The top-class Madame Speaker broke the ice for the fairer sex in last year’s East Cape Nursery and the roses could overwhelm the thorns again in the 2019 renewal of the R150 000 listed feature today.
But with the switch to the polytrack, we may have to reconsider the options as none of the runners have ever raced on the all-weather.
East Cape Fillies Nursery top two Captain Anne Bonny and Brandina – back for more today (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
The Fillies Nursery top two of Brandina and Captain Anne Bonny dominate the SP ratings for the 1200m contest where the unbeaten Vercingetorix colt Viking Moon looks to make it three on the trot.
Captain Anne Bonny popped up at any price to lower Brandina’s colours in the East Cape Fillies Nursery and Tara Laing’s home bred galloper looks to repeat the feat.
Brandina had done little wrong with a terrific third placed finish in the Met Day juvenile feature punctuating her two home victories. There should be little between the two again but with Greg Cheyne riding the unbeaten Vercingetorix colt, it looks like we have a major race for the title on our hands.
Viking Moon – attempts to make it three from three (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
The two-from -two Viking Moon steps up to the 1200m and bumps the equally promising Hooves Of Troy, who he disposed of by half a length last time.
Foreign Source produced two good seconds at his first two starts before he shed his maiden with some authority by over 5 lengths
Third of the three fillies in the race and one of the Alan Greeff quartet, Pierina ran on well at her second start when beating Speechmaker 3,50 lengths stepping up from the 800m to the 1000m. The daughter of Soft Falling Rain has done little wrong in her two starts and could surprise for place money.
Linden Rock is the first of two maidens in the nine horse field. The Seventh Rock colt has his sixth start and looks held by Gold Dragon when finishing 8 lengths behind.
The second of the Gavin Smith duo, debut winner Gold Dragon won unfancied and now steps into the higher league. The son of Oratorio looks to have plenty of scope for improvement.
Amber Tree looks well held by Foreign Source when beaten just under 7 lengths on debut.
It looks like a terrific three -cornered duel between the Fillies Nursery top two and the undefeated Birch Bros colt. That is, if a poly specialist is not lurking amongst the lower-rated runners.
