J&B Met winner Smart Call, who is currently winging her way to exotic international destinations, was the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 victress last year. She was the second winner of this race in four years to go on and win the Cape’s premier race. In 2014 Justin Snaith saddled In The Fast Lane to win and the Cape champion conditioner must fancy his chances strongly again this time round.
Bela-Bela the pick
The Woolavington 2000 is only won by top fillies and the young Snaith and his elder Mike Bass must fancy their chances of taking the prestigious trophy to the Cape again.
That is certainly how things look on paper.
The recent SA Guineas winner ran third behind Smart Call in the Gr1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes at Kenilworth in January and is a flashy well-bred sort who will enjoy the 2000m.
She takes on the Mike Bass-trained Silvano filly Nightingale, a Vodacom Durban July entrant, who flew through to finish half a length behind her in the SA Fillies Guineas .
The tactical duel between the two will make for an interesting spectacle but if the official ratings are to be taken at face value, Bela-Bela should come out tops.
The Fort Wood filly Negroamara from the Johan Janse van Vuuren stable was 1,75 lengths behind Nightingale in third place in the SA Guineas.
She finished second in both the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and SA Fillies Classic before that, is another that could shine over the longer trip.
Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Heaps Of Fun
Sean Tarry has a coupling, headed by Gauteng Guineas winner Heaps Of Fun.
The daughter of Visionaire was well beaten in the SA Fillies Classic but then improved again for a good third in the Camellia Stakes behind Joan Ranger. She shed her maiden on the Greyville poly at her second start and having beaten Negroamaro, cannot be ignored.
Her stablemate Witchcraft probably didn’t stay when well beaten in the SA Oaks and prior to that was beaten 3,40 lengths by Negroamaro in the SA Fillies Classic.
Flying Ice has continued to hold her own at stakes level and ran on steadily for a 4 length fourth in the SA Guineas last time. She should relish the trip and is a danger at a decent price if things go her way.
Joey Soma’s Fortissima ran out of her skin for a charging second in the SA Oaks last time after two good wins.
On a rating of 82, she has plenty to do but with Anton Marcus in the saddle, anything could happen.
It looks tough for the rest.
Polyphonic is a promising daughter of Judpot and travels from Gauteng.
She has failed at both her classic bids but won going away in a lower rated handicap at the Vaal last time and may be better than rated. She has the 1 draw in her favour.
Vaughan Marshall – good start
MJ Byleveld and Vaughan Marshall have made a decent start to their KZN campaign with even the yard’s Cape runners having turned around.
They team up with Adorada, who showed up nicely when running on stoutly for third behind Gallica Rose in the Scarlet Lady. The failure of the latter in Friday evening’s East Coast Cup may not underscore that form, but it brings Adorada in with an outside place shot.
Geoff Woodruff
Geoff Woodruff’s Christmas Carol has failed to produce her early promise and travels to Greyville after a recent fair fifth in the SA Oaks.
She is better than her recent form suggests.
Ruler Of The Sky has some decent lower league post-maiden form but steps into the big league as a largely unknown candidate.
Glen Kotzen-trained All Mine looks well held by Nightingale on her opening KZN run
The Goodman runner Tide Is Turning won her maiden at her penultimate start and looks to be making up numbers in this quality line-up.
Bela-Bela is a confident choice to hold the luckless Negroamaro with Nightingale and Flying Ice candidates for the minor money.
Fortissima and Polyphonic are the longshot outside possibilities.
