Promising Sort. Mike De Kock’s Western Winter filly Izora looks destined for big things
Lammerskraal Stud and their champion stallion Western Winter look set to dominate the Scottsville Saturday feature race programme. Mike De Kock’s lightly raced Izora looks a serious contender in the R150 000 Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes run over 1400m.
Wth the big sire’s son Capetown Noir likely to be a hot order in the Byerley Turk, Izora could launch the first leg of the famous double here. The nine strong field of 3yo fillies sees an interesting collection of interprovincial strengths thrown together in a puzzle where the official ratings may create more red herrings than anything else. If we go purely on ratings, then Justin Snaith’s Captain Al filly Earth’s Orbit looks weighted to win this.
Earth’s Orbit is Gr2 placed and ran an excellent third to surprise winner of the Gr3 Prix Du Cap, Halfway To Heaven, at her last start on 23 February. If she runs to her rating, she will win this.
Exciting
Hardworker. Corne Spies’ Rebel Queen is a tough filly and goes to post very fit
The most exciting prospect in the race however, is Mike De Kock’s Izora, who has won 2 of her 3 starts in impressive style. Izora won her maiden easily over the Scottsville 1200m, and then came out to beat yet another smart Lammerskraal bred daughter ofWestern Winter in Path To Travel by over six lengths at her first dip at a mile.
Path To Travel strengthened that form by winning her very next outing. Izora will face her first genuine test of ability here, and one feels that with De Kock in charge and on her breeding, she could be the one to side with.
Top sprinter and new stallion Rebel King’s half sister, the aptly named Rebel Queen, has won 5 of her last 8 starts, but was outgunned at her last outing when unplaced in the Man O’ War Sprint behind the undefeated filly Alcanina and a few good speed males.
Rebel Queen jumps from a nice draw and has a good turn of foot. Duncan Howell’s Orange Blossom has won 3 of her 6 starts, and has earned at all of the other 3 outings. The daughter of Miesque’s Approval has her first exposure to stakes company here, and from the 1 draw and distance suited, could run a very big race.
Test
Consistent. The Duncan Howells trained Orange Blossom has never run a bad race to date
Gavin Van Zyl’s Toreador filly Flitter is game and consistent, and has won 2 of her 10 outings. She is yet to prove that she is capable of beating a field of this calibre though and could find it tough from her 9 draw.
Sean Cormack rides Earth’s Orbit’s stablemate Jet Supreme. The daughter of Jet Master has not run since Met Day, and may need the outing, but is stakes placed and capable of a big effort.
Glen Kotzen sends out a coupling of recent maiden winner Fortress Mine and the disappointing, The Which Doctor. Fortress Mine is a nicely bred sort who won her first attempt at any form of ground when winning over a mile at her third outing. The Which Doctor has had little luck since two excellent post maiden efforts late last year.
She was disqualified at her penultimate start, after her rider failed the weighing in processes, and then was bumped and cramped at her last outing on 2 February. She may need this run. All told, Izora could be the right one here to hold the consistent Orange Blossom, with the Snaith coupling the dangers.
