Frosted Honey – best form to date
There are no standout star performers in Saturday’s Gr2 The Debutante to be run over 1200m at Greyville on Saturday. With a flicker of Gr2 form to her credit, Mike Azzie’s Western Winter filly Frosted Honey could well be the sensible choice – although unexposed ability could be a curved ball amongst her ten opponents.
Azzie won the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes with the classy looking Rabada early in June and other than a few run-of-the-mill winners, he will be keen to get back on to the feature winning roll – and Frosted Honey could be the lady to do just that.
Gavin Lerena – rides Frosted Honey
Gavin Lerena is in the saddle again and he was the man aboard at the Nutfield Stud-bred racer’s best performance – when running on stoutly for a 2,50 length second behind Entisaar in the Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery at her penultimate start.
Entisaar subsequently went on to show that she is a leader of the current generation with a solid walloping of Golden Slipper disappointment Princess Royal in the Gr1 Allan Roberston Championship.
That makes Frosted Honey’s form look good – despite her own Golden Slipper flop when just under five lengths but with eleven runners, including Chestnuts N Pearls, in front of her in the Slipper.
The rest are much of a muchness.
Duncan Howells’ Scottsville debut winner Cosmic Light has her second run.
Cosmic Light – won on debut
The daughter of Querari (aren’t they doing well!) was unfancied but came home laughing by two lengths to beat Durban Blues – who subsequently ran six lengths off Cutting Edge in the KZN Yearling Sale Million. Her 11 draw at her first Greyville start won’t make it easy for her.
Anton Marcus and Charles Laird team up with polytrack winner Harvest Queen – who was beaten out of the money in the Devon Air Stakes.
She was also well beaten behind Faberge Style at her last start and has some ground to make up to win here – even with the benefit of a 2 draw.
Lucky Houdalakis trained Khaleesi was strongly supported in the market when cracking her maiden at the Vaal at her third start.
Piere Strydom – rides Khaleesi
Piere Strydom sticks with her and on breeding she is bound to enjoy the extra 200m – although has a tough wide draw to overcome.
Doug Campbell’s Visionaire filly Lala won her course and distance debut with impressive ease but was then well beaten – including a 14 length deficit in the Allan Robertson.
Her last start on the polytrack was much better as she was beaten 0,75 lengths by Faberge Style and comes in here jumping from the 1 draw. Her track experience will be invaluable – but is she in this class?
S’manga Khumalo and Sean Tarry team up with Turffontein 1000m debut winner Rebel To The Fore. The Digteby Stud-bred Rebel King filly was a relatively cheap (at R50k) purchase but showed pace and maturity.
She is difficult to assess – but a top stable can never be underestimated.
Kum Naidoo has two in the race. Simla is still a maiden, but has placed at 3 of her 4 starts and looks a decent little filly in the making.
Her stablemate Roy’s Goddess won at her third time of asking and ran a not disgraced 5 odd lengths back in the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes behind Royal Pleasure.
She is the most experienced filly in the field but has failed to fire in her last 3 starts.
Johan Janse Van Vuuren’s Sobonana finished 0,75 lengths behind Lala last time out on the poly – a good post maiden run. She is ridden again by Anthony Delpech and that alone is a sign that she may be worth following.
Tide Is Turning was beaten into fourth at her second start at Scottsville on Sunday after a good debut – but will need to improve plenty to feature.
Toni Performs has failed to follow through on her 800m debut win and cannot be fancied on current form.
Frosted Honey has the best exposed form – and she could be the one to be with. Cosmic Light and Rebel To The Fore have done little wrong – and pencil Strydom’s Khaleesi in as a danger.
