The Gr3 Acacia Handicap winner Orator’s Daughter has her third run after a rest here
In total there are eight graded events being staged at Turffontein this Saturday, amongst them the Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap over 1800m. A full field of sixteen go to post and as is usually the case in these types of events for fillies and mares it looks to be a very open affair.
Nine of these runners contested the Gr3 Acacia Handicap last time out and the one who came out best was Orator’s Daughter. Fourth in the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic last season, Alec Laird’s charge has been coming to hand nicely since returning from a ten month break in February.
She found extra after being headed when getting back up late to win the Acacia, and now having her third run after the rest she should be at her peak.
Uptothemoon
One of two runners from the stable of Weiho Marwing, Uptothemoon raced close to Orator’s Daughter throughout in the Acacia and she only went down by a short head. She’s a half kilo better off at the weights with her arch rival here.
There should be little between them again. Without a win in ten outings, stable companion Sky Pirate was beaten 4,5 lengths in the Acacia and now 1,5kg under sufferance here, she won’t find it easy to get any nearer. Sharing top weight with Orator’s Daughter is the Gary Alexander trained Classic Illusion.
One of three runners from the stable, this daughter of Kahal went twelve starts without a win after landing a MR89 Handicap in Nov ’12. She looks well held by a few on her running in the Acacia, but she has won two from five since returning from a five month break in October and could make the frame.
Stable companion Divine Grace is marginally in under sufferance. This daughter of Mullins Bay has performed with credit since being stepped up in class in recent months, but now facing even stronger this could be a bridge too far.
Making up the trio is Mystic Tigress. This daughter of Regal Classic showed potential at this stage of the season last year, but since then she has only managed to win a MR68 Handicap. She jumps in class here and 3kg out at the weights to boot, she is not easy to fancy.
Love Vivien
Third in the Acacia was the Geoff Woodruff trained Love Vivien. She briefly headed Orator’s Daughter in that event and was only beaten 0,6 lengths. She ran another cracker when only beaten a short head in a pinnacle stakes last time out, and at the weights here she looks sure to be involved again.
Break Of Dawn
A winner of five of her 24 starts, Stuart Pettigrew’s charge is as consistent as they come. She’s been running on strongly in recent starts and has finished close enough to runners in this race to suggest that she could make the frame.
Sea Shadow
A dangerous front runner on her day, Dominic Zaki’s charge is yet to score beyond 1450m. She did stay on strongly when picked off late by Tresco in a pinnacle event in her only try over today’s distance last time out, but that was at the inner track.
Tresco was going two to her one in the closing stages of that event though and now 2kg worse off at the weights with that one, and with a longer home straight to contend with, she seems unlikely to turn the tables.
Team Tarry
Tresco was extending her winning sequence to four when beating Sea Shadow in her penultimate start. She had excuses as the going was soft, and she was reported as making a respiratory noise when clearly well below best last time out.
She had been improving with every run prior to that effort, and any further improvement here would put her in the shake up. Tresco’s stable companion, Filly Bushwacker has not won since 2011. She was never a threat in the Acacia and similar can be expected here.
Go Indigo
Since winning the Gauteng Fillies Guineas two seasons ago Go Indigo has only managed to pass the post first in two plate races and a handicap. She finished well down field in the Acacia and is another who looks unlikely.
Negev
The Stronghold filly Negev has been ultra consistent and on her best form she is capable of picking up a race like this. She was only beaten a short head by Uptothemoon in February and on similar terms here she must hold some kind of a chance.
Forgive No Forget
The dark horse of the race is the import Forgive No Forget. Mike De Kock’s charge has won two of her three starts in this country (excluding her disqualification). She could still improve plenty if overcoming her wide draw.
Milynne
This lightly raced 3yo has been thrown in at the deep end since winning on debut and is already contesting her fourth Gr3 event. She was running on strongly when third to Tresco in her penultimate start and she did have excuses when behind Orator’s Daughter last time out. A roughie for Quartets.
Gavin’s Bid
Gavin Van Zyl’s two runners Dirtydealin Mamma and Tip Toe (reserve) are in under sufferance. Both do have a considerable amount of scope for improvement though. Indeed, Dirtydealin Mamma was only beaten a neck by Moggytwoshoes last time out and that one did show good improvement when winning again next time out.
About The Pace
With a fair number of the full field of sixteen preferring to race up with, or close to the speed, an honest gallop should be forthcoming. The lightly raced Orator’s Daughter has done very little wrong since beating Negev with authority on debut, and she does now have her third run after a long break. She can still improve plenty and on that gets the vote.
