Atlantic Oak - has her third run after the rest.
Conditions Plate over 1600m at Turffontein on Tuesday night
Heading up a very busy five card program in midweek is a conditions plate at Turffontein on Tuesday night. Just nine will go to post in a race that surprisingly only attracted fourteen entries, writes Steve Furnish.
Set to shoulder top weight of 60kg are both Stormy Coast and Europa Point.
Stormy Coast
The grey Stormy Coast showed real promise early on and after running third in the Gauteng Fillies Nursery she contested Gr1 features in Natal. George Scott’s charge found the company a bit too hot in those events and although she has won three of her fifteen starts since, she has been unable to fulfill that early potential. Her current form is well below best and out at the weights with most here, she is not easy to fancy.
Without Malice
As well as Stormy Coast, trainer George Scott is also represented by Without Malice. She was at the top of her game at this stage of the season last year and finished a runner up to the talented Hollywoodboulevard in both the Fillies Mile and Three Troikas Stakes. This daughter of Jet Master was reported as lame on the near hind when scratched from her next scheduled start in the Fillies Guineas in Feburary though and was then not seen out until July. Her ratings have shown her to be below best in her four starts since her return and although she does have a shout at the weights here, others are preferred.
Europa Point
One of three runners from the stable of Mike De Kock, Europa Point is not well weighted here. This lightly raced daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar has won four of her eight starts though and does clearly have plenty of scope for further improvement. She won with authority in handicap company last time out and although on paper she has no chance, I wouldn’t be surprised if she made the frame.
Checcetti
Best in at the weights of Mike’s three runners is the Kahal filly Checcetti. She too is lightly raced and having been thought good enough to contest the Fillies Mile last season, it could well be that we haven’t seen the best of her yet. She was reported as being lame on the near hind in her latest scheduled outing back in April though and having not been seen out since, she may well be in need of the run here.
Atlantic Oak
With Anthony Delpech in the saddle and having shown her well being last time out, the stable elect from the De Kock stable must surely be Atlantic Oak. Sixth in the 2010 Gr1 Woolavington prior to an eleven month layoff, this daughter of Singspiel has always been highly regarded. She was finishing best of all when only beaten a half length by her talented stable companion Empenoso Henn last time out and having her third run after a three month break here, she should now be at her peak.
Spiced Gold
As with a number of the runners here Spiced Gold was contesting features as a 3yo and she did then show her class when dead-heating with the very talented Here To Win in the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic as a 4yo last season. She would undoubtedly be a very serious runner if reproducing that kind of form here, but she has had three layoffs since then and although she did win an Allowance Plate in her penultimate start, her ratings have been below best.
Chances Are
Joey Soma’s charge came to hand nicely towards the end of last season and fully deserved her back to back wins. She’s failed to make her presence felt since being stepped up in class on her return from a three month break in September and on those efforts would look to have a bit to find here. She was only five lengths off Hollywoodboulevard in the Three Troikas last season though and if repeating that effort she would be in the shake up.
Knock And Announce
A winner of three of her twelve starts to date, St John Gray’s charge is as honest as they come. She showed her well being when a close up fourth over 1450m on her return from a six month layoff last time out and she has won one of her two previous starts over today’s distance. At the weights though she would have to improve some 14 points in the handicap in order to just compete here and on that she cannot be fancied.
Danish
Rated five points inferior to her stable companion Knock And Announce by the official handicapper, St John Gray’s other runner Danish is clearly up against it here.
About The Pace
Although just nine go to post, there is enough speed in the race to ensure a decent pace. One of the few in form, Atlantic Oak has come to hand nicely since returning from a break and has to rate the one to beat here.
