With the weather reported as cloudy and a 30% chance of thunderstorms, there will be hopes that the Greyville meeting this afternoon goes ahead for the full 8 races on the turf.
The first is off at 13h05 and is also the Bipot opener.
Andrew Harrison writes that Arianos Shadow, confined to sprints so far in her career, takes a mighty step up when she lines up in the KZN Fillies Guineas Trial.
Arianos Shadow – well weighted for a big run
Not only does she jump to a ‘mile’ for the first time, but she is also up against some useful opposition already tested over the trip.
That said, she is rated 5kg better than anything in the opposition and just that fact may be enough to see her home but more encouraging is that but Yogas Govender is confident of her chances.
“She won’t have any trouble with the trip. If you watched her last race you will see that she was off the bit a long way out but was running on. She is spot on and I will be disappointed if she does not finish in the first two,” he said. Govender has a smart filly on his hands and judged on pedigree and her trainer’s comments the extended trip should be well within her compass.
Arianos Shadow won the Sentinel Stakes second time out back in April making all the running. Rider Richard Fourie was impressed with his mount. “She’s a nice filly and needs further. The only thing to worry about is her temperament. You just have to keep her quiet and happy.”
After a change of stable, she was off the track until the end of July where she contested Gr2 The Debutante, finishing second to the smart Temple Graffin, in her first outing for Govender.
She made her seasonal debut in a 1200m sprint at Greyville where she was well supported in the market. The race was run at a cracking gallop and Arianos Shadow showed all the signs of ring rust as she looked to hang in under pressure but she was running on nicely suggesting that Sunday’s trip will be right up her street.
The scrap for the shallow end of the purse is likely to be a close one.
Sean Tarry – strong hand
Sean Tarry is two-handed, both having won over the trip, but recent maiden winner Generous Lady looks likely to be the biggest improver amongst the opposition. Paul Lafferty’s filly took three runs to get off the mark but when she did it was a smart victory over 1400m at Scottsville. Drawn on Woodhouse Road, she put daylight between herself and second-placed Cape Bluebell.
The latter has since franked that form in another competitive maiden which augurs well for Generous Lady’s chances.
Tarry was quick to realise the talents of current National Champion jockey and still apprentice Lyle Hewitson and was key to Hewitson’s championship aspirations.
Similarly, young Luke Ferraris has fast made a name for himself as an apprentice with a big future and the pair will be aboard the two Tarry runners. As senior partner as it were, Hewitson’s mount Sweet Mary Lou could be the pick as she cantered home in her first attempt at 1600m on the Greyville poly. If there is a concern it may be that both her wins have been in the synthetic surface while stable companion Second Request has won on the Scottsville turf. Ferraris was aboard both fillies in their recent victories.
Frank Robinson – saddles Roy’s Riviera
Frank Robinson was not afraid to pit Roy’s Riviera against the best around during Champions Season and she steps out for the first time in two months in a Pinnacle Stakes, fourth race on the card.
The Australian-bred was far from disgraced in any of her Champions Season races, having finished just over two lengths back to Fiorella in the Fillies Guineas and never further back than four lengths to the likes of Oh Suzanna (Gr 1 Woolavington) African Night Sky (Gr3 Cup Trial), Redberry Lane (Gr1 Garden Province) and rounded off last season beaten under a length by Miyabi Gold.
She jumps straight into an 1800m contest which suggests that Robinson has her racing fit.
Parabola – capable on her day
Of the opposition, Peter Muscutt saddles Parabola for Brett Crawford, and last season’s Scarlet Lady winner has a warm-up under her girth and will be a threat.
The interesting runner here is High Altar.
She has disposed of everything Duncan Howells has pitted her against in her last four starts with ease but takes a big jump in class. She has obviously been a later maturing mare and with only 52kg to shoulder and in receipt of 9.5kg from Roy’s Riviera, she could extend her winning streak to five on the bounce.
-Gold Circle
