Champery is unbeaten in two starts
It is good to see two of the Cape’s well established ‘boutique’ yards holding the trump cards in a local feature for a change. Longtime Milnerton neighbours Eric Sands and Greg Ennion could be the names to follow in today’s R125 000 Listed Perfect Promise Sprint to be run over the Kenilworth 1200m straight.
The buying power naturally rests with the top five yards, but every now and again the smaller guys pick up a gem.
Greg ‘Genuine’ Ennion is known as an astute horseman with an educated eye and a knack of sourcing talent on four legs for 1980’s money.
Just Felicity wins her second start
He saddles just such a good example here in the Antonius Pius filly Just Felicity, a Highlands bred who cost just R40 000 on the Cape Ready To Run Sale. That’s vat on an average purchase!
Just Felicity made her debut on 17 January at any old price and bumped the subsequent stakes winner Princess Royal. The Ennion filly was outpaced early but stayed on for third and 1,55 lengths behind the highly rated Kotzen speedster.
She then won her maiden at her next start over Saturday’s course and distance and subsequently followed up again with a good win over My Emblem in mid March.
Time Of Sands
Eric Sands (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Eric Sands saddles My Emblem and the undefeated two time winning Querari filly, Champery.
Just Felicity and Champery independently beat My Emblem by the same margin and there can be little to choose between the only two-time winners in the race.
Anton Marcus travels to Cape Town again to ride My Emblem for the Joostes.
With a debut win and two subsequent seconds, she has done little wrong and steps up to the 1200m for the first time. In her favour, she enjoys a 2kg pull with her two conquerors.
Karl Neisius has been aboard Champery at her first two wins and he stays with her – a good sign. She is likely to enjoy the 1200m, and showed a lovely turn of foot when bouncing away from her opposition in the final 200m last time.
Snaith Duo
Richard Fourie (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Justin Snaith is always a man to consider in these 2yo features and his coupling will have to be respected.
Late jockey swaps have become a feature of the Snaith 2yo racers and on the assumption that Richard Fourie will ride Captain Al’s daughter Petala, she must rank as the stable elect.
The smart debut winner (which was ridden by Corne Orffer after Fourie jumped ship) showed a nice burst of acceleration to beat subsequent winner Rebel’s Idol and she will definitely prefer the extra 200m. She was touted a classy sort in the post-race interview.
Her stablemate Jo’s Bond is a late withdrawal.
Purple Patch
Dean Kannemeyer – fine run of form and saddles the Lecture filly Leylani
Dean Kannemeyer is enjoying a golden run from his KZN Summerveld satellite base and things have been ticking over in Cape Town too. He saddles the Lecture filly Leylani for Bryn Ressell and Marsh Shirtliff.
The big girl was all at sea on debut when she stayed on for third behind Just Felicity, who won her maiden that day.
Leylani made amends next time over Saturday’s course and distance beating Nordic Wind when staying on really smartly.
She is obviously a quickly improving sort and while beaten by Just Felicity, she does have a 2kg pull at the weights – that could make all the difference.
Shake It Up
Glen Puller’s speedy daughter of Warm White Night, Harlem Shake, is a late withdrawal.
The Team Valor International owned Speedball ran just under four lengths back on a long-priced debut three weeks ago.
She will have to improve on that effort but it is reasonable to deduce that her connections would not be throwing her into deeper waters had they not believed that she could be competitive – and she receives 4kgs from the two time winners.
Competitive
This is a very competitive little race with 70% of the field having qualified chances of taking home the trophy.
Just Felicity and Champery are both promising youngsters and could absorb the 2kg weight drag to fight it out.
Petala won her debut showing maturity and a touch of class – she is well bred to go all the way and could be the serious danger.
