouts and confirmed her gallant Devon Air Stakes third behind Flying Ice, when nabbing a fourth cheque in the Golden Slipper. She is held by Persian Rug on her earlier form, but will enjoy the mile test and looks a decent place bet on her consistent formline.
Another held by Persian Rug is Big Sugar, who ran fifth in the Devon Air at her last outing.
The daughter of More Than Ready is unfavourably drawn, but enjoys the services of Anton Marcus. She will need to show more.
Piere Strydom and Paul Peter team up with recent maiden winner Fort Ember.
The daughter of Elusive Fort is (along with Melliflora) one of only two winners over a mile. She finished 1,50 lengths behind Flying Ice on debut and may be worth including on bigger perms – given the Striker factor.
Pure Speed
Sean Tarry’s speedy Trippi filly Old Em has her first run in KZN and her step up from the straight track to a mile.
She has drawn quite wide at 12, but has the advantage of solid gate speed. Whether she has the legs to stay the mile is in some doubt – her dam won up to 1200m only.
Richard Fourie – rides Queen Of Credit
Queen Of Credit was beaten 3,80 lengths in the Golden Slipper after a narrow maiden win at this track.Richard Fourie retains the ride but she will need some luck from a ten draw.
Sentinel Stakes winner Silvan Jazz is a speedy daughter of Silvano, who has failed to feature in the Godolphin Barb and the Golden Slipper. She has shown little to suggest that she will be a factor here.
Muddled Form
With the in and out form amongst the youngsters, it may be prudent to side with the feature performers Flying Ice and Chestnuts N Pearls – with Persian Rug the unexposed quantity.
The latter looks a classical filly in the making and she is the selection to give Ideal World his second Gr1 winner.
