Former SA multiple champion trainer Mike de Kock goes for a hat-trick of wins in today’s R600 000 Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship. The withdrawal of Sean Tarry’s sensational Cloth Of Cloud has thrown the race wide open.
Tarry has to rely on Myfunnyvalentine another impressive daughter of Captain Al who won her debut before chasing Fursa home for second and 1,20 lengths back in the SA Fillies Nursery.
She is held by De Kock’s Fursa on that, but Anthony Delpech retains the ride – and he is lethal at the moment.
The third of the Tarry trio is Visuality, who was beaten two lengths by The Secret Is Out in the Strelitzia after showing good toe.
She has some work to do.
Fursa – improving and could go in again
Mike De Kock’s Australian-bred pair of SA Fillies Nursery winner Fursa and runaway debut winner Zaakhira will enjoy plenty of support.
Fursa probably needs a little further but has won her last two starts like a filly going in the right direction.
Zaakhira was backed to win on her Vaal 1200m debut and duly obliged – beating little of note by 7,50 lengths.
Weichong Marwing rides the exciting daughter of Redoute’s Choice who could be just about anything as she steps into the major league. She is bred to go quickly and provides a major poser for banker seeking exotic players.
The Secret Is Out – unbeaten in two starts
Of the balance, Vaughan Marshall’s beautifully bred The Secret Is Out is unbeaten after two outings and poses a major threat if half as good as she is rumoured to be.
The daughter of Captain Al hails from a true-blue speed stakes winning family and won at home before opening her KZN account with a smooth Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes win over recent maiden winner, Seattle Singer.
The latter ran three feature race seconds, including an outstanding effort against the boys, and adds much value to The Secret Is Out’s formline..
Mike Azzie – saddles Announcing Rain
Announcing Rain hails from the Mike Azzie yard and was a fluent winner at her second start but then came to KZN and was well beaten behind Sail at Greyville over 1400m.
The daughter of Trippi may well be more comfortable down the straight but it is worrying that she has been reported coughing at her last two starts.
The Duncan Howells trained Blaze Of Mystery is a multiple course and distance winning daughter of Toreador. She beat unsupported first-timer Captain Moll at her post-maiden run and has done little wrong as she steps up in stronger company.
Alyson Wright’s Var filly Diamond In The Sky won well on debut and has been placed at both her subsequent starts.
She was hampered when trying 1400m last time and hanging on resolutely to finish 2,25 lengths off the promising Sail.
Gavin Van Zyl – saddles Poster Girl
Gavin Van Zyl’s Poster Girl was all the rage when beating a small field for an easy debut win at Greyville.
The daughter of Ashaawes is thrown in the deep end here and will need to put her best foot forward to challenge for the serious money.
Greg and Karen Anthony’s Zadora ran two places before sealing a solid maiden win at her third outing.
She is a pacy daughter of Global One and track familiarity will stand her in good stead – if she is up to this class.
The De Kock pair of Fursa and Zaakhira could pounce – and The Secret Is Out could blow the whole lot out of the park.
This should be a terrific race – enjoy!
