The well weighted Welwitschia won this race in 2012
Eight of the runners here contested the Gr3 Sycamore Sprint over today’s course and distance earlier in the month. There is a significant difference here though. Whereas the Sycamore was a handicap the Camellia is a conditions race, and that clearly favours some much more than others.
By far the best in at the weights are Welwitschia and the 3yo Tiger Quest. A winner over various distances up to 1600m, Welwitschia is probably at her very best sprinting.
She won this race by three and a quarter back in 2012, and having recently won the Gr2 Diadem Stakes in Cape Town she is clearly in fine fettle. Anton Marcus takes the ride and with a minimum pull of 5,5kg with all except Tiger Quest at the weights here, she has to be a very serious runner.
Tiger Quest
Tiger Quest has plenty in the tank
The Where’s That Tiger filly Tiger Quest has won five of her twelve outings thus far, and amongst those successes was a win over Jackodore in her only start over today’s course and distance.
She was completing a hat-trick when beating the subsequent Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Arcetri Pink here over 1000m in her next start, and at that point in her career further improvement looked sure to be forthcoming.
In comparison she’s been disappointing in her two outings since, but one of those was on sand. Piere Strydom jumps back into the saddle here, and with the weights in her favour she should be right there.
Mike’s Trio
As well as Welwitschia, globetrotter Mike De Kock also saddles both Honorine and Tayba. The Australian bred daughter of Redoute’s Choice Honorine showed real potential earlier in her career, most notably when third in the Gr1 Golden Horseshoe.
She challenged strongly when beaten only half a length in the listed Bauhinia Handicap after a five month layoff in March and she was cramped late when only 1,65 lengths off Sharp Design last time out. Expect a bold effort.
Tayba’s most recent outings have been on sand where she’s won three of four starts. She did win her latest outing on turf though, and interestingly, she did run Eastern Greeting (last year’s winner of this race) to a length and a half in Feb ’13. This daughter of Atyab does return from a seven month break here though, and jockey bookings would suggest that she is just prepping here.
Kinematic Countess
Fifth in this race last year, Roy Magner’s charge had seven of these behind her when running on stoutly to win the Gr3 Sycamore Handicap over today’s course and distance last time out. S’manga Khumalo stays with this consistent Count Dubois mare, and fairly treated with most at the weights here she could make the frame again.
Team Tarry
Sean Tarry has a very strong hand
Trainer Sean Tarry’s four runners are all capable on their day and so it is not easy to determine the stable elect. Since returning from a nine month layoff in February Mary Stuart has come to hand nicely and she was only picked off very late when beaten half a length by Kinetic Countess in the Sycamore last time out. She ran the talented Deliver The Power to a length and a half in the Gr3 Man O’ War Sprint prior to her layoff, she could still improve.
Dolomiti is a bit of an enigma. She’s shown a nice turn of foot in winning four of her ten career starts and I get the feeling that we have by no means seen the best of her yet. She was steadily gaining on Tiger Quest when beaten a length and three quarters by that one in November and although she is now 1kg worse off at the weights there clearly is very little between them.
Gr1 placed earlier in her career, Extra Zero has gained all three of her wins over today’s trip. At first glance she would look to be below her former best since returning from a 21 month break in January and strictly by the book she is held on those efforts.
She was finishing best of all when only two and three quarter lengths behind Kinematic Countess last time out though and she is currently well handicapped. Each way chance. Making up Sean’s quartet of runners is She’s A Stunner.
Just two lengths off Ebony Flyer in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint back in 2012 this Toreador mare is without a win now in 20 starts. She is now 3kg better off at the weights with Kinematic Countess for a 2,5 lengths beating in the Sycamore here though, and she has since run a close up fourth to Sharp Design.
Alcanina
After winning her first three career starts Brian Wiid’s charge then ran third in this race last year. Since then though, she’s only had five outings and has been unable to get in a blow in either. She’s perhaps best just watched for now.
Fanzene
Luchelle Kruger’s charge has never been the most consistent of characters, but she has nonetheless won six of her 40 starts. She ran on strongly from off the pace when causing a major upset (110/1) in the Gr3 Magnolia Handicap over today’s course and distance in November, but she is worst in at the weights here and on that alone she does look unlikely.
Euphoria
This daughter of Kahal is more often than not seen out over further these days. Interestingly, though, two of her three wins have been gained over 1200m. She’s sure to be doing her best work late, but she will need to show considerable improvement if she is to make the frame here.
Kings V
A bit of a dark horse is the 3yo Kings V. She’s only won a maiden plate as yet, but she did show considerable improvement when fourth to the subsequent Gr1 SA Fillies Classic winner Athina in the Gr3 Three Troikas over 1450m in February, and she was finishing best of all when only beaten a length and a quarter by Weekend Special over 1200m in her penultimate outing. She’s far from consistent, but one does get the impression that on a good day that there is further improvement to come.
About The Pace
Although out and out frontrunners are at a premium in this event, there is enough speed in the race to ensure an honest gallop. If this race were run on paper it would be a straight fight between Welwitschia and Tiger Quest.
Neither has been at their very best in their last two starts though, and that opens it up. If they do fluff their lines then Honorine or Extra Zero could be the ones to take advantage.
