Delago Deluxe is all speed
Gr2 SA Nursery at Turffontein on Saturday
Juveniles are now well into their first season. Normally distance suitability comes into play at the beginning of April. It follows that if a youngster isn’t bred to sprint, the SA Nursery won’t be won. With the likes of Tiza, Rebel King and Warm White Night amongst winners in the last few years, the point seems well illustrated, writes KAREL MIEDEMA.
On ratings achieved to date, two runners stand out. Australian import Delago Deluxe is unbeaten in two starts and looks to be something special. He’s by sprint/miler Encosta de Lago out of a mare who won 3 times from 1400 to 1600m. That means he probably has enough speed for this contest, even though he should be a sprint/miler as well and may need more than 1100m now.
Delago Deluxe has an interesting pedigree: his sire’s dam is half sister to Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Flying Spur, while his dam is also by Flying Spur – that’s real speed.
The Australian’s closest opponent should be Midnight Serenade, winner of his first two starts, but beaten out of sight by Delago Deluxe when the pair last met, in the Protea Stakes over 1100m on the inside track here. That probably wasn’t a true reflection of the ability of Midnight Serenade, who made the running from a wide draw on what was soft going, and dropped out in the final furlong. More should be expected here, even if he may not turn the tables.
Midnight Serenade’s dam Sapphire Serenade, by Harry Hotspur, was a proper sprinter who won five times over five furlongs. His sire Malhub was a sprinter, who stayed 12/1400m. In other words, Midnight Serenade is a sprinter, and ideally distance suited.
Paul Matchett has engaged Felix Coetzee to ride Astro News, the third best in our ratings. He showed promising form at his first three starts, and finished less than 2 lengths behind Midnight Serenade in the Storm Bird Stakes early in March. His subsequent run, over this course and distance where he started at 5/2, was a disappointment as he failed to run on. Not surprisingly, perhaps, as that was in mid-April and Astro News should need more ground now. He’s by Silvano out of a mare who won seven times up to a mile (and stayed a mile well).
Charles Laird saddles a second Australian import, Tennessee Strategy. He won his first start, then finished second the next time, over this course and distance, to Mike de Kock’s Right Beauty. The latter made his debut, and won by a length, in receipt of 3kg from his opponent. Right Beauty ought to improve on that first effort (most juveniles do from their first to second start), but he’s by Right Approach out of Fillies Guineas winner Emerald Beauty and seems likely to need more than sprints to be seen at best. Tennessee Strategy is by Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Stratum, a sprinter by Redoute’s Choice. Tennessee might well be a sprinter then, and could easily turn the tables on Right Beauty.
Herman Brown brings Natal-runner Nine Tail Cat, who won well at short odds on his debut in January. His dam was a 5-time winning sprinter, so he could be a sprinter as well. Assuming that he’s fit and well, he should improve on his rating – and could be anything. Nine Tail Cat is by Gr1 miler Black Minnaloushe, and so is another once-raced debut winner, Key Ridge. That one scored at odds of 2/1 over 1000m at the Vaal in mid-April. He should improve, but is another who might well need more ground to be seen at best, as his (who never won) stayed a mile.
The rest of the runners look to be out of their depth.
The pace is bound to be decent in this twelve-runner event. It’s difficult to oppose Delago Deluxe to remain unbeaten, but Midnight Serenade should not be taken lightly and will probably represent good value in the race. Tennessee Strategy looks the one to make up the trifecta, with Nine Tail Cat the dark horse.
