Siren’s Call – looking more special each time she steps out
It has been some years since a KZN trainer has lifted top honours in the R500 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas. So, while he has a real smasher on his hands in Mambo In Seattle’s daughter Same Jurisdiction, history is not really on the side of Ashburton-based Duncan Howells as he marches into Sean Tarry territory at Turffontein today.
Tarry has kicked into top gear with his powerful string and despite our nervousness with relying on restricted race form strength, we are suggesting that the incident-filled 1400m CTS Book 2 Challenge Race run under the Turffontein lights just three weeks ago may hold the key.
Trophy
Piere Strydom – thumbs up for extra 200m
There Sean Tarry took the top two places with Siren’s Call (102) getting the better of the hampered Trophy Wife (84) by a length.
This field is naturally stronger on average but the manner in which the two took a rough and tumble race by the scruff of the neck and stood out above the rest, suggested plenty to come.
Piere Strydom was particularly pleased as he had expected the 1400m to be on the short side for Siren’s Call. She showed no rustiness after her ten week break following her fourth placed effort behind Unparalleled in the Dingaans on Summer Cup day and will strip fitter here.
Well drawn at 2, Trophy Wife’s official merit rating may have punters putting a line through her. She looks well held on paper but the CTS effort was a top drawer run and she is frankly yet to run a bad race in her 11 starts.
The third of the Tarry runners is the Australian-bred Tamaanee (97).
The daughter of Teofilo has won 2 of 5 starts and her only exposure to feature racing was her 4,50 length fourth behind Banbury in the Gr3 Fillies Mile on Summer Cup day.
She won her next start in a small field Conditions Plate very easily, beating Elusive Spirit by 3,25 lengths. She could be the joker in the pack.
Looking For Five
Same Jurisdiction looks for five in a row
A poor draw of 12 is the only dampner on KZN raider Same Jurisdiction (110) making it five straight wins on the trot for KZN champion trainer, Howells.
The daughter of Mambo In Seattle won the Gr1 Thekwini as a 2yo at the end of last term and as a result of a suspension for bleeding has had just one run in the interim.
That was a facile victory in the Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes at Greyville on 2 January in her first start as a 3yo. Slow away, she came home on the bit and had her trainer suggesting that she was his best since champion sprinter Via Africa.
She is top-class and could well make this a winning Gauteng debut.
Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Bilateral (104) is yet to fire in her three runs as a 3yo and a poor draw of 13 and jockey engagement suggest that she is not the stable elect.
Smart Sort
Pine Princess – terrible draw
Mike De Kock has pulled a horrible 15 draw with Pine Princess (103) who returns from a decent fourth behind subsequent dual Gr1 winner Inara in the Paddock Stakes down at Kenilworth six weeks ago.
A win in the Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap and runner up position to Arcetri Pink in the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge suggest she may be at her best at 1800m.
Alec Laird’s Smart Call (101) was a runaway 9,25 length winner of her last start when beating Epsom Downs in Graduation company.
Her placings in the Starling Stakes behind Majmu and in the Fillies Mile and the proximity of her post-maiden effort behind Siren’s Call show that she is not far off the best of her age group.
The daughter of Ideal World will be partnered again by Weichong Marwing and warrants inclusion in all bets.
Troikas Form
Sensible Lover – has more to do here
The Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes winner Sensible Lover (99) downed the previously unbeaten Lazer Star at her last start.
She received all of 5,5kgs from the Ferraris flyer there and may find this a tougher proposition at level weights – and her wide draw will not aid her task.
She does appear though to hold the following three contestants who finished behind her in the Three Troikas:
The well-bred Bichette (93) was 3,50 lengths behind, although she had previously won two of her first three starts in style.
The consistent Silver Class (92) ran two lengths behind Bichette and while held, should ideally enjoy the mile test on breeding.
The Tyrone Zackey-trained Pennington Sands (85) finished in sixth and 8,85 lengths behind Sensible Lover. She is now 2kgs better off with the winner and ran close up behind Same Jurisdiction in the Thekwini as a 2yo.
She may need another run or two to recover from her strenuous trip to the Cape in November.
Support Attack
Anton Marcus – welcome return
The Frank Robinson-trained Olma (98) is another raider from KZN.
The daughter of Dynasty bounced back to her best last time with a runaway win on the Greyville polytrack after failing badly at her last assault in this province, when reported lame.
She is no slouch, having won 4 of her 9 outings and could be better for the experience of her first effort.
Although she enjoys the services of Anton Marcus, she looks a much better sort on the polytrack.
Kileigh (94) won three on the trot in her first five starts and ran a decent second to Bichette at her last start.
Considering she was beaten just 1,50 kgs giving 6kgs to the Tarry filly, she comes into the mix for place money here and has the added advantage of the in-form big race Bernard Fayd’herbe in the saddle.
On The Paint
Mike Azzie – riding arrangements poser
Mike Azzie’s Kissimmee (87) ran fourth 2,75 lengths behind Casha last Thursday at the Vaal and has pulled a 1 draw into the bargain.
The Azzie riding arrangements are slightly confusing at the moment with JP van Der Merwe appearing to be out of favour.
Recently married Ian Sturgeon gets the ride, which may indicate that she is not a preferred choice amongst the senior jockeys.
The Stan Ferrerira-trained Kwinta (79) has her third run and her first try beyond 1160m.
The daughter of Kahal is yet to be exposed to any form of feature company but is well-bred and may be suited to the mile trip.
