Gathering Fame is the choice to win the Listed East Coast Cup
Dennis Drier and his stable jockey Sean Cormack can get their 2015 KZN Champions Season campaign under way at Greyville today. The top combination are represented by the classy Jet Master filly Gathering Fame who looks a serious contender for top honours in the R135 000 Listed East Coast Cup.
Met and L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Futura makes his 2015 KZN Champions Season debut in the sixth race and his presence is likely to be the major point of interest for punters.
The interprovincial mix of form makes this a tricky fillies and mares contest, with a few likely to show improvement with raised levels of fitness.
Scarlet Lady
The form of the Listed Scarlet Lady, run three weeks ago at Scottsville and won by Captain’s Daughter, looks to have some bearing – even though six of Sunday’s runners ran within 2,80 lengths of each other and start here at the same weight terms.
Johan Janse Van Vuuren’s Kahal mare Euphoria finished top the tree there, running a one length second after producing a sustained run from off the pace.
San Trip was a quarter length behind her but has only won once on the turf and has drawn wide on Sunday.
The first of the Justin Snaith runners is the former SA Oaks winner Ash Cloud, who ran fourth 1,50 lengths behind Captain’s Daughter.
The classy daughter of Black Minnaloushe ran on strongly from some way back – a good effort after a nine week break.
Very Smart
The Listed Jamaica Handicap winner Gathering Fame is a decent daughter of Jet Master and she should be cherry ripe at her third start back from her 100% strike (one run!) Cape campaign.
She ran a short head behind Ash Cloud there and has won twice at Greyville.
Supercede and Joey Ramsden’s Gallica Rose were just behind her and have both drawn very wide here.
Stan Elley’s Horse Chestnut grey Pecan Nut ran a modest debut in KZN when 6,80 lengths back in the Scarlet Lady.
Mike Bass saddles the smart Trippi filly Shingwedzi . The engagement of Anton Marcus naturally indicates that this is not a prep run for her.
Fitness Question
The Trippi filly Shingwedzi returns from a break
Shingwedzi returns to action from a 12 week break after running a decent 2,25 length third in the Gr3 Chairman’s Cup behind Coltrane.
She also ran on strongly for third in the Urban Honey Stayers on Met Day and showed her class with a smart third placing in the Gr2 Oaks last Champions Season.
If not in need of the outing, she could turn up fresh for a big run.
Her stablemate Counting Angels won her last start in the Cape some 12 weeks ago. She has drawn wide and may also need a run or two.
Gr1 Winner
Saint Sophia ran fourth in the race won by Counting Angels but meets her stablemate on a kilo better terms.
The daughter of Dynasty beat Gallica Rose at her penultimate outing on an objection, but has a 2kg weight swing against her.
Juvenile Gr1 winner Bilateral has yet to recapture the sparkling form of her first season but has been placed at her last two feature starts. She was well beaten in the Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap and then finished 7,80 lengths behind Pine Princess in the SA Oaks last time.
She is fit and could find her best form at any time.
Consistent
The Australian bred Mohave Princess is classy but has it all to do
Gavin Van Zyl’s Mohave Princess returned from a five month rest when running well back to Tamaanee in the Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg on Champions Day.
She has drawn on the wide outside and looks to have a tough ask here.
Duncan Howells’ consistent Toreador mare Roc ‘N Rose has won five races – but has also run a total of six seconds in her career!
Well drawn, fit and distance suited, she is overdue to win again and will have her supporters.
The beautifully bred Mike De Kock filly Square Dance has failed to fulfil her early promise. She did spark at her last outing when running on strongly for second behind Krystle Carrington in an MR 84 fillies handicap.
Only 3yo
Justin Snaith – looking for a big effort from his two
Justin Snaith saddles the only 3yo in the race in the Kahal filly Bountiful Harvest, who was beaten by stablemate Eros’ Girl at her last start in PE.
The lightly raced Team Valor bred filly has never been far off and faces a test against older fillies. But would not have been brought up to the KZN Champions Season had she not been rated by her connections.
The Sean Tarry-trained City Of Athens beat Roc ‘N Rose last time but has a 1,5kg weight turnaround against her and a wide draw to contend with.
The race is wide open. Gathering Fame is classy and will strip fit. She should have most to fear from Shingwedzi and Ash Cloud.
