While the smart Kangaroo Jack stands out as a potential banker in the boys’ equivalent , the fairer sex contest looks a little less cut-and-dried. What about Lazer Star regaining some of her old glory and bouncing back with a big run?
Lazer Star – could come back to her best
Trainer Michael Azzie must be pulling out what little hair he has left in despair with the talented Lazer Star, who has earned two modest place cheques for owners Adriaan and Rika Van Vuuren, who bought the Toreador galloper in training.
In her four runs for Azzie she has not been been her old self, but won this very race last year and she could come good and make it a double.
Lazer Star has won 7 races from her 15 starts and while poorly drawn, will have no excuses in terms of distance suitability or fitness.
The Azzman has some back-up in terms of Mella Maria, who has battled to register her third win. The daughter of Star Witness ran a poor race last time and comes off an eleven week break.
Traveller
Olma travels from KZN and while close to the top of our ratings, is another who has been rested and has a first run this term.
KZN raider Olma will be ridden by Piere Strydom
She has not previously travelled North with great success but as the top-rated galloper in the race and Piere Strydom in the saddle, must rank with a decent chance of coming back to her best.
S’manga Khumalo makes a welcome return from suspension and he partners Intergalactic, one of two Sean Tarry runners.
A recent course and distance winner, she never runs a bad race and impressed when running fourth in the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes on July day.
Her stablemate Visuality ran downfield in the Thekwini on Super Saturday but has been rested 9 weeks and will be looking to improve.
She carries bottom weight of 51kgs.
Loan Ranger
Gr2 Camellia Stakes winner Joan Ranger ran a cracker in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint (City Of Pietermaritzburg is what it is called nowadays) and then had a return run when fifth behind Intergalactic last time.
Joan Ranger gets the services of Andrew Fortune
The daughter of Horse Chestnut is well drawn and enjoys the services of Andrew Fortune – two major plusses!
The Tiger Ridge mare Crown Of Roses steps up in class and is probably best down the straight speed tracks. As a six-time winner, she cannot be ignored for the back end of quartets though.
Hollie Point has drawn 1 and is a consistent daughter of Silvano, who may be ahead of the handicapper still off her rating of 90.
So despite the fact that she looks to have plenty to do, she may be worth including as a possible surprise.
She’s A Dragon is 2kgs better off with Intergalactic for a 0,70 length beating last time and the daughter of Jay Peg may well be a few lengths better than her form may suggest.
Little
There appears little to choose between Kilauea and Joan Ranger on their last meeting and the lightly raced daughter of Trippi tries a little bit more ground again after not showing at the first time around the turn.
She is certainly bred to go a mile plus and if not too much in need of a run after a 23 week break, may be worth watching.
Gavin Van Zyl’s Bella Sonata tends to pull very hard and is not well in off her official rating.
Lazer Star, Hollie Point and Olma could be best in a tricky race.
Go wide in the exotics and cover with Intergalactic and Visuality.
