Hidden Beauty – won the Gauteng Fillies Nursery last season
Summer Speedsters Stakes over 1000m at Vaal (sand) on Tuesday
With two non black type feature events taking place at the Vaal on Tuesday racing on sand comes to the fore in midweek. At the weights two runners stand out in the Summer Speedsters Stakes, but one of them has proven herself in top grade company and should take a lot of beating here, writes Steve Furnish.
The class act in the race is of course Hidden Beauty. Formerly with Paul Matchett, this daughter of Victory Moon won the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Nursery last season and then went on to run a very creditable third to the champion filly Princess Victoria in the Gr1 Allan Robertson. She was racing on sand for the first time when third to Ibrox Park on her seasonal debut in November and then having her first run for Sean Tarry she won a conditions event over today’s course and distance by three and three quarters with a ton in hand. Hidden Beauty couldn’t have been more impressive and she had the best weighted of her opponents here behind her. Hidden Beauty has her third run after a rest here and although she would ideally prefer further, she is not easy to oppose.
Raise The Bar
Hidden Beauty’s former stable companion Raise The Bar has won three of her seven starts at this circuit and although it was in much weaker company, she has won over today’s trip. She would ideally prefer a little further, but she was running on strongly when second to Hidden Beauty on the same terms as those of today’s in her penultimate start, and having won her only subsequent outing, she is clearly at the top of her game.
Ibrox Park
The runner up in the 2010 Gauteng Fillies Nursery, the Camden Park filly Ibrox Park was once rated seven points higher in the handicap than she is here. She’s battled to reach the same heights since returning from a seven months layoff in May, but she has taken to the sand and is at her best over 1000m. Ibrox Park won well when beating Hidden Beauty in November, but she was then beaten with consummate ease by that one after making the running on similar terms last time out.
Blingle Bells
The best weighted of Leon Erasmus’ two runners is last year’s winner of this event Blingle Bells. She’s gained all three of her career wins over today’s course and distance and is sure to give of her best. She does look held on an earlier meeting with Raise The Bar though and she did finish behind that one when amongst those trounced by Hidden Beauty last time out.
Club Captain
Since shedding her maiden tag over today’s course and distance in June, Blingle Bell’s stable companion Club Captain has only managed to make the frame three times in ten starts. She’s badly out at the weights here and cannot be seriously fancied.
Laurel Canyon
Roy Magner’s charge bounced right back to best when cruising in by four in a MR73 Handicap over 1200m at this circuit last time out. That was only her third success from 21 outings and although she has won over 1000m on turf, she is yet to finish better than fourth in two outings over today’s trip. She jumps considerably in class here and out at the weights to boot will not find this easy.
La Volta
Sent off deep in the red in her first two career starts, the Var filly La Volta came to the racecourse with a big reputation. She was unable to win in four outings prior to an eight month layoff and although she did show good pace when opening her account over today’s trip last time out, she didn’t bump the strongest of maiden fields. La Volta was having her third run after the rest when winning last time out though and further improvement should be forthcoming.
Kahal’s Fantasy
Accustomed to racing in much weaker company, Kahal’s Fantasy has only managed one win in thirteen outings since opening her account on debut. That latest success was over today’s course and distance and she was then thought good enough to contest the listed Banyana Handicap in September. After racing in touch with the leaders she folded tamely in that event though and both Blingle Bells and Ibrox Park were many lengths ahead of her.
Agapanthus Nana
After winning impressively on debut, Agapanthus Nana contested the Gr2 Odessa Fillies Championship in just her second career outing back in 2010. Since returning from a ten month break after finishing down field in that event though, this daughter of Spectrum has failed to make the frame in four starts.
About The Pace
With a number of contenders for the role of front runner in the field, the pace should be on. Ibrox Park and La Volta look the most likely to make the running and a brisk early pace will put several under pressure. Hidden Beauty is accustomed to racing handy though, and she has also won from the front over today’s distance on turf. She put the best of these to bed in no uncertain terms when winning over the course and distance last tine out and today’s outcome looks likely to be the same.
