Blue skies and heavy underfoot conditions will greet the seven 2yo fillies who clash in the R125 000 Listed Irridescence Stakes at Kenilworth today.
With all of them trying the 1500m for the first time, a surprise result could be on the cards.
Coral Bay beats Santa Clara in the Nursery – they meet again today (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Candice Bass-Robinson has a very strong hand with the three-way coupling of Kenilworth Fillies Nursery runner-up Santa Clara and the dual stakes-placed Judpot filly Nous Voila, as well as recent maiden winner Cruise Along.
Nous Voila finished a further 0,75 lengths behind Santa Clara in the Nursery and steps up in ground with stable jockey Aldo Domeyer taking the ride.
A daughter of Duke Of Marmalade, out of an unraced full sister to Silvano, Santa Clara will definitely enjoy the 300m extra. The equally beautifully bred Nous Voila should also relish the extra on breeding, but has hit a flat spot twice in her two most recent starts. That could be an indicator that she is indeed looking for ground.
Kenilworth Fillies Nursery winner Coral Bay had Santa Clara and Nous Voila behind her there and this daughter of Ideal World out of a Fort Wood mare can only be even more effective over the 1500m and beyond. With Richard Fourie in the irons, she must be a serious contender.
Cruise Along beat Sparkeling Fire at her third start over the Kenilworth 1400m at her third outing and even though held by Nous Voila on her debut run, looks like she is improving quickly.
Donovan Dillon – stays with Helen’s Ideal
Donovan Dillon rides Helen’s Ideal (yet another daughter of the in form Ideal World) who caught the eye with a runaway maiden win in early June over the Kenilworth 1200m. She showed pace and stayed on to win going away in a decent time.
Sugerpova (Silvano) was dropped back to the sprints to win her maiden over the Kenilworth five furlongs and then followed up with a reasonable – albeit well beaten – second behind Vodka Lime two weeks ago.
Valderrama cracked her maiden at her fifth start from a wide draw over the Kenilworth 1400m. The daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar took a while to find her feet but won going away and can now go on with it.
The tricky underfoot conditions and the step up in trip make this a tough race to find the winner. From the Nursery winner Coral Bay, to recent impressive debut winner Helen’s Ideal and the Bass pair – it’s competitive!
They are all in with a shout and it will hinge on who handles the heavy track best.
