“I rate her in the top five fillies I have trained.” The words of veteran trainer Mike Azzie when approached for a comment on his Australian-bred recent debut winner San Fermin, who steps into the higher league when she takes on nine of her contemporaries in the R275 000 Gr3 Fillies Mile at Turffontein on Saturday.
Australian-bred San Fermin is something special
The Drakenstein Stud-owned daughter of Charge Forward came out three weeks ago and paralysed her opposition to the tune of some seven lengths over 1400m. She steps up to the mile on Saturday.
We put it to the Azzman that it wasn’t his style to throw a maiden winner into the deep end.
“Well that shows how highly I rate her. She is something special and I feel she deserves her chance to take on that Gr3 field on Saturday. I believe that she is ready and that she can win it,” he said confidently.
Grant van Niekerk takes the reins from Karl Zechner who partnered San Fermin on debut. Van Niekerk was aboard her stablemate Mrs O, who disappointed in the Starling Stakes.
“Grant (van Niekerk) got off Mrs O after the Starling Stakes. He conceded he had not covered himself in glory and that six lengths defeat was not her run. We have put Bernard Fayd’herbe up for Green Street Bloodstock on Saturday and I am expecting a much better run from the daughter of Oratorio. She carried no weight but ran on well for second behind the seasoned Bella Sonata in the Gr2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge. We believe she will enjoy the mile,” he added.
Of the balance, Starling Stakes runner-up Folk Dance has proven a consistent and capable filly and her 2yo mile Gr1 placing behind the highly regarded Lady In Black is testimony to the likelihood that she will enjoy the 1600m. Well drawn – as opposed to her Starling Stakes run where she jumped at 13 from 16 – she must rank as a massive threat.
Alec Laird’s Cashel Palace won her maiden over the mile by over 8 lengths and followed up with a good win in a small MR 82 handicap field. She has her first dip into feature company and could be equal to the task.
It looks tough for the balance.
We are siding confidently in the Azzman’s assessment of San Fermin. She looks special enough to win this.
