The fairer sex clash in the R400 000 Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m at Greyville today.
The 2018 renewal is as good as anything we have seen in recent years and Cape combination Vaughan Marshall and MJ Byleveld will be keen to bank a big win after a quiet patch.
The Tibouchina is run at weight-for-age plus penalties of 3kgs for a Gr1 win, and 1,5kgs for a Gr2 success.
The Secret Is Out – strips fit
After a flying start to the season early on, Marshall saddles the high-class 2016 Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner The Secret Is Out, who has picked up a feature win at her last two SA Champions Seasons campaigns with a win last term in the Poinsettia Stakes. Her last two feature places behind the smart Sommerlied – most recently in the SA Fillies Sprint at Scottsville, suggest she is cherry ripe for a big run over the 1400m.
Sean Tarry mare Heaps Of Fun is racing off form and was stretched for pace behind Green Plains in the Camellia Stakes last time out. The daughter of Visionaire was beaten 6 lengths in this race last year and looks held.
Heaps Of Fun – has lost form
Her stablemate Tahini ran a distant fourth (7 lengths) in the Camellia and is another capable on her day – but a touch in and out.
Paul Peter came close to a Gr1 last Sasturday and he saddles Folk Dance. She has decent form in KZN as a 2yo and this consistent daughter of Tiger Ridge could be a factor coming off a decent fourth (2,30 lengths) behind Nother Russia in the Empress Club Stakes. She was under 2 lengths behind Takingthepeace in the SA Fillies Classic and has the pace for this trip.
Folk Dance – drops in trip
Joey Ramsden bids for a double in the Tibouchina with Rose In Bloom who was super consistent at home in the Cape but found the going tough when beaten 6 lengths in the SA Fillies Sprint last time. From a 4 draw, and based on her consistent form around this trip, she should be a different proposition here.
Star Express was a very smart winner of a Pinnacle last time out, beating July favourite and stablemate African Night Sky. Some may argue it was an opportunistic win but the daughter of Silvano could well confirm her class here.
Star Express (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Lunar Rush has drawn wide at 13 and has lacked sparkle at the business end of her races recently.
Second of the Snaith pair, Gimme Six lacked pace and only stayed on in the SA Fillies Sprint last time when finishing a 4 length seventh. She is infinitely better over this trip and upwards but has a wide draw to overcome.
Local hope Twice As Smart jumps from pole position and after a smart second to Lady In Black in the Umzimkhulu Stakes, was put in her place in the Daisy Fillies Guineas. She is very game.
Dawn Calling is drawn wide but is a dangerous sort over this trip – as she showed when beating subsequent stakes winner Ngaga at her penultimate start. She didn’t enjoy the poly at her last start.
Final Judgement has lost her 2yo form and needs to improve.
Joburg visitor Emily Jay has won her last two starts but steps up in class here.
All told, The Secret Is Out ticks all the boxes and could give the Cape raiders another feature success. Dangers could be Star Express and Rose In Bloom – while Dawn Calling could boost the quartets.
