Seventh Symphony – there to pick up the pieces?
The Dominic Zaki-trained Little Genie is one of the fastest fillies around and goes for her fourth successive win when she lines up in the R150 000 Listed Banyana Handicap over 1000m at the Vaal today. The final leg of the Pick 6 could see punters leaning heavily on the daughter of Judpot as a banker – but don’t forget that this is a fairer sex handicap, with the associated pitfalls.
Looking beyond the lightning fast Danika Stud-bred 4yo is not difficult – there are a couple of decent, fit form fillies in the mix and Little Genie is having a first bash at the sand track. And as Piere Strydom cautioned when questioned about Ultimate Dollar’s baptism in the Supreme Cup, it takes a run or two to get the hang of things.
If Little Genie happens to lose her footing for a stride or two, it will cost her dearly in this blitz company that includes some seasoned campaigners.
Craig Zackey – rides Little Genie
But there is little wrong with her form. Since cracking her maiden she has amassed an aggregate win margin of 18 lengths plus in her last three outings and SA champion apprentice Craig Zackey has become a regular fixture on her back.
Her dam Cast A Spell (Rambo Dancer) won six races on the turf but was not disgraced when trying the Vaal sand a few times. The simple answer is that if she copes with the track and brings her turf form to Vereeniging on Saturday, she will be difficult to collar.
Power Pairing
Louis Goosen – saddles Seventh Symphony
Piere Strydom and Louis Goosen team up with the Seventh Rock flyer Seventh Symphony, who won her last start on the Vaal turf with a degree of authority.
While her turf form appears to be better at this stage and she was beaten 3 lengths by Usisi, whom she now meets on 3,5kg worse terms this time, Seventh Symphony looks likely to be in the firing line when it counts.
Her stablemate Easy Street is lightly exposed and enjoyed a confidence boosting course and distance win in a much lower rated race last time. She looks capable of grabbing back-end place money.
Lucky Houdalakis has been in a rich vein of form and S’manga Khumalo rides the smart Dynasty filly Drifting Dusk.
She settles nicely and won going away when beating Seattle Lady by 3,25 lengths at her penultimate start. At this track and trip last time, she shifted in running and was desperately unlucky to be caught by Brigtnumberfour.
She meets the latter on 1kg better terms.
Beyond Brigtnumberfour, Roy Magner also saddles the capable Twilight Tiger and Miss December.
Both are a little in and out but able on their day of producing a winning performance.
Johan Janse Van Vuuren trained Seattle Lady finished just over 4 lengths off Little Genie at her last start.
She is 4kgs better off here and could be thereabouts again.
Tarry’s Two
Sean Tarry
Sean Tarry saddles Bold Approach and Super Guppy.
Bold Approach comes out of the Brigtnumberfour form and drops 2,5kgs after failing to quicken and beaten 8 lengths.
Super Guppy has her second run after a rest and may need a few runs to attain peak fitness. She was battling to assert herself on earlier form.
Winter Darling has been beaten twice by Usisi in recent times and showed some pace in mixed company before fading late to run 5,40 lengths off Kapelmeister last time.
Topweighted Sarve looks to be battling to find her better form and much the same applies to her stablemate Fire Dancing the Erasmus mare, Club Captain, who has a prolonged lean spell to her name.
Speed
Anything could go wrong if Little Genie fails to find her feet at her first try on the sand.
But if she gets away, they are unlikely to see her again.
Seventh Symphony and Drifting Dusk could be her biggest dangers.
