Bright Star! Sunshine Rock looks the part in the Listed Laisserfaire Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday
Plattner Racing honours the magical memories and legacy of one of their greatest horses in Saturday’s R125 000 Listed Laisserfaire Stakes to be run over 1100m at Kenilworth. The quality of the twelve strong field does plenty of justice to a true champion of days gone by.
A daughter of Danehill, the multiple Gr1 winning Laisserfaire won 12 of her 16 starts in the Plattner silks and retired after her second consecutive win in the SA Fillies Sprint in May 2002.
It is a great pity that the present day Plattner trainer Yogas Govender does not have a runner in this race, but Laisserfaire’s regular rider Karl Neisius builds the bridge into the next generation with his ride on Northern Heritage.
Another timeless link is Justin Snaith, the son of Laisserfaire’s original trainer, Chris Snaith, who sends out a three-way coupling.
Beware
As with most fillies and mares races, this little feature has ‘trap’ written all over it and the key could well lie with visiting trainer Dennis Drier, who saddles the Australian-bred 4yo Sunshine Rock.
The daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar has won 3 of her 4 starts, by a combined winning margin of 11,50 lengths and looks something special in the making.
She ran second to the top-class Cape Royal at her opening Cape run and then came out shunting to give Ginoclock 6kgs and a 3,50 length beating. Both starts were over the 1200m.
Sunshine Rock’s stablemate Miss October has lost form, but ran a fair fifth in the Southern Cross Stakes. She will have to revive the enthusiasm shown at her earlier starts to have any chance in this race.
Flyer
Another one of the four daughters of Var in this event is Vaughan Marshall’s flyer Valdivia, a winner of 3 of her 7 races and Gr1 placed.
Valdivia won her first three starts by a combined 16 lengths and has earned at every subsequent start. She ran a fair fourth behind the superfast Via Africa in the Tony Taberer Southern Cross Stakes and meets Reflective Image on a half kilo better terms for a 0,75 length beating.
On Reflection
Brett Crawford’s Olympic Duel Stakes winner Reflective Image ran on well in the Southern Cross Stakes for third and is a very consistent daughter of Tamburlaine. She finished 1,75 lengths behind Victorian Secret, whom she meets on 2kgs better terms.
Justin Snaith has a solid three-way coupling headed by the talented Victorian Secret.
The daughter of Captain Al ran on strongly when finishing second to Via Africa in the Southern Cross Stakes. She is a kilo worse off with Valdivia for a 2,50 length beating there.
Snaith also saddles the much-trumped Agra, who won her first two starts with ease. She probably needed the run last time when showing pace but stopping to run 6,75 lengths behind Via Africa.
If that run has brought along, Agra could yet realise the hype.
Fast
The third of the Snaith runners is the 5yo mare Lake Drawkso, who is very fast but should battle to cope with the younger up-and-coming group here. Lake Drawkso has not run for over 6 months and will in all likelihood need the run.
Mike Bass’ trio is headed by the surprise Champagne Stakes winner Northern Heritage, who disappointed at her last start won by her expensive stablemate Enchanting Cathy.
The latter bounced back to her best with a sweeping win in an MR 90 Handicap beating Sweet Aria by 0,75 lengths. She had the likes of Sue For Peace and Captain’s Lullaby well beaten, but is 2kgs worse off with Northern Heritage who ran 4,75 lengths behind her.
Splendid Sun makes up the Bass attack and looks hard-pressed.
In The Swim
Glen Kotzen’s KZN 1200 winner Blouberg Beach may have needed her last outing when showing good pace but fading to finish 8,50 lengths off Echanting Cathy. She was considered good enough for a Champions Season campaign last season and may be better than her form suggests.
Piet Steyn’s Money Surger bounced back out of the blue last time to win an MR 90 Handicap over the Kenilworth 1200m. She is a half kilo worse off with Enchanting Cathy who ran 1,45 lengths behind her.
Money Surger is a little inconsistent to take too seriously, but could boost the quartet dividend.
Hot Stuff
Trainer Dennis Drier won both the Cape Classic and the Gr2 Calulo Services Premier Trophy a fortnight ago. The yard is bang in form and they look to have yet another smart sprinter on their books. Sunshine Rock is a confident first choice.
A case can be made for a few of the others, but beyond Reflective Image and the smart Valdivia, the rest are quite in and out.
It’s the season to relax and enjoy the sunshine.
So rock on!
