The outstanding Captain Al sprinter Carry On Alice is back for her third year of chasing silverware on Scottsville’s premier speed raceday. Sean Tarry’s 4yo looks set to make it a double when lining up in the R600 000 City Of Pietermaritzburg Gr1 Fillies Sprint.
S’manga Khumalo knows Carry On Alice better than any other jockey and the former SA champion rider has been aboard at all eight of her victories he looks ready to make it a fourth Gr1 on the Klawervlei star.
Carry On Alice – looks a good thing!
Interestingly, she was sent in against the boys in the 2014 Gr1 Gold Medallion and was not disgraced when going down a quarter length second, with the likes of Harry’s Son and Anjaal well beaten behind her.
At the weights it is difficult to find anything to stop a supremely fit and peak Carry On Alice registering a double – and there is no Alboran Sea this time to trouble her.
Dean Kannemeyer and Anthony Delpech are a red hot combination and they team up with the quickly improving Trippi 4yo, Real Princess.
Poinsettia Stakes winner Real Princess
She looks primed to strike after two smart preps – including a win in the Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes over the course and distance last time.
She is 2kgs worse off with the hardknocking Lanner Falcon but her trainer has rated Real Princess Gr1 material from day one – and is confident she can underscore the confidence.
Mike Bass has a coupling in the race.
Lanner Falcon – game and consistent
Lanner Falcon ran on powerfully last time in the Poinsettia Stakes to be beaten 0,25 lengths by Real Princess and meets the year younger Kannemeyer galloper on 2kgs better terms.
That brings the versatile daughter of Trippi right into the equation if Alice fluffs her lines.
The Gr1 winning Fly By Night has placed in consecutive years in this race – running third last year – but has not been at her best lately and was well beaten by Real Princess in the Poinsettia Stakes last time.
The smart Toreador filly Lazer Star had a disappointing first run for the Mike Azzie yard in the Gr2 Camellia Stakes, when a relatively quiet fourth.
A consistent sort and a Gr2 winner, she travels out of her home province for the first time and a lot will depend on how she handles the new surface.
Glen Kotzen’s well-related Gr2 Sceptre Stakes winner Princess Royal meets Princess Royal on 1,5kgs better terms for a 3 length beating in the Poinsettia Stakes.
Princess Royal – all class
She ran second behind Entisaar in the Allan Roberston last year and will enjoy her rails position from the 1 draw.
Piere Strydom gets the mount on Justin Snaith’s Victoria Lavelle, who ran a o,30 length third behind Real Princess in the Poinsettia.
The 3yo daughter of Captain Al is a half kilo worse off with the Kannemeyer galloper, but can challenge for the places.
Camellia Stakes winner Joan Ranger
Visiting filly Joan Ranger won the Gr2 Camellia Stakes last time out but is 2kgs worse off with Lazer Star (2,85 lengths back). She is a course and distance winner and is still improving.
Paul Gadsby’s Miss Varlicious is a game winner of 5 of her 11 starts but faces some decent opposition at weight-for-age.
Elusivenchantment is an interesting runner off her 92 rating.
The daughter of Elusive Fort has won 3 of her 6 starts but unexposed at this level.
It looks tough to oppose Carry On Alice.
She is the confident choice to hold Lanner Falcon and Real Princess
