Gr3 Jacaranda Hcp – Fabulous Fisani

Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap - Fisani

The Jacaranda Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m was dominated by horses carrying the colours of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and trained by Mike de Kock. They filled the first two places, with Fisani running out a very comfortable winner at the expense of stable companion Alderry, writes Matthew Lips.

The winner of last season’s Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, Fisani had finished 2.5 lengths third behind Dancewiththedevil in a Gr3 event over 1600m in February and started as the 28/10 favourite here even though the full significance of that performance was only revealed two races later when Dancewiththedevil walked away with the Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes. Quick Single was the 4/1 second favourite in a field of 11, with Alderry the 9/2 third choice in her first start since finishing unplaced in the Gr1 Summer Cup twelve weeks previously.

Gavin Lerena had Fisani nicely placed in about fourth spot as Queen Mira set a solid pace on the soft ground, showing the way a good couple of lengths clear of Dream Street, with another sizeable gap back to Quick Single. Saltwater Girl more or less kept Fisani company in fourth as Alderry was held up off the pace. Fisani appeared to have a ton of running in her when she moved up to take on Queen Mire for the lead not long after turning for home and wasted little time in making a beeline for the finish. Kicking clear coming into the last 400m, Fisani still had plenty left to give and was never threatened with defeat even though Alderry stayed on steadily, beating her fellow De Kock inmate by three lengths. All Afire was running on to be 1.25 lengths further away in third, with Quick Single failing to quicken under pressure and finishing fourth.

Alderry may well have just been in need of this run, and she did concede 4 kgs to the winner, so the Gr2 November Charity Mile winner was hardly disgraced and will no doubt be sharper for her remaining engagements during the Gauteng season, but Fisani could be called the winner a long way from home and scored emphatically. The Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2000m may be the most viable next mission for Fisani, while the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m could be on the cards for Alderry. Time will tell, but for now connections will be well pleased with Fisani, who is very much back on track having disappointed with five successive unplaced efforts after her Gauteng Fillies Guineas triumph.

Fisani is a four-year-old daughter of Kahal out of the Coastal mare Gypsey Spirit and was bred at Summerhill Stud. Acquired for R400 000 at the 2008 Ready To Run Sale, she has won four times from 15 starts and earned R829 625.

.

Jacaranda Hcp (SAf-G3) (3/26)