Double Bid. Last year’s winner Cash Register could make it a Final Fling double with the wily Andrew Fortune in the saddle
The end of season clamour for black type continues with the running of the R 150 000 Gr3 Final Fling Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday. The WFA conditions favour the better horses, so there are not many that can win it. On paper, that is.
The Ladies Mile form predominates and that thread can be utilised to make some sense of what is quite a jumbled box of smarties.
Kotzen Kids
Glen Kotzen’s trio of last year’s Final Fling Stakes winner Cash Register, Imperial State and Spring Beauty all ran in the Ladies Mile. Imperial State ran on strongly late for second to be held to a head by winner Jet Lady, who doesn’t run here. Cash Register ran fifth, while Spring Beauty ran thirteenth.
Cash Register will be the preference on the weight turnaround as she meets Imperial State on 4, 5 kgs better terms for a half length deficit. Cash Register, the legendary Big City Life’s full sister, has won four times and is capable if she strips sound on the day. She took forever to get going down the outside under Karl Neisius in the Ladies Mile, and may enjoy an Andrew Fortune kind ride.
She ran a terrific fifth in the Peninsula Handicap over Saturday’s course and distance, and which was won by Hill Fifty Four. She only has to repeat that effort to have a big say. And it is also worth noting that she has finally cracked a favourable draw.
Gap
Hat Trick. The improving 3yo Schism (yellow & blue) won the Winter Oaks and aims for a nice hat trick
Joey Ramsden’s Schism looks to be the best of the quartet of 3yo’s in the race. The daughter of Count Dubois has reeled off two wins at her last two outings and that included a gutsy Listed Winter Oaks win. She holds Gypsy Madonna, who ran fourth in the Oaks. While still having plenty to do at the weights, Schism is improving fast and gets the services of bouncing Sherman Brown.
Bass Four
Mike Bass saddles the well tried foursome of Margaret Court, Pan Amm, Bella Nero and Gypsy Madonna. The Jamaica Handicap winner Pan Amm is the likely strongest contender of those four. The daughter of Jet Master has managed 4 wins from her sixteen starts and showed her versatility at her penultimate start when winning a 1400m Conditions Plate at Kenilworth.She is infinitely more comfortable over the 1800m and runs for Chris Puller.
Margaret Court is held by Cash Register and Dumani on their Ladies Mile meeting. She has her 33rd run here and well seldom very far back, appears to have lost the winning knack. Bella Nero adopted a change from her frontru nning tactics in the Ladies Mile and ended up running on very strongly for fourth there. She is a little bit in and out and has more to do here.
Gypsy Madonna ran a nice fourth in the Oaks, but as mentioned is held by Schism on that showing and also on their previous meeting. She has pulled a 1 draw, but it is doubtful whether Grant Van Niekerk will be waving at his opposition in the final 100m here!
Magical
Consistent. The Fort Wood filly Dumani is always in the action and could challenge on best form
Justin Snaith is still chasing the magical double century of winners mark and he saddles all of Dumani, Rain Gal and Augusta National. There should be little to choose between Dumani and Rain Gal, with the latter steadily edging back to her best form. Rain Gal showed the appreciation for the ground when running on strongly to be beaten 1,30 lengths by Schism over the course and distance last time. She is now 5,5kgs better off with the Ramsden runner and should in essence turn the tables on her.
The Fort Wood filly Dumani appears to be equally effective in the Eastern and Western Cape and has won two of her last three outings. Her last win when beating Mission House by 2,50 lengths over the Durbanville 1400m gave ample evidence of her well being. She will be ridden by PE jockey, Wayne Agrella. Augusta National returns from KZN where she ran three fair races without winning. She is a filly with a fair turn of foot, and if settled and over the travel rigours,she could threaten for place money.
Balance
The balance should struggle. Stephen Page’s Dancing Dynasty has won 2 from 10 starts, but finished tenth in the Ladies Mile. She was however only 1,75 length back and will prefer the extra 200m here. The three time winner Takeyouroath has not won in a year of trying and while 5kgs better off with Schism after being beaten four lengths by her last time, she may still battle. Nonki Poo returns from a rather unsuccessful KZN campaign, where she failed to earn. She is also drawn wide at 13.
Rating
The well drawn Cash Register has earned a rating at the top of the charts here and while she appears to have her soundness issues, will get every chance from the saddle with Andrew Fortune up. Dumani and Rain Gal are both hard knockers who cannot be ignored and should give her most cheek. Ramsden’s improving 3yo Schism could be the lurker and it would hardly surprise were she to register her hat trick of wins.
