Carry On Alice charges clear to win the Gr1 SA Nursery and down the boys
Gr1 SA Nursery winner Carry On Alice makes her debut as a 3yo when she takes on a mixed field in her first run at the Vaal on Thursday. The Sean Tarry trained daughter of Captain Al looks a cut above her opposition and on the weight terms she should be good enough to win, even if a touch ring rusty.
Rain robbed us of the chance to shout our top bet Rake’s Chestnut home after last Tuesday’s Vaal turf meeting was washed out, but we have another instance of a slung-in high-class looking bet in the R100 000 Progress Plate run over 1000m.
Considered by many pundits to be a serious contender for SA Champion 2yo filly honours last term, Carry On Alice returns to action following a 17 week break after running a cracking second to the top class Same Jurisdiction in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes on Super Saturday.
Top Class
Her earlier sprint form was exemplary.
She was very narrowly beaten by Guiness against the colts in the Gr1 Gold Medallion , where she may have been a touch unlucky in the running.
While that effort may have been slightly below her superb Gr1 SA Nursery effort, when she downed the then undefeated Listed Storm Bird Stakes winner Banadeer in great style, she is a ball of fire over the minimum trip and looks unstoppable here.
Challengers?
Mike Azzie trains Flame Cat
It is difficult pinpointing something likely to beat her.
Mike Azzie’s Flame Cat has developed nicely into her 3yo season and ran a fair fifth and only 4,50 lengths off Majmu in the Gr3 Starling Stakes over a distance in advance of her arguably favoured trip.
That said, Carry On Alice has beaten her previously on more than one occasion, and fitness could be the only likely reversal.
Well Named
Dom Zaki’s Antonius Pius gelding Victorious is a speedy course and distance winner. He was beaten by the well performed Trip Tease last time by 14 lengths and the evidence of a respiratory noise will not be an encouraging factor.
He did beat Trip To Heaven to win his maiden and that went on to run third to Harry’s Son in the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes.
Escapist
Corne Spies – Fire Horse has place prospects
Corne Spies-trained Fire Horse has only run one poor race in his five starts to date and that was 9 lengths behind Harry’s Son in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes.
The son of Sail From Seattle looks a versatile and capable sprinter in the making and while he has ground to make up at the weights on the Tarry speedster, he could come out flying and try and escape the pack.
Carry On Alice’ debut winning stablemate Al Dee Kay carries bottomwight with some discount from top apprentice Ryan Munger. She is largely an unknown quantity at this point.
Straightforward
At the weights, it looks a doddle for Carry On Alice. Sean Tarry has also struck peak form.
We are going confidently with her to beat Fire Horse and Flame Cat.
This game can look easy sometimes.
