Gr1 winner Smart Call – big run expected
They say that revenge is a dish best served cold. Top trainer Alec Laird is a man on a mission and the next chapter towards a prospective Paddock Stakes showdown of epic proportions between our top 3yo fillies of last season could be written at Turffontein on Tuesday evening.
The R1 million Maine Chance Farms Gr1 Paddock Stakes will be run in the height of the Cape Summer Of Champions season on 9 January 2016 at Kenilworth – on L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate day.
Alec Laird – looking for another good winner
And Alec Laird takes the first step towards that coveted trophy with his top-class Ideal World filly Smart Call, who makes her season debut in a R120 000 Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares under the lights on Tuesday evening.
One of the top 3yo’s last term, Smart Call became her sire’s first Gr1 winner when clinching the honours in the Woolavington 2000 beating Pine Princess and Trophy Wife at Greyville at the end of May.
But she was defeated in the Gr1 Garden Province and the Gauteng Guineas, with names like Siren’s Call and Same Jurisdiction ahead of her.
“I hear those top fillies will be down in the Cape and, look, we have a few scores to settle after being narrowly beaten last season. I have a three race plan for Smart Call, that will culminate in a bid at the Paddock Stakes in January,” said Alec Laird.
Does he realistically feel that she can win this prep?
“She is running fresh, and I believe the mile is her minimum trip. So the 1400m must be a concern. But she is good enough, and I believe fit enough to win a race of this nature. She is also handicapped to win it, so we must be positive about her chances,” he confirmed.
Who does he see as his charge’s major hurdle?
Bichette – paralyses her Gr2 Camellia Stakes field
“Sean Tarry’s filly Bichette has also been rested, but she is very effective over this trip and she absolutely slammed them in the Gr2 Camellia Stakes. She must be a runner,” warned Laird.
A daughter of Western Winter, the lightly raced Bichette certainly has the credentials.
Besides being a course and distance winner, she was not disgraced when finishing under 3 lengths behind champion speedster Captain Of All in the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Medallion at her last start.
The Devin Little trained Featherfoot ran a cracking fifth in the Gr2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge and won her penultimate jump in an MR 88 Handicap over the course and distance. The daughter of Silvano looks a place prospect.
Mike de Kock
Mike De Kock’s Australian bred Alice Springs finished just under two lengths adrift of Featherfoot in that feature, and is capable of improving further – but has to cope with a 2kg weight swing.
Piere Strydom rides Sarve for Corne Spies, but we prefer Andrew Fortune’s mount, Drifting Dusk.
The Lucky Houdalakis trained daughter of Dynasty has earlier positive collateral with Bichette, and could enjoy the kind hands of the master jockey.
Stan Ferreira’s Kwinta has consistent form, winning 3 from 7, and has drawn against the paint.
She was only 3 lengths behind Siren’s Call in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas at her one and only try in strong company, and it will be interesting to see her pitted against a serious Gr1 winner like Smart Call as a stronger filly into her early 4yo term.
For The Lads (right) is worth including in the quartets
Sean Tarry’s For The Lads has not recaptured her 2yo Gr1 winning form and was 9,75 lengths off Lazer Star in the Joburg Spring F&M Challenge last time.
The fact that this top yard is keeping her racing into her 5yo season, may well be an indicator not to write her off quite yet.
Be Mine Tonight has won six races but is racing off form of late and may battle on these weight terms with the big guns.
Alec Laird is not a man given to talking telephone numbers. But he sounded quietly confident about his three-race plan of action with the Ideal World star.
We are siding with her to get the better of Bichette, with Drifting Dusk securing third.
