The expectation and hype generated by Sheikh Hamdan’s home-bred Al Hawraa after two eye-catching opening wins has fizzled out a little. But she could resurrect her reputation under the Turffontein lights this evening when she lines up in handicap company.
Al Hawraa is by former Epsom Derby and Champion Stakes winner New Approach, the first stallion ever to sire three juvenile Royal Ascot Stakes winners in the same year. His Yearlings sold for up to £420,000 in 2015 and averaged £162,000.
Al Hawraa the one to be with
The Mike de Kock-trained bay has had only six starts to date and after a facile debut win in February, she came out two months later to wallop Diamond In The Sky in the King’s Pact Stakes – also over the Scottsville 1000m.
That was the end of her winning streak as she was then sent into the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes when beaten 5,25 lengths by Cape star The Secret Is Out.
She was then stepped up to 1400m in the Gr2 Golden Slipper and once again failed to show, running 7,80 lengths off Kotzen’s talented Final Judgement.
Mike De Kock – saddles Al Hawraa and Nikki
Her first run as a 3yo delivered a near miss when she was run out of it late by the rampant Pearl Emblem in an MR80 Handicap on the Greyville poly 1400m.
Her last run was a dismal one again. Stepped up to feature company again, she failed to cope when beaten 13 lengths by the promising She’s A Giver in the Starling Stakes.
Back in handicap company, she could redeem herself.
Well drawn at 3, she steps out under the lights for the first time and bumps eleven seasoned sorts.
Her stablemate Nikki has drawn widest of all but ran a decent race when finishing 1,90 lengths behind last Saturday’s Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge placer Fort Ember at her last start.
The daughter of Fort Wood runs for Anthony Delpech and will enjoy this drop in class.
Andrew Fortune – hat trick last Saturday
Topping the weights and welcoming Saturday’s hat-trick man Andrew Fortune back to action is the six-time winning Jet Master mare, Be Mine Tonight.
A course and distance winner, the Wicklow Stud-bred galloper is seldom far off the action and likes to run up with the pace.
Piere Strydom partners Stuart Pettigrew’s Lateral mare, Future Fantastic.
Rested ten weeks since encountering some bad luck in running and falling out of the money behind feature prospect Penny Serenade, she has shown an affinity in her few encounters with Strydom and may challenge for honours if things go her way.
Her stablemate Jin-Go-Lo-Ba ran handily last time when finishing third and 2,10 lengths behind last Saturday’s Gr3 Fillies Mile fourth placed Babbling Brooke.
The daughter of Tiger Ridge has a galloping weight and a decent draw and must have place prospects.
Sean Tarry
Sean Tarry’s pair of Seventh Heart and the 26 week rested Eloquence look to have decent chances if fit and at their best.
Seventh Heart has a decent draw in the hands of S’manga Khumalo and has run too much stronger recently.
Alongside Al Hawraa, Last Chirp is the only other 3yo in the field and has decent recent form – that includes a length second to Gr3 Magnolia Handicap runner-up at her last start.
She must go into the exotics.
Tyrone Zackey had a nice winner on Summer Cup day and it would be foolish to disregard the always thereabouts Pennington Sands.
The daughter of Mogok looks for a little further than what she gets here, but seldom runs a poor race.
It looks tough for the rest.
Al Hawraa may find her winning ways again in this lower league and could have enough class to produce the goods.
Fellow 3yo Last Chirp and stablemate Nikki may be next best – but don’t disregard Future Fantastic and Be Mine Tonight.
