Top Sort. Ormond Ferraris’ Cherry On The Top takes her next step to a Triple Tiara triumph.
It’s a true life story of romance and legends. Saturday’s R1 million Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic has all the essential ingredients for the racing connoisseur and the dreamer. Horses and people are after all what make this game great, and it really doesn’t get too much better than this anywhere on earth.
The second leg of the prized Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara has attracted a field of thirteen of the smartest 3yo fillies in the country. It just also happens to be sponsored by one of the game’s great families, who in an indulgently unintended delightful nepotistic twist, appear to hold all the aces of taking a step closer to winning it and grabbing the limelight.
Tree Topper
Owned by Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer and trained by Ormond Ferraris, who with every respect are two of the seniors of their respective sectors of this sport, Cherry On The Top won the Fillies Guineas with contemptuous ease at the beginning of this month, when she charged clear to beat Do You Remember by 2,25 lengths.
That was the daughter of Mauritzfontein Stud stallion Tiger Ridge’s sixth win from 9 starts, and it was a most impressive effort achieved from a wide draw against the best around, save maybe for one little grey, that we will touch on later. Stepping up to 1800m for the first time, there will be those who have their doubts that Cherry On The Top will stay. But why shouldn’t she?
Her relaxed unhurried style of running, coupled with her breeding says she will. Her dam Carolina Cherry won five races from 1000m up to and including the 2001 Gold Circle Oaks over 2400m.
Her highly experienced trainer has also labelled her as being one of the best that he has ever trained. That is good enough for us.
Only five of the thirteen runners did not compete in the Fillies Guineas behind Cherry On The Top at the beginning of March, so the form picture should really be very a simple puzzle to unravel over the extra 200m.
Grey Bomb
Unbeaten. Anton Marcus will partner the promising Orator’s Daughter who goes for four in a row.
The undefeated Orator’s Daughter heads that list of five unknowns and could be the bomb that skews the picture. Simply put, we don’t really know how good this little grey package of dynamite is at this premier level.
Alec Laird’s filly is having her first run around a turn on Saturday. She is unbeaten in her first three starts and has won from 1200m to 1400m in two provinces up to an MR 88 Handicap level.
The grey by SA’s newest exciting stallion Oratorio, has done absolutely nothing wrong and has won her races with an air of exciting authority. She jumps from a 10 draw in the potent hands of our champion jockey, Anton Marcus, and if she carries her attitude and ability 400m further, could well be giving the proven lasses something to think about.
Runners Up
The balance of the Fillies Guineas runners up are seven fillies we’d class as ‘more than hopeful.’ In order of finish, they are: Do You Remember ran a cracking 2,25 length second.She ran on from midfield there from a good draw, and will definitely stay this trip on past performance.
King’s Temptress ran a 3 length running on third. The Three Troikas runaway winner appears to be recapturing her form, and goes beyond a mile for the first time. She is a serious consideration if she stays.
Jet Belle finished a 5,50 length fifth. But that effort needs to be reviewed against her losing 4 lengths at the start and jumping from the second worst draw. Jet Belle only got into the race when it was too late, and from a 1 draw could be the surprise package, if jumping on terms.
Negev finished an 8 length sixth after being slow away and running wide. In her favour is the fact that Piere Strydom retains allegiances with her, and while she jumps from a poor draw, the family have shown signs of staying, and she could well be worth another chance.
Al Kindi, who finished an 8,25 length seventh. She never showed there and her form has tapered negatively in recent months. One ignores a De Kock runner reluctantly though, and Karl Neisius travels on an Easter Long Weekend to take the ride. That alone should set bells ringing!
Secret Obsession, who finished ninth and 11 lengths behind. The stablemate to the fancied Do You Remember had excuses in the Fillies Guineas, as she was cut into during the running and faded badly thereafter.
Fire Wheel, who ran a 16 length twelfth. She ran freely out front as she always does, but choked up badly in running. She has not drawn well, but must have a place chance if she can be more conservatively ridden.
Missed Out
The remaining four missed the Fillies Guineas, but unlike Orator’s Daughter, are a little tougher to suggest being capable of troubling the favourite: Charles Laird sends Dylan’s Promise up from Durban, and the daughter of Dylan Thomas appears to be maturing quickly.
A winner of 4 of her 10 starts, she has won her last two on the trot and is proven over this trip. She has also seen Turffontein previously, when travelling for a failed attempt at the Ready To Run Cup in November last year.
Weiho Marwing’s Sky Pirate was scratched from the Fillies Guineas, apparently off her feed, but won 3 of her previous 6 starts, including a meritorious victory in the Listed Allez France Handicap over 2200m.
Marwing also saddles Walking On The Moon, who won her maiden over 2000m at the Vaal. She appears well held by Jet Belle, and will need to improve to have a say.
Stan Ferreira sends out Cat’s Game, who won her maiden by 6,75 lengths over the Vaal 1400m straight three runs back. This will be much tougher, and she will need to improve a few lengths to feature here.
Consider The Facts
When assessing what could be the highlight feature event of the afternoon, we are faced with the known facts and the unknown quantity of the undefeated grey.
Cherry On The Top has most of the field cold and looks well on the way to taking her next step to the Triple Tiara. She is well drawn and will be fit and ready. Orator’s Daughter has done everything asked of her. With Marcus in the irons, she will have every chance and cannot be ignored
Then the lightly raced Jet Belle keeps catching the eye. She was unbeaten at her first two starts, before losing plenty of ground and running on smartly for fifth in the Fillies Guineas. If things go her way, she could upset the applecart.
Piere Strydom remains loyal to the promising Negev, who has never really disgraced herself at this level. Given some luck in running, she could also be barking down their throats late. But all said and done, we suggest keeping it in the family and picking the cherry!
• The R3.25 million Wil-gerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara for 3-year-old fillies is the richest series of races for fillies in Africa. The Triple Tiara comprises the Gr R500 000 Wilgerbosdrift Fillies Guineas run over a mile on 2 March, the middle leg is Saturday’s race and it is completed by the R750 000 Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks run over 2450m on Saturday 27 April 2013.
A bonus of R1 million will be paid to the owner of the filly that wins all three legs.
