The R400 000 Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge honours the great Zimbabwe bred champion daughter of Manshood, who made her mark in South Africa and beyond.
It was 20 years ago that Ipi Tombe trained by Mike de Kock in South Africa to many of her great victories, was born at Peter J. Moor’s Golden Acres Farm in Marondera, Zimbabwe.
Ipi Tombe – 2002 Vodacom Durban July
Today nine classy fillies and mares will race in her honour at weight-for-age plus penalties from Gr1 and Gr2 victories.
Mike de Kock arrives with the relative kitchen sink and his three runners all have top chances.
Dagmar wins the Ruffian Stakes on debut
Heading the list is the stakes winning 3yo Dagmar, a daughter of Querari and an unlucky loser of her last race. She conceded 3kgs to I like It there and that filly almost upset the applecart in last Saturday’s Gr3 Fillies Mile when going down a whisker to Cape Fillies Guineas prospect Ghaalla. No wonder Mike de Kock rates Dagmar’s chances on that sort of collateral. The only question is whether she stays the mile or not?
The same cautionary applies to her talented stablemate Nafaayes, who chased the rampant Ronnie’s Candy home in the Starling Stakes. The latter was beaten under a length into third in the Fillies Mile on Saturday.
Silver Thursday is third of the De Kock trio and is reported to be likely to need the run.
Al Danza caught the eye with a superb second behind Summer Cup fancy Cascapedia in the Joburg Spring Challenge last time – an excellent effort after a three month break. She was not persevered with in the Garden Province Stakes at her penultimate start and can continue on her good form set as a 4yo.
Redberry Lane has top weight – but is classy
Garden Province heroine Redberry Lane carries topweight and should be cherry ripe after two smart return runs this term. She is the proven class in the race.
First of the KZN raiding team, Roy’s Riviera has seen the Turffontein track and was not disgraced at her penultimate start here. She looks held by Redberry Lane but is a candidate for a stakes credit.
The quite underrated Sylvan On Fire was a smart winner of the Yellowwood Handicap last time and is a fit capable sort who can run into the places.
KZN Fillies Guineas winner Fiorella has had two prep runs and should be ready to run to something like the form that saw her beat Snowdance at level weights last term.
KZN Fillies Guineas winner Fiorella cannot be discarded
Green Top looks well held by Redberry Lane on her penultimate start but is well drawn and looks miles better than a one-time winner at this stage of the game.
Dagmar could stay on and win this. She was unlucky last time and did not appear to be stopping over the 200m shorter. Redberry Lane and Nafaayes look next best.
