Justin Snaith’s promising filly Arria could open her KZN account on Sunday (Photo: Equine Edge)
The early interprovincial juvenile form strength will be tested on Sunday when twelve 2yo fillies line up in the R200 000 Gr2 The Debutante. The Scottsville track often swings the odds in favour of a hometown victory, but there will have to be a good ‘un to beat Justin Snaith’s Antonius Pius flyer, Arria.
One thing that this game has taught us is that we should never get too excited about 2yo brilliance and sizzling winning streaks. So many champions have departed sooner than they arrived. Our statistical history books are littered with the broken souls of dented reputations and shattered dreams.
Promising
But in every crop there are the standouts, and the Snaith’s Arria looks to be one of those prodigious talents in the fashioning. A winner of both her starts over the Kenilworth 1000m, Arria is not a tearaway speedster but has shown an ability to kick on off her high cruising speed.
The Scottsville track will test her ability but she has looked top class to date and she must go down as a first choice with bigger fish to fry in the next few months.
But assessing form that is so widely scattered geographically amongst a bunch that can improve lengths at every outing is a dangerous pursuit. So if we are influenced by the powerful stables, then so be it.
Impressive
Duncan Howell’s Judpot filly Just Lucky was an impressive runaway winner over the course and distance on debut. She ran green and can only improve on that run. A big plus is that she is running on home turf! Charles Laird sends out the unbeaten Trippi filly Beloved Country.
She took on the boys in the Sentinel Stakes at her second start when slow away and drawing clear late to win. Anton Marcus does not ride her and there must also be a question mark against her getting the 1200m.
Kotzen’s Caper
Glen Kotzen brings the unbeaten Kildonan filly Rosier to the KZN capital city. She went to Fairview in mid March after winning her Kenilworth debut and chalked up a first stakes win for her sire, when winning the Listed East Cape Nursery beating Cotton Candy.
The latter is trained by the Snaiths, so they may have a line to determine their prospects. Mike De Kock’s Ad Idem won on a well supported debut beating the Glen Kotzen trained Garden Treasure by a quarter length. She is a beautiful daughter of Jet Master and looks to have plenty of scope.
Joey In Town
Joey Ramsden sends out the Western Winter filly Thaler Point for Peter De Beyer. She won her third start over the Durbanville 1300m by six lengths, but is held by Rosier on an earlier run.
The Mike Bass trained Seventh Rock filly Seven Grand won her 800m debut in good style but was then easily beaten by Arria next time out. She meets the Snaith runner on 2kgs better terms but will have to have improved to challenge.
Mike Azzie’s Australian bred daughter of Choisir, Lady Ky, shed her maiden at the Vaal two weeks ago at her fourth try. She appeared to appreciate the switch back to the sprints and tis may well be her game. Her trainer certainly has a powerful strong of yoingsters this season.
Roberts’ Duo
Michael Roberts sends out a Black Minnaloushe coupling of Spanish Flamenco and Whistling Wonder. Spanish Flamenco ran third on debut and then upped her game over the course and distance to run out an emphatic winner of her maiden at her second start.
Whistling Wonder showed good pace in the Strelitzia Stakes at her last start but faded to finish just under seven lengths off Rich Girl. Robbie Hill saddles the Dynasty filly Suri, who won at the second time of asking. She has been scratched twice since and that must be of some concern.
Kum Naidoo’s Bezrin filly Shuvrani is still a maiden and she ran a weak race at Clairwood last week in sticky going. She is well held by Just Lucky.
Arria But Open
Arria is the obvious boom filly and we have been very impressed by what she has shown so far. Just Lucky has done nothing wrong either and Rosier looks something special. The only guarantee is that we will see a clearer 2yo picture post this race.
