The gutsy Jacaranda Handicap winner Orator’s Daughter looks a banker bet on Saturday
One has to feel for Bernard Fayd’herbe. The crack Cape heavyweight jockey rode an absolute pearler on Orator’s Daughter to win the Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap on Classic Day. Come Champions Day he is replaced by regular rider Anton Marcus who partners the talented grey daughter of Oratorio in the R400 000 Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes.
Marcus was away in Dubai riding a champion called Variety Club when Fayd’herbe flew into Johannesburg for four rides on that big day at the end of March.
Orator’s Daughter was up with the action for most of the race and Fayd’herbe kept an ice cool head and balance out of the top drawer to withstand the challenge of a few, including a flying Tip Toe who was getting 8kgs from his mount.
Marcus is retained by the Joostes and he thus rightly gets to pick their cherries. He should have little trouble in slotting back into his routine with Alec Laird’s terrific daughter of Oratorio. Can any of the six opponents that square up in a straightforward looking Place Accumalator opener beat Orator’s Daughter?
Cherry Ripe
Ormond Ferraris’ 2013 Triple Tiara winner Cherry On The Top certainly has the ability. The daughter of Tiger Ridge returned to action a fortnight ago in the Gr1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes. Drawn widest of all, she never showed before finishing seventh and 4,80 lengths behind sensational winner, Along Came Polly.
No Chokes
Gavin Van Zyl’s Tip Toe ran an excellent second in the Jacaranda Handicap, but then choked up in the Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes. She will no doubt be fitted with a tongue tie on Saturday but is 8kgs worse off with Orator’s Daughter. The Stipes Report tells the story: ‘Jockey R Danielson reported that Tip Toe choked up in running and as a result did not persevere with his mount in the latter stages. The Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine this filly.
Trainer G H van Zyl appeared before the Board and was questioned with regards to the performance of Tip Toe. The only explanation that he could offer the Board was that this filly had choked up in work previously and felt that it might now be necessary to race this filly equipped with a tongue tie. Trainer van Zyl’s explanation was noted.’
Outsider
Mike De Kock was responsible for an upset in this race last year when the 14 to 1 shot Checcetti got up to beat Cherry On The Cake and Pacific Dynasty. There may be an omen that Anton Marcus rode the favourite Enchanted Kingdom, who could only finish fourth.
De Kock saddles the Dansilli mare Espumanti, who made a welcome return to form with a good deadheat third behind Along Came Polly in the Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes. On that she holds both Cherry On The Top and Negev.
Distance Does It
Piere Strydom rides Sean Tarry’s Dynasty mare Tresco, who reeled off four good wins in a row over December and January. She finished 3,25 lengths back in the Jacaranda Handicap and meets Orator’s Daughter on 1,5kgs worse terms.
A minor plus in Tresco’s favour is that she will enjoy the extra 200m but it is really difficult seeing her passing the younger talent of Orator’s Daughter.
Disappointing
Louis Goosen’s Stronghold filly Negev continues to promise more than she delivers. She is another who made no show in the Gr1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes when rolling in close on ten lengths behind Along Came Polly.
While she ran just over 2 lengths back in a blanket finish in the Jacaranda Handicap, we have to go back to Feb for her last victory in an MR 86 Handicap over the Vaal 1400m. There is nothing in her cv to suggest that she goes this trip and she has to make up ground with Orator’s Daughter on 3,5kgs worse weight terms.
High Seas
Bernard Fayd’herbe gets a ride in the race and he has been engaged to ride Weiho Marwing’s Sky Pirate. The daughter of Victory Moon would be more competitive over further and while she will strip fit, she has not won in ages and will battle to upstage Orator’s Daughter. It should be a good race.
