Dual Gr1 winner Princess Victoria is rated well clear of her opposition.
Gr2 Choice Carriers Fillies Championship over 1400m at Kenilworth (old course) on Saturday
Some top class young females have won the Fillies Championship in recent years, most notably Mother Russia and Ebony Flyer. Thirteen go to post this time around and with a merit rating some nine above that of her rivals, Princess Victoria looks the most likely to follow in their footsteps, writes Steve Furnish.
A fluent winner of four of her five starts, Princess Victoria’s only defeat came when a runner up to Trinity House on debut, and beaten just a length, Glen Kotzen’s charge was finishing best of all. She cruised in by three when taking on the boys in the prestigious listed Summer Juvenile Stakes on Met Day and after winning her first start in Natal, she showed her class by winning both the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship and the Gr1 Golden Slipper. Her victory in the Allan Robertson was effortless and not particularly well drawn when going today’s distance for the first time in the Golden Slipper, she again won with authority. Further improvement looks sure to be forthcoming from this daughter of Victory Moon and drawn well here she’ll take a lot of beating if anywhere near her best.
Blouberg Beach
As well as the short priced favourite, trainer Glen Kotzen is also represented by the Dynasty filly Blouberg Beach. She ran on well when opening her account over 1200m on debut in July and she did have excuses, having lost four lengths at the start, when finishing well down field next time out. She won well when taking on older rivals in a MR70 Handicap last time out and she too can still improve plenty.
Trinity House
After beating Princess Victoria on debut back in January, the Captain Al filly Trinity House went on to win four in a row and amongst those successes was the Gr3 Fillies Nursery and the listed Fillies Sprint. She was taking on Princess Victoria for the first time since that debut win when beaten 6,25 lengths after holding every chance in the Golden Slipper in her only subsequent start though, and meeting on the same terms here, she does look held.
Sophormore runner up Super Elegant commands a nice turn of foot
Super Elegant
Piet Steyn’s charge commands a nice turn of foot on her day and is clearly much better than her current record of one win from six starts would suggest. Indeed, she’s caught the eye running on best of all on a number of occasions, most notably when only beaten 1,1 lengths by Trinity House in the Fillies Nursery last season and when third to State Blue in the Gr3 Champagne Stakes on her seasonal debut. She was again running on strongly at the finish when a runner up in the listed sophomore Sprint last time out and amongst those behind her that day were the subsequent Gr3 Cape Classic winner Depardieu. Super Elegant has her third run after the rest here and the extra 200m of today’s trip looks sure to suit.
Madame Rooney
This daughter of Windrush is as consistent as they come and having made the frame in both the listed Irridescence Stakes and Gr1 Thekweni Stakes, she is clearly very useful. Carl Burger’s charge has proven to be at her best racing up with, or close to the speed, and she has won over 1400m at Kenilworth. Madame Rooney is poorly drawn here though, and she did battle to get in a blow on the only other occasion in which she was drawn wide over a similar distance. She is not going to find it easy here.
Dark Journey
Trainer Carl Burger is also represented by the Black Minnaloushe filly Dark Journey. Also at her best from the front, Dark Journey has drawn very nicely here. Her two wins have both come in weaker company though and she has already been well beaten by Trinity House on two occasions when previously contesting feature events.
Thunder Dance
Supported in all three starts, the Jet Master filly Thunder Dance has progressed nicely since making a typically moderate debut in May. Indeed, since returning from a short break after that first effort, she’s won both starts with authority. Thunder Dance does now take a big step up in class, but she could yet prove to be anything.
Sarasini
A regular visitor for the Cape Town season, Natal based trainer Dennis Drier is represented by both Sarasini and Miss Ipanema.
Formerly with Geoff Woodruff, Sarasini came to the track with a very big reputation on debut and backed as if unbeatable, she eventually left the stalls at 7/20 after opening up at 12/10. She was outpaced after holding every chance in that maiden juvenile event won by Victrixit though, and it wasn’t until she arrived in Natal after a break that she began to show some form. On the face of it she would look to have little chance here having only scraped home in a maiden event over 1000m last time out, but she did win quite a bit more easily than the official winning margin of a neck would suggest and she will no doubt prefer the extra here.
Miss Ipanema
When running on stoutly to finish second in each of her first two career starts, one got the impression that the General Nediym filly Miss Ipanema would go on to better things. She has won since over today’s distance at Greyville in July, but other than that effort, that early potential has not yet been fulfilled. She was reported as taking no interest when a 6,8 lengths sixth in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes in her final start last season, but she was staying on when fifth to Mary Stuart on her seasonal debut over 1200m last time out. Further improvement should be forthcoming now back over 1400m, and interestingly, especially taking into account her wide draw, stable jockey Alec Forbes takes the ride.
Ocean’s Swift
After taking four runs to shed her maiden tag, Justin Snaith’s charge showed considerable improvement when winning the Lady’s Slipper Stakes over 1400m at Fairview next time out. She was reported as lame on the near fore when finishing down field in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes next time out and has not been seen out since. This daughter of Captain Al has quite a bit to find on bare form, but she can only improve if all is now well.
Daintree Dancer
Another to take a few runs to find her feet is the Mossman filly Daintree Dancer. She took five starts to win her maiden, but then when taking on stronger in her only subsequent outing she won with authority, and that despite being reported as coughing and being disadvantaged by a slipped saddle. She does now take on even stronger of course, but she is clearly going the right way.
Alpha Lady
Lightly raced Alpha Lady has been showing steady improvement with each outing and fully deserved her win in maiden company last time out. She does look held on her running to Daintree Dancer in her penultimate start though, and drawn wide to boot, she is not easy to fancy here.
Topsy Turvy
Lowest rated of the thirteen is the Tara’s Halls filly Topsy Turvy. She made all when winning the first juvenile event of the season last year, but that was over 800m and she did only just hold on. She failed to get within ten lengths of a winner in her two subsequent starts over 1000m and although those efforts were in good company, she is best just watched for now.
About The Pace
With a fair proportion of the runners preferring to race up with or close to the speed, a fair pace can be expected. Princess Victoria won well when gaining back to back victories in top grade company at the end of last season and it has been clearly evident that we have not seen the best of her yet. She rates nine points clear of her twelve rivals here and if anywhere near ready, she should take some beating.
