Miss October won the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap over Saturday’s course and distance last time out
Three listed races top the bill on the old stand side track at Turffontein on Saturday, amongst them the Bauhinia Handicap over 1000m. Thirteen have stood their ground and with a number of the younger runners having plenty of scope for improvement, it should be a thrilling encounter.
Heading the weights with 62,5kg is the Var mare Miss October. Now with Geoff Woodruff after spells with both Neil Bruss and Dennis Drier, Miss October has won two from five on turf since relocating to Gauteng.
Already proven to act on both good and soft ground, Miss October won the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap for twice today’s purse over this course and distance last time out, and on that alone she must be a very serious runner here.
Kinematic Countess
Having gained six of her seven career wins over 1000m, Roy Magner’s 5yo is clearly at her best over today’s distance, and she did finish third in this race last season. Miss October did get the better of her by two lengths in the Tommy Hotspur in her latest outing, but Kinamatic Countess was finishing the stronger that day, and is now 2,5kg better off at the weights.
Fanzene
Luchelle Kruger’s charge has never been the most consistent of characters, but she has nonetheless won six of her 37 starts, the most recent being when coming from off the pace in the Gr3 Magnolia Handicap over 1160m. What is interesting here is that Fanzene has gained five of her victories over further, her only success over today’s distance being when shedding her maiden tag in Apr ’12. She’ll probably find this a bit sharp.
Virgo’s Babe
The winner of the Gr2 Fillies Nursery as a juvenile last season, Virgo’s Babe has come to hand nicely since returning from a break in November. As with Fanzene, her only win over today’s distance came when shedding her maiden tag and strictly by the book, she is held by both Fanzene and Kinematic Countess on her running in the Magnolia.
She has since won well when back against her own age group over 1160m in the listed Swallow Stakes though, and behind her that day was the subsequent Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Arcetri Pink.
Mike’s Bid
Globetrotter Mike De Kock saddles both Honorine and Indira. After winning her first two career outings over 1000m, the Redoute’s Choice filly Honorine then ran third in the prestigious Gr1 Golden Horseshoe.
She’s been very sparingly raced since then though with her only win coming in a MR86 Handicap over 1200m at the Vaal last June. Anthony Delpech takes the ride and as he is able to ride at 52kg (Indira’s weight) you would expect her to be the stable elect.
Interestingly though, Anthony has ridden Indira just once in ten outings. Her form prior to a seven month layoff was nothing to write home about, but since her return to action in January she’s been going from strength to strength.
She ran on stoutly when beaten by the narrowest of margins by the progressive Tommy Gun over today’s distance last time out, and with that one having since beaten the likes of Here Comes Billy and Across The Ice (albeit on sand) further improvement can be expected here.
The sole raider from out of town is Choir Maiden. Tony Rivalland’s charge has gained all three of her successes over 1000m, and she did win particularly well in a conditions plate last time out.
She was very well treated at the weights with most in that latest event, but her runs to Reflective Image and Desert Sheik during the most recent KZN season must give her some kind of a chance here.
Mary Stuart
Trainer Sean Tarry has been in tremendous form of late and he is represented here by the lightly raced Mary Stuart. This daughter of Black Minnaloushe was third to the very talented Deliver The Power in the Gr3 Man O’War Stakes over 1100m here in only her fourth career start back in Mar ‘12.
She was laid off for 21 months after her next start two months later, but she did then show her well being with a length and a quarter win over Indira on her return last time out. She could improve stacks. Watch the betting.
Shepard One
The lightly raced Shepard One would look to have quite a task on her hands having contested nothing greater than a graduation plate as yet. However, she has shown flashes of real ability in the course of winning two of her five starts and she too could still improve plenty. The most lightly raced runner in the field, and indeed the dark horse of the race, is the 3yo Winter Passion.
This daughter of Var was fourth in the listed Ruffian Stakes on debut a year ago and other than when something was clearly amiss behind Virgo’s Babe in the Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery in her next start, she’s won both outings. Her two wins since have both been gained with authority and although she does now jump back up in class, we clearly haven’t seen the best of her yet.
It’sgottobeme
The ultra consistent It’sgottobeme is sure to give of her best. Her two wins have both come in plate races though, and now up in class, and out at the weights to boot, she clearly has a very stiff task here. Stanley Ferreira’s charge is well held by Indira (last time out) and Shepard One (in the maidens) and in under sufferance by 7kg she is not easy to fancy.
Rated 31 points higher on sand, Leon Erasmus’ charge is 14kg under sufferance here. She last raced on turf when seventh in a MR69 Handicap in Dec ’12. What chance here?
About The Pace
Mary Stuart and Winter Passion have both shown good early speed in winning their races and with most preferring to race handy, a good pace looks assured here.
These two speedsters both have considerable scope for improvement and I wouldn’t be surprised if either kept on to win it. Virgo’s Babe and Honorine must also be considered, but the one getting the vote on the day is the proven Miss October. As with her trainer she’s at the top of her game right now, and although she has 62,5kg to carry, sprinters do tend to shoulder weight well.
