Gr3 Diana Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville on Saturday
Ebony Flyer beat Igugu in last season’s Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas
With Igugu having gone on to become the first horse in history to win the Triple Tiara, not to mention the prestigious Durban July, all eyes at Durbanville on Saturday will undoubtedly be on her Cape Guineas conqueror Ebony Flyer, writes Steve Furnish.
A daughter of champion sire Jet Master, Ebony Flyer won her first three career starts in impressive fashion and so it was no surprise to see her deep in the red when beating the now legendary Igugu by a length and a quarter in the guineas . Her only subsequent start came in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate where as a 3yo she took on the best of our older horses and met defeat for the first time. After finishing a three length third to Mother Russia in that event though, Ebony Flyer was scoped after the race and it was found that her breathing was not correct. Indeed, she was partially paralysed on the one side of her passage and was unable to take in the amount of oxygen that she needed. The problem was found to have worsened when arriving in Durban for their season and it was then decided that she should have a wind op. When asked about her well being earlier in the week, Justin said that she had had a number of gallops and that he was happy with her progress. Her main objective is undoubtedly this season’s Gr1 Queen’s Plate and if successful there, that would open up the door to a crack at one of the world’s biggest races, the Breeder’s Cup. Her well being rather than a win is clearly of the utmost importance in this her first outing since January, and Justin would have preferred to have raced her at Kenilworth. She is normally quick off the mark though, and she has won on the very fast and sharp Arlington circuit in Port Elizabeth. Her return is sure to be greeted with great anticipation and excitement by all.
Winner of last season's Gr1 Paddock Stakes.
Emerald Cove
As well as the potential champion Ebony Flyer, trainer Justin Snaith is also represented by the second highest rated runner in the field Emerald Cove. After being beaten 6,75 lengths by her very talented stable companion in the Fillies Guineas last season, this daughter of Captain Al won the prestigious Gr1 Paddock Stakes in her next start. She was only 2,4 lengths off Igugu when eighth in the July in her penultimate start and she did then wind up a very successful campaign last season with a second placing to Beach Beauty in the Gr2 Gold Bracelet. Emerald Cove makes her seasonal debut here and as with Ebony Flyer undoubtedly has bigger targets in mind. What is interesting here though, is that Emerald Cove has won three of her five starts over 1400m and one of those successes was gained over today’s course and distance.
Hollywoodboulevard beat Igugu when winning last season’s Ready To Run Cup.
Hollywoodboulevard
Another runner in this race to have beaten Igugu before that one set off on her tremendous winning run is Hollywoodboulvevard. Formally with Charles Laird, this daughter of Street Cry went on to win four in a row after beating Igugu by a length in the prestigious Ready To Run Cup at this stage of the season last year. Hollywoodboulevard looked to be a champion in the making at that point of her career, but in her only two subsequent outings Igugu did then gain revenge in no uncertain terms. She’s been off the track for six months now and as with Ebony Flyer bigger targets will no doubt be in mind. Interestingly though, she did win her only previous start over today’s distance and she has also won twice over 1450m. She will be right there if ready.
Leeward
The dark horse of the race is undoubtedly the 3yo Leeward. From a stable not renowned for producing first time out winners, Joey Ramsden’s charge has progressed very nicely since showing promise on debut in February. Indeed, she’s won four in a row and has shown good improvement on each occasion. Leeward does now take a big step up in class, but she has done all that has been asked of her in good style thus far and could yet prove to be anything.
Maxixe
The Western Winter filly Maxixe has shown flashes of real ability and is silently progressing very nicely. She’s shown a fair turn of foot in winning five of her fifteen starts and she has won two of her three outings over today’s distance. She’s at the top of her game right now and although she does clearly take a big step up in class here, earning her first piece of black type is certainly not out of the question.
In Like Flynn
The highest rated of Joey’s two older runners is In Like Flynn. A 4yo daughter of National Assembly, In Like Flynn has been very consistent and is not far off the best of her generation. She’s gained two of her four successes over 1400m and she was far from disgraced when sixth in this race last year. As with Emerald Cove, In Like Flynn was well beaten by Ebony Flyer in both the Gr2 Odessa Fillies Championship and the Gr1 Fillies Guineas last season though, and she too is returning from a break here.
Barcelona Winter
Another to have done absolutely nothing wrong is the Yogis Govender trained Barcelona Winter. Off the track for four months after flying up late to win on debut in July ’10, this daughter of Western Winter then took a couple of starts to come to hand. Since returning from another four month absence in June of this year though, she’s won both starts comfortably. As with a number of the runners here, Barcelona Winter is now taking on much stronger. She should be at her peak having her third run after the rest though, and she could still improve considerably.
School Captain
Also representing the stable of Yogis Govender is the Captain Al filly School Captain. She too showed promise early on and after winning three in a row took her chances in the Fillies Championship and Fillies Guineas last season. As with the rest of the field in those events though, she couldn’t live with Ebony Flyer and she has been beaten by both In Like Flynn and Maxixe since.
Frequent Flyer
A winner four of her eight outings to date, Brett Crawford’s charge has already been successful twice over 1400m and those victories include her only previous outing over today’s course and distance. She’s been coming along nicely since shedding her maiden tag a year ago and she did win particularly well when beating Approach Me in the listed Reebok Stormvlei Mile over 1600m at Kenilworth last time out. She was only beaten a length and three quarters by the talented Covenant in her penultimate start and is clearly still improving. She has a stiff task at the weights here, but if ready after a break, she could make the frame.
Dark Journey
One of just two 3yo’s in the race, Dark Journey progressed nicely during her first campaign last season and was far from disgraced when fifth to the useful Trinity House in the Gr3 Cape Fillies Nursery. Strictly by the book she is held by Leeward on their running in the listed Irridescence Stakes as she was beaten 2,8 lengths and is 2kg worse off at the weights here. She was running on nicely at the finish of that 1500m event though so further improvement can be expected.
About The Pace
The pace is usually on at this sharp Durbanville circuit and with a number of candidates for the role of front runner that should certainly be the case again here. The three with the highest merit ratings in the race are top class and although they are all coming off a break and have bigger targets in mind, one of them will probably win it. Everybody in horse racing loves a champion and Ebony Flyer did look like she would be just that before a break. I shout for her.
