With twelve SA Champions Season features behind us, the Cape ‘mountain goats’ – as a champion trainer once labelled them – lead the way with six victories, ahead of Gauteng on five and the home team on one.
The Cape raiders enjoy a historical stranglehold on the R400 000 Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes. They are back in force again but the locals have a serious chance of bucking the trend in the 2019 renewal on Saturday.
The Tibouchina is the third leg of a projected R3 million Pick 6 pool. The first leg is off at 13h20.
Please note that there is a 5% chance of rain and the false rail is out at 5m.
Have you studied the racecard? Click on the image below!
The feature is framed at weight-for-age plus penalties with Gr1 victories attracting a premium of 3kgs, and Gr2 wins half of that.
Neptune’s Rain looks way overdue (Pic – Gold Circle)
Over a year without a win, Duncan Howells’Neptune’s Rain is not going to be everybody’s idea of a safe bet but the daughter of Antonius Pius is finding her feet again – as evidenced by her fair fourth in the SA Fillies Sprint last time. A course and distance winner, the fact that Anton Marcus sticks with her suggests confidence.
The highest rated filly in the race, Snaith star Oh Susanna was hampered late when a fair fourth behind Camphoratus in the Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein. She is likely to be far more competitive here and at her classy best must be dangerous – even from her 11 draw.
The class – Oh Susanna has to beat the draw (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Rose In Bloom ran a decent fourth in the Poinsettia but then had no luck when hampered late in the SA Fillies Sprint. The 1400m here is much more her up her alley and the daughter of Gimmethegreenlight is worth including in bigger perms.
Al Danza is far better than her recent form suggests and has her first run for Dennis Drier on transfer form Geoff Woodruff. She was hampered when failing to find a finish in the Empress Club Stakes last time. Her previous two starts were against the males. She can run into the money.
Al Danza could be the value in Pick 6 if finding her best form (Pic – JC Photos)
Elusive Heart was well beaten in the SA Fillies Sprint but on her best earlier form at Greyville would have an undeniable place chance.
Gr1 Empress Club Stakes giantkiller Camphoratus ran on well when under two lengths behind Eyes Wide Open in the WSB 1900 blanket finish. One gets the feeling though that the daughter of Byword may find this on the sharp side.
Sean Tarry – lethal!
Sean Tarry’s promising 3yo In The Dance is a winner of 2 of her 3 starts and takes a step up in league here. Well drawn at her first Greyville start, recent history suggests we include her.
The lightly tried Silent Crusade takes a step up in class and as a winner of 3 of her 5 starts, she has to be given a chance – despite flopping in the Umzimkhulu Stakes behind Temple Grafin.
Anime was outgunned in the SA Fillies Sprint and will need to find her better earlier form – as shown when chasing Rose In Bloom home in the Gr3 Prix Du Cap in February.
Second of the Tarry duo, Desert Rhythm failed to fire when pulling up lame after the Camelia Stakes on Champions Day. A stakes winner as a 2yo at this track, she would have to rate an outside chance – and who is ignoring the champion stable?
Desert Rhythm wins the Golden Slipper at Greyville as a 2yo (Pic – Gold Circle)
Twice As Smart is a game and consistent filly who was tested over a bit more ground when trying the 2000m of the East Coast Cup last time. The experiment probably told her connections little as she pulled up lame – and now drops back to her proven trip.
It’s a tricky race, where Oh Susanna will have many supporters as she bids to beat her draw.
Neptune’s Rain, Al Danza and Rose In Bloom look next best.
