The Black Rose - A fluent winner of both starts
East Cape Fillies Nursery (L) over 1200m at Fairview on Friday
With only non-black type feature events heading up the cards at the so called major centres this weekend the main focus of attention switches to Port Elizabeth where two listed races are up for grabs. As is usually the case in these types of events trainer Justin Snaith is sending Cape Town based runners with very serious form, most notably The Black Rose in the East Cape Fillies Nursery, writes Steve Furnish
One of just two unbeaten runners in the field, The Black Rose has found support, and won with authority in both starts. The form of her latest win is clearly strong as the runner up Coniston Gold (her stable companion) has since beaten four of today’s opponents and the third placed runner that day Captain Dino has since finished third in the prestigious listed Summer Juvenile Stakes on Met Day. On the evidence of that latest success this daughter of Black Minnaloushe looks sure to get the extra and she could yet turn out to be anything.
Cotillion
The only other runner yet to taste defeat is the Silvano filly Cotillion. Nibbled at into 4/1 from 6’s when winning her only start, which was contested by males, as well as females, just two weeks ago, Yvette Bremner’s charge is also clearly very useful. The form of that win isn’t easy to assess as the heavily supported runner up has not raced since. The third horse that day though was Blackmalkin, and he had previously finished just a length and a half behind the highly regarded Sedge. She too could be anything.
Oceans Swift
Olympic Victory
As well as Cotillion the progressive stable of Yvette Bremner is also represented by all of Olympic Victory, Guided Arrow and Mary Martha. Olympic Victory has shown good improvement with each outing since finishing last of fourteen behind The Black Rose over 800m on debut in December, and she was finishing best of all when only beaten a length and a quarter by Coniston Gold when traveling further than 800m for the first time last time out. With Karis Teetan on board, one might expect Cotillion to be the stable elect, but it is worth noting that apprentice Andrews does regularly ride for the stable and he did partner Olympic Victory when she won last time out.
Guided Arrow
The Muhtafal filly Guided Arrow would look well held having finished 5,75 lengths behind her stable companion Cotillion in her only start just two weeks ago. 2yo’s are capable of considerable improvement at this stage of the season though and whereas she had a relatively inexperienced apprentice on board that day, she now gets the services of one of our top jockeys Musi Yeni.
Mary Martha
Making up Yvette’s quartet of runners is the Kabool filly Mary Martha. She’s been well beaten in both outings though and cannot be seriously fancied here.
Ann’s Jet
Along with that of Gavin Smith, the powerful local stable of Alan Greeff can also be relied upon to produce some very useful juveniles and in Ann’s Jet, Quinan and Rush To Gold, he too holds a strong hand.
Fourth to Coniston Gold in her only start, Ann’s Jet was freely available at 66/1 and clearly ran above expectations. Indeed, after being a little slow into stride, this daughter of Announce ran on nicely from the rear and did well to get within 1,6 lengths of the winner. She looks sure to come on stacks for that effort and the booking of Alec Forbes would suggest that a big run is expected.
Rush To Gold
With stable jockey M J Byleveld on board though, one would expect the stable elect to be Rush For Gold. After making all over 800m on debut, this speedy daughter of Var was thought good enough to contest the listed Summer Juvenile Stakes in Cape Town and having previously done well in that race, Alan clearly has a high regard for her. Restless in the stalls that day though, Rush To Gold folded tamely after racing prominent and having been reported as blowing when not striding out last time out one has to have concerns.
Quinan
Making up Alan’s trio is the Qui Danzig filly Quinan. She raced in the rear after losing four lengths at the start in her only outing and was never able to get in a blow. She was staying on at the finish when only beaten six lengths by Cotillion that day and interestingly, Kendal Minnie, who also partnered Ann’s Jet last time out, will again be in the saddle. As to whether Kendal is there by choice is another matter, but either way, Quinan looks sure to improve plenty.
Tobe’s Lass
Corne Spies’ charge was thought good enough to contest the Summer Juvenile Stakes after running a fair fifth on debut and she did find outside support. She dropped right out after racing handy in that 1000m event, but she did then show improvement when racing over 1100m here last month. Tobe’s Lass kept on strongly to finish third in the closing stages of that race won by Coniston Gold and that despite the whip breaking. She again performed poorly when returning to 1000m in Cape Town last time out, but now back over further, and having the very talented Bernard Fayd’Herbe in the saddle, we should see the best of her.
Deepo
As with that of Alan Greeff, one would expect to see a strong representation from the stable of Gavin Smith. Dangerously though, Gavin’s two runners have seemingly little form. The Albert Hall filly Deepo was clearly just having a run when well beaten by Cotillion on debut, but as previously mentioned, 2yo’s can improve out of all proportion at this stage of the season.
Varuna
It’s a similar story with Deepo’s stable companion Varuna. She was totally outpaced in that race won by Cotillion and trailed in fifteen lengths adrift. The talented Anthony Delpech rides Varuna and that would suggest that she is the best of these two dark horses.
About The Pace
The pace is usually on in sprinting events in the Eastern Cape and with the probable short priced favourite The Black Rose having made all to win both starts that should certainly be the case again here. Yet to be fully tested, The Black Rose can still improve plenty and although a fair number of these are unknown quantities and could yet turn out to be anything, she is not easy to oppose at this stage.
