Carry On Alice
The R400 000 Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge is a prestige race to win for any owner or breeder, by virtue of a combination of status and association.The key to unlocking the treasure on Saturday looks to lie with two very smart Captain Al 3yo’s.
The name Ipi Tombe conjures up many fond memories of one of the greatest racemares to grace the turf in this country. The ten strong field that lines up over the mile on Saturday includes some really smart and promising females.
Champion Material
The two Captain Al’s are Sean Tarry’s Carry On Alice and the De Kock flyer, Pine Princess.
Carry On Alice was considered a serious candidate for SA Champion 2yo filly last term but it is a well walked debate that she had to stand back for Majmu – a star galloper that has stood the brief test of track performance this term.
Carry On Alice’s return sprint (her 3yo debut) at the Vaal last Thursday was top drawer stuff. She ran there straight off her impressive second place to Same Jurisdiction in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes on Super Saturday.
Slung in at the weights in the 1000m mixed sex Progress Plate, she won like a good horse would be expected to.
Threat
Pine Princess a serious threat
Saturday’s race comes just ten days later and therein lies our only niggle of concern. The second run after a rest hoodoo affects all horses differently, and she won her prep so readily – it may just turn out well.
But the race is over a mile and she has always given an indication that this could be her target trip.
Pine Princess must be a serious threat to give Carry On Alice a run for her money.
She was almost 4 lengths behind her in the Thekwini but now enjoys a 1,5kg pull at the weights.
Pine Princess’ 3yo season debut produced a scintillating win in the Gr3 Yellow Wood Handicap, where she held the hardknocking older mare Erin to a short-head.
In Picture
Ormond Ferraris – sends out the consistent Erin
That brings Erin right into the reckoning here. She enjoys what could be a winning 1,5kg pull at the weights.
But the Yellowwood was over 1800mm and Carry On Alice has the toe – she may hold them both over a mile.
The surprise Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge winner Supreme Sunset jumps from a decent 2 draw but ran no kind of race in the Yellowwood when over 7 lengths off Pine Princess.
Supreme Sunset is 3,5kgs better off here, but the De Kock filly just has so much more scope.
In The Pink
Arcetri Pink – Woodruff’s galloper a good sort
Geoff Woodruff’s Aussie-bred Arcetri Pink is a high –class filly who is capable of pacing it with the best on her day.
She ran a level weights fifth and 2,25 lengths adrift of Supreme Sunset in the Spring Challenge when in need of the run and could be a better and fitter proposition here after an encouraging prep behind Bravo Maya at the beginning of this month.
Mohave Princess was involved in the Yellowwood three-way thriller when a short head third and is marginally worse off. She may be stronger over the mile and is a catch-me-if-you-can sort who could escape if the conditions favour her.
Johan Janse Van Vuuren’s Silver Class may be best of the rest.
She won her first two starts and her last strong finishing fourth just off Rich Girl in the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup was a good effort for a filly crying out for more ground.
