Fast! The Trippi filly Agra looks the banker in Friday’s Listed Milkwood Stakes
The R130 000 Listed Milkwood Stakes to be run over 1000m at Arlington on Friday has attracted a very competitive field of fillies and mares. It may well sound repetitive, but Justin Snaith and Piere Strydom appear to hold the aces again with the smart Trippi filly, Agra.
Interestingly, despite Snaith and Strydom forming a lethal combination in recent months, the wheels came off for punters last Friday with a confusing picture. Muzi Yeni rode Team Valor owned Valor Red for Snaith, to upstage Strydom on the Alan Greeff trained Silvan Spirit in the Listed East Cape Oaks. Now that the partners are back together, we expect things to go according to plan and Agra stands out as a likely winner.
Similiar
Interestingly, like Valor Red, Agra races in the patriotic silks of the Singh and Team Valor International partnership. A talking filly ever since she first set foot on a racecourse, she has won 4 of six starts and appears to have overcome a mid career slump that saw her lose form badly.
She registered wins at her first two starts, including a smart Listed victory at the second time of asking. Agra has won her last two outings in convincing style. She beat Gouldikova last time in a Conditions Plate at Kenilworth, and ran right away from the four time winner Vivalda at her penultimate start at Fairview. She really looks too strong.
Footloose
Justin Snaith has a powerful back up in the Black Minnaloushe filly Cat’s Paw. Strydom won on her last time out over the course and distance and has won 3 races in a lightly raced career. She may be better than rated and Muzi Yeni would just love to upstage Sriker again!
Case Closed
Relocated. The former Dennis Drier trained Sue For Peace is the class filly and has her first local run
If Agra is to be beaten, then Gavin Smith’s new inmate, the year older Sue For Peace could be the one to do the damage. The former Dennis Drier trained daughter of Western Winter is a five time winner who has taken on the very best of her sex in her former home province of KZN.
Knut Haug’s 4yo had her last start there just two weeks back when hanging and fading badly to finish over 12 lengths behind the champion 3yo Via Africa in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. At her previous outing in the Poinsettia Stakes, she ran just over five lengths behind the top class All Is Secret and if she has settled (she is fit!) in her new base, she could prove a moneyspinner in thee easier climes.
Hopefuls
Back Up, Cat’s Paw is Agra’s support and the lightly raced Snaith filly looks a good place prospect on her best form
Dorrie Sham’s duo of I Got You Babe and Jewel Of The Nile are both in with a shout. I Got You Babe has won five races and meets Cat’s Paw on 3,5kgs better terms than their last clash where she went down just under 3 lengths. The former Azzie runner Jewel Of The Nile may find this 200m short of her best, but won well last time and is ridden again by the improving Keanan Steyn.
Alan Greef’s Flashing Star and Three Nations have a tough task, but both are wvery capable on their day. Flashing Star is a 3yo daughter of Muhtafal who has won 2 of her 17 starts. She has been tamely off form of late, but is capable of bouncing back at any time and may prove value as a quartet kicker.
Three Nations is quite an interesting new addition to the local equine populace. The daughter of National Assembly was formetly with Stan Ferreira in Gauteng, where she won 3 of 14 starts. She has run some quick time and has bumped the better class sprinters at her recent starts there.
Three Nations may need this outing, but is a capable filly to monitor closely, if she adapts. Yvette Bremner’s former Joey Ramsden trained mare Maxixe and the Right Approach filly Pine Valley have been knocking at the door, but both step up a few rungs in competitiveness and may battle against the proven speed queens. The same applies to her third runner Danavano.
Loaded
The talented 3yo Agra looks to have too many guns at her side here. She is a confident banker selection to beat her stablemate Cat’s Paw, with Sue For Peace opening her PE account with a place cheque.
