The Listed Milkwood Stakes heads an eight race card on the Fairview turf this afternoon. The fillies and mares handicap will be run down the Fairview 1000m straight.
Bernard Fayd’herbe has formed a good relationship with the smart Oratorio filly Carlita, who will carry top weight in the eleven horse field.
Classy Carlita can defy the weights (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
The fillies and mares handicap down the 1000m straight has attracted a smart field of eleven headed by the smart Oratorio filly Carlita, who responded to the fitment of blinkers last time over the course and distance to win well. That was her third start since her return from Cape Town, where she failed to fire in the Sceptre Stakes. With top heavyweight Bernard Fayd’herbe aboard for the third consecutive time, she must be a massive runner.
Duncan McKenzie’s consistent and game 4yo Horse Haizi was beaten a half length there by Carlita and comes in with a possible match winning 3,5kgs discount on Friday. On these weight terms she looks a serious contender to register a first stakes success.
The Carlita 11 May win is a thread of form that runs through most of the contenders here and Seattle Oak was beaten into fifth and under a length off Carlita – she enjoys a 3kg benefit at the weights.
The high quality Gauteng stakes winner Via Seattle gets the blinkers fitted for the first time and was a quarter length in front of Seattle Oak. She is 1,5kgs better off and is another who should be in the mix – particularly if the headgear gives her an edge.
Via Seattle gets the blinkers (Pic – JC Photos)
The former Joey Ramsden trained Sugerpova was found not striding out in that same event where she pulled up 23 lengths off the winner. At her previous start, she ran a decent fifth off Make It Raine and a line could probably thus be drawn through her last start, if she arrives sound.
The Australian bred Make It Raine appears to have lost none of her zest for racing at the age of 6 and could have a shout if repeating her last run when a 0,60 length third to Carlita. While only a half kilo better off, she needs some luck on her side, but is a quality five-time winner.
The former Azzie-trained Mrs O has not won in ages and after a good opening start in the Eastern Cape in April, she was slow away before finishing under 4 lengths off Carlita. She is 2,5kgs better off here and on her best Gauteng form could find her feet to run a big race.
Last of the Alan Greeff quartet and the mount of Greg Cheyne, Saltire comes off a break of 14 weeks since running a below-par kind of race in the Lady’s Pendant
One of the Bremner sextet, Astisia has won once and placed once in her eleven starts and appears to be struggling.
A four-time winner, Candy Crush shows plenty of pace but has modest recent form and has not won in ages.
A consistent mare, Silva Key has shown good recent form on the polytrack and enjoys a handy galloping weight of 52kgs.
So a tricky handicap, with the collateral of a blanket finish not necessarily as reliable as it may appear at face value. Carlita has shown her class as a decent filly and she could defy the weight turnaround and go in again. She is the selection ahead of Via Seattle and Make It Raine.
The first race is off at 12h30, and opens the Bipot.
The false rail is set at 6m of zero to the 1200m, increasing to 6.5m to the 800m mark, with a 6.5m spur.
First-timers / rested horses comments:
1 12:30 – ITSARUSH.CO.ZA WELCOMES YOU MAIDEN JUVENILE PLATE
4 COVE FORT A C Greeff: No comment given
5 CROISADE DE VERITE G D Smith: Speedy type, should be green
6 MARKET LEADER Y Bremner: No comment given
7 TEOFILIA A C Greeff: No comment given
2 13:05 – ALL TO COME MAIDEN PLATE
2 TORAN THE TIGER JVA Strydom: Too short
3 BO MAMBO A C Greeff: No comment given
4 ADIOS GRINGO JVA Strydom: No comment given
7 FREEDOM TRAIL G D Smith: Looking for further, will be green
5 14:55 – WWW.TABONLINE.CO.ZA MR 80 HANDICAP
2 VIVIR A C Greeff: First run for yard, nice filly
6 15:30 – MILKWOOD STAKES (Listed)
4 SALTIRE A C Greeff: No comment given.
