With Maleficent winging her way to Cape Town for the Fillies Guineas, the Gr3 Fillies Mile gets thrown wide open and the focus falls on Mike de Kock’s unbeaten New Approach filly Dame Eleanor.
Unbeaten Dame Eleanor has a big chance to make it three in a row
Maleficent was the standout in the field on performance and rating, but a good draw has enticed her connections to travel for the Cape Fillies Guineas next Saturday.
Have a look at the Cape Fillies Guineas field
This 3yo’s only contest sees the weights set off a base of 57kgs.
Winners of Gr1 races get 3kgs for each win, while Gr2 winners get 2kgs and Gr3 winners just a kilo.
However that is all academic and with the field not even boasting a Listed winner, they will all carry 6okgs.
De Kock’s Australian-bred Dame Eleanor has looked very promising, winning her Scottsville 1200m debut and then beating Favour’s Pride going away by 1,25 lengths in a low-key handicap over 1450m at Turffontein next time of asking.
Favour’s Pride is technically 3kgs better off here but it is clear which of the two have more scope and with Anthony Delpech up from a 3 draw, Dame Eleanor looks set to grab her first black-type and maintain her unbeaten record.
Corne Spies has a nice pair of runners
The Corne Spies pair of the well experienced Favour’s Pride and one-time winner Bonne Vie are both runners at best.
Favour’s Pride has been very consistent but her two wins were achieved in the weaker climes of the Eastern Cape.
That said, she has not been far off the action in her three return runs – showing pace when holding on fourth 6,50 lengths off She’s A Giver in the Starling Stakes.
She also holds Dame Eleanor on a previous clash and will strip fit – but is she good enough?
The lightly raced Bonne Vie has no chance at these level weights off her official rating but she hasn’t been far off and the race is open.
Ormond Ferraris – saddles consistent Babbling Brooke
Babbling Brooke is a progressive daughter of Western Winter, who has won 3 of her 6 starts.
While her 10 draw and lack of feature exposure don’t aid the assessment, she could well improve further to win this.
The Robbie Sage trained Santiburi is one of two High Chaparral progeny in the field.
She is technically held by Favour’s Pride on the Starling Stakes clash, but it is worth noting that she got the better of subsequent Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes winner Safe Harbour at level weights at her penultimate start.
Roy Magner’s Comme-Ci-Comme-Ca never got going in the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup when 6,75 lengths off Chili Con Carne.
She had won 2 of 3 starts over 1200m prior to that and could bounce back if she stays the mile.
Johan Janse Van Vuuren – teams up with lethal Gavin Lerena again
Gavin Lerena and Johan Janse van Vuuren are a lethal combination on the big days and there will be no pressure when the Australian bred Being Fabulous goes to post.
The daughter of High Chaparral won her maiden going away at her second start over 1400m and will enjoy the extra.
David Niewenhuizen’s Dynasty filly Delightful Dancer won her maiden with ease at her second start over a mile at the Vaal. She ran 1,55 lengths behind Turn Back Time on debut – that one won again on Sunday. She is impossible to assess.
Dame Eleanor and Babbling Brooke look the two to slug this out.
The former enjoys a better draw but lacks for the experience of Babbling Brooke.
Other than the ever dangerous Van Vuuren-Lerena partnership with recent maiden scorer Being Fabulous, there doesn’t look too much else to get excited about.
