Overdue. Hammie’s Hooker ran on powerfully in the Majorca Stakes and looks ready to win again soon
The Maine Chance Farms owned and bred Frequent Flyer will be looking to end her summer campaign on a high note when she contests Saturday’s R150 000 Gr3 Two Oceans Racing Prix Du Cap over 1400m at Kenilworth. She could have most to fear from Mike Bass’ young gun, Hammie’s Hooker. There is no denying history and statistics.
The wily veteran Mike Bass has won this race thrice in five years and his Milnerton yard is probably as good a starting point as any in trying to get to the bottom of this complex sixteen strong fillies and mares race. There are sadly also no Rumyas or Blueridge Mountains to make our task an easier one.
High Frequency
The Majorca Stakes won by Gary Alexander’s outstanding Blueridge Mountain is the race that brings Brett Crawford’s Silvano mare, Frequent Flyer, into the Prix Du Cap picture.
Crawford has had a season of mixed fortunes and he would no doubt enjoy winning this race for one of his major owners. Glen Hatt piloted Frequent Flyer when she stormed through a half length too late to catch Blueridge Mountain in the Majorca.
She had previously run unplaced in the Paddock Stakes, but recorded a good effort in the Victress when beaten just 0,70 lengths into fourth in a blanket finish behind Razzle Dazzle Rose.
As a course and distance winner, Frequent Flyer comes into the play here. Stable jockey Karis Teetan gets the nod ahead of Hatt, who interestingly pilots her major opponent in our calculations, Hammie’s Hooker.
Senior Status. Brett Crawford’s Frequent Flyer will be out to prove that her Majorca run was no flash in the pan
Tight Forward
The Cape Fillies Nursery winner Hammie’s Hooker is drawn right alongside Frequent Flyer but meets Crawford’s mare on 2kg worse terms for a length defeat in the Majorca. After a five race winning flurry as a 2yo, Hammie’s Hooker is yet to win as a 3yo, but has run some eyecatching races.
Her flying 0,40 length second to Rumya in the Cape Fillies Guineas was a terrific effort. Her unplaced effort in the Paddock Stakes can be ignored as her saddle slipped and she ran wide and was never in the race. The balance of the Mike Bass trio is made up by the diminutive Northern Heritage and the Jet Master filly, Butterfly Girl.
Northern Heritage will be partnered by Bernard Fayd’herbe, after winning under Glen Hatt over the course and distance on Queen’s Plate day. Butterfly Girl has drawn awfully at 17 and ran a shocker when tailed off in the Majorca Stakes.
Well Drawn
Vaughan Marshall’s Strelitzia winner Valdivia has drawn best of all and the lightly raced daughter of Var has run three feature places at her last three starts. She ran a fair third behind Super Elegant in the Diana Stakes, after making the running and then enjoyed a change of tactics when switching back to the sprints.
A 4,25 length fourth to champion Via Africa in the 1000m Southern Cross Stakes was followed by another fourth when 3,90 lengths behind Sunshine Rock in the Laisserfaire Stakes, over 100m further. Valdivia was running on at both of these starts and may be maturing fast.
Snaith Value
Justin Snaith is always a factor in the fillies’ features and his three way coupling should provide some long priced value, for a change. Felix Coetzee’s mount of Earth’s Orbit may be the best of the trio and the twice winning daughter of Captain Al ran a fair race in Fillies Guineas when just over 4 lengths behind Rumya.
She may have needed her last start when backed to favourite and going a one paced fifth behind Northern Heritage. She is 2kgs worse off with the Bass filly for a 5 length beating, but may come out fitter and is well drawn.
The enigmatic Comtesse Dubois has drawn poorly, and has not sparked since a promising second behind Super Elegant in the Diana Stakes. Ocean’s Swift returns from her Eastern Cape campaign, and she may just need the run.
Rested. Paddy Kruyer’s La Patineuse is consistent but has not drawn well and may need the outing after a rest
Heavenly
Paddy Kruyer gave notice some time back that his 4yo National Emblem filly La Patineuse was capable of challenging for black type this season. La Patineuse has unfortunately been unsighted for months and turns up here rather late in the day, one feels. A course and distance winner of 4 from 10, we feel that her suspect fitness and poor draw may just count against her.
Eric Sands’ Halfway To Heaven has won 5 of her 12 starts and this lightly raced mare is no slouch on her day. She won four in a row before finishing 4,40 lengths behind Blueridge Mountain in the Majorca at her first attempt at the big time. At her best over the 1400mand well drawn at 3,she could well be the surprise package
Optimism
The rest look more optimistic than realistic considerations, although the nature of the race makes an upset a possibility. All told, we consider this a straight three way tussle between the in form Frequent Flyer, and the youngsters, Hammie’s Hooker and Valdivia.
Jockey Glen Hatt may hold the key as he knows Frequent Flyer and Butterfly Girl, while Valdivia’s draw against the paint is a big plus. Hammie’s Hooker is a narrow choice to register a first victory in her 3yo career, and she could score at the expense of Frequent Flyer.
