Perfect Two. The Australian bred Arcetri Pink has won both her starts and looks way above average
Challenges from the Cape and KwaZulu Natal add plenty of interest to the R400 000 Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery to be run over 1160m at Turffontein on Saturday. The undefeated Arcetri Pink will have to be on her toes if she intends keeping her perfect record intact.
Geoff Woodruff’s daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar has made quite an impact since her winning debut on 12 February, and her follow up effort last time with a smooth win in the Pretty Polly Stakes stamped her as something rather special.
Anton Marcus rode Arcetri Pink last time but is replaced by Robbie Fradd, who won on her on debut. The puzzle is complicated by two isolated formlines provided by debut winners from the Ramsden and Howells yards, who venture into the Turffontein bull ring from their home provinces.
Fresh Air
Cape champion trainer Joey Ramsden brings his impressive debut winner Icy Winter Air up from Cape Town. The daughter of Western Winter was supported into 4 to 1, and disposed of her opposition in a most mature fashion.
She beat Darling Moon by two lengths and there are yet to be any winners emerging from those behind her. Ramsden has emerged as the leading Jooste trainer in the country and he must think highly of Icy Winter Air to have brought her all the way.
Good Family
Duncan Howells’ Belvedere Palace won at 5 to 2 over 1000m on her debut at Clairwood at the end of March, beating Agatha Panther. There are no winners to have emerged from behind her, but the daughter of King Of Kings is out of the Carlisle family’s good mare Polish Rebel, and the family can generally run.
Corne Spies sends out a coupling of debut winner Boarding Call and the maiden Sioux She. Boarding Call beat Miss Seattle by 1,75 lengths on her debut at long odds and was then scratched lame on the near fore from the Ruffian Stakes. We do not have knowledge of the extent of that injury, but if fit and well after a fourteen week break, could challenge for the places.
Sioux She is still a maiden and ran an excellent third behind Arcetri Pink at any price in the Pretty Polly Stakes at her second start. She then went off to Durban for an abortive attempt at the Strelitzia Stakes on 7 April. She meets Arcetri Pink on 3kgs worse terms and looks unlikely to turn the tables at this stage of the game.
One Up
Piere Strydom sides with the Listed Ruffian Stakes winner For The Lads, who has her fourth run. The daughter of Trippi is held by Arcetri Pink on their debut and Pretty Polly clashes, the latter where she finished 2,5 lengths behind the Woodruff filly.
This race is just 60m further, but this should play in For The Lad’s favour as she has proven to have sustained finishing burst on her. It is a moot point though whether she is capable of beating Arcetri Pink at level weights.
Top Jock
The engagement of Anton Marcus by Dominic Zaki to ride the maiden Tiger Quest will certainly raise eyebrows. The Australian bred daughter of Where’s That Tiger went second on debut to Virgo’s Babe, who had shown her own capabilities by running second behind For The Lads in the Listed Ruffian Stakes at her previous outing.
While Tiger Quest should technically be held by Virgo’s Babe, it is worth incorporating a dollop of experience and the Marcus factor into her second run here, and suggesting that she could turn the tables. Whatever, there will be little between the two.
Roy Magner sends out Vaal 1000m debut winner Usisi. The Australian bred daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar produced a strong finish to win on her supported first run.
She is very difficult to guage against this lot, but is surely capable of carrying the benefit of race experience and natural improvement into the places.
Invaders
Arcetri Pink looks a top sort in the making and she holds home ground advantage over Icy Winter Air and Belvedere Palace. She also appears to hold For The Lads. If the visitors are above average, either of them could upset the local.
