Eventual Angel won her only start during an injury-interrupted Cape season. She can make a successful start to the new KZN season
Gr1 heroines Beach Beauty, Imperious Star and On Her Toes are among the winners of the Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes in the last five years, suggesting this is an important stepping stone to future glory. This year’s renewal of the 1400m conditions race poses a puzzle, with four of the ten 3yo fillies arriving from the Cape, and three of them making their KZN debut. Let’s take it from the top.
Maybe Yes represents the Crawford/Hatt combination. The daughter of Tiger Ridge ran the best race of her career last time out in the 1400m Prix du Cap, when third to Priceless Jewel. The handicapper agrees: the filly’s MR went up by 11 points, no less. Maybe Yes went into that race on a hattrick, having won her two previous outings over 1200m, each of those runs also representing a better effort than those that went before. She carries top weight here, but if she is still on the upgrade her number should be in the frame.
Highly Decorated hasn’t raced since the Fillies Guineas in December, when finishing last but one. Strydom was unable to settle her in that race, and the performance should be ignored. The time before she’d been second in the Fillies Championship, a neck behind In The Fast Lane, who won the Guineas next time out. The daughter of Captain Al was meant to have run in February (the Prix du Cap where Maybe Yes ran third), but was scratched, reportedly not eating up. Her current fitness should be taken on trust, especially as trainer Snaith has engaged Anton Marcus for the ride (and this is not a Jooste filly). A repeat of her Fillies Classic effort will give her a big chance here.
Princess Julietta has the services of Delpech for trainer Van Zyl. She is well exposed, and put up a career best effort last August in a 1200m sprint at Clairwood. She hasn’t been able to reproduce the rating we gave her for that win in four subsequent runs (her MR also went up and then came down again). Her last effort was a 3-length third to Via Africa (gave 8kg) in a 1000m sprint, which the winner doddled. So just what to make of the Princess is uncertain. Her sole high rating would put her at the top of the ratings, so she cannot be ignored.
Dennis Drier took Eventual Angel to the Cape for the summer, following a win and a second in her only two starts, both in KZN. The filly injured herself in the box, and only had one run in the Cape, late in January. That was a 1200m sprint at Kenilworth which she won well, putting up a career best rating (her MR went up 7 points). The fact that she drifted in the betting that day suggests that she certainly wasn’t fully wound up, and good improvement should be expected this time, her first try beyond sprints. The daughter of Right Approach is bound to be a serious contender.
African Dream won two in a row over 1200m, then finished fourth in a conditions race last time, beaten just over length, trying 1400. We rated her some way below what she’d shown the time before, and were left with the impression that she’d made her effort too soon. Just how good the daughter of Mogok is (or isn’t) and whether she really stays 1400m – perhaps this race will tell.
Australian bred Circle of Speed is a daughter of our Horse of the Year National Colour. The filly has already shown to stay further than her dam, and this 1400m will be no problem. What might count against her, though, is the tendency to miss the break – which she did the last two times – and then to come with a late run. Too late, as she may have been an unlucky loser of both those runs. She is bound to come from behind again (that is her style of running) and Khumalo looks to have his work cut out against strong opposition.
Sakania has quite a different running style, usually handy, sometimes making the pace. She looks to be somewhat of a 1400m specialist, and won her last start in fine style – making all. That earned her a 5 point MR increase, but even so she looks to have it all to do here. If nothing else, she will at least ensure a true run race.
Silvano-filly Vino Veritas has been running over further the last four times, winning her second lifetime start over 1600m early at 3. She ran well below best last time, as the 33/10 favourite (from 10/1opening odds) , fading badly. That wasn’t her form, and a better effort should be expected. On the other hand, the distance could be against her – she’s bred for at least a mile.
Castelnove has run just two times, both over 1200m, for a win and a disappointing fourth second time out. The Judpot-filly ought to improve on her debut rating, and should appreciate the increase in distance as well. She’s hard to assess on her form so far, and could be anything.
Red Flame has had two runs in the Cape, starting at odds-on the second time, and winning in good style – be it in weak company. Trainer Neil Bruss won’t have brought the Jet Master filly here just for the temperate winter climate, and she is another bound to be better than what she has shown so far.
In summary, a race full of uncertainties, and also one without an apparent stand-out. We stick out our neck with Eventual Angel, suggesting she may get the better of Highly Decorated, Princess Julietta and Maybe Yes. Certainly not a race to go short in!
