The Mike Bass Milnerton team have enjoyed a good run of late and they look for another ‘away’ success – this time at Fairview today. The progressive Drakenstein Stud-bred Arabian Winter looks to have a serious chance of outperforming her official rating when she runs in the R150 000 Listed East Cape Oaks.
The beautifully bred daughter of Western Winter accounted for her talented stablemate Nightingale when winning her maiden – that one having gone on to three straight wins and also a Vodacom Durban July nomination, since.
Arabian Winter won her first start in the Eastern Cape on April Fool’s Day when she ran on powerfully to hold off the attentions of the Snaith-trained Entrechat in the non black-type Oaks Plate.
Justin Snaith – always include him and found form in KZN on Wednesday
Only a half length separated the two at the line and Entrechat finds herself 2kgs better off – over 200m further on Friday.
The daughter of Captain Al is very versatile and has won twice – over 1200m and 2000m. That must give her a serious chance of turning the tables on the Bass runner.
Her stablemate Steel Magnolia won her maiden Fairview on April Fool’s Day at the sixth attempt and looks to have plenty to do off her 65 rating mark.
She is a really well bred galloper and may enjoy the test at her first try beyond the mile.
Another three Cape trainers make the trip.
Andre Nel chats to Jono Snaith
Andre Nel travels from the Plattner West Coast base with Solana,a twice winning daughter of Querari.
Solana beat Saturday maiden winner Playboy Buddy to clinch her maiden and the downed Arabian Winter – giving her weight!
She was not striding out last time when unplaced in an MR 80 Handicap behind Sublime Lady.
Joey Ramsden’s Silvano filly Jetano was beaten at level weights by Entrechat their last clash and technically looks held on that.
But jetano is slightly less exposed than the Snaith hope and certainly looks capable of improving and challenging for some black type if things fall into place.
Glen Kotzen is very effective on his Garden Route raiding road trips and he saddles the Elusive Fort filly Deep Impact, who comes in here of an eight week break.
She is another to boast the scalp of Arabian Winter but will need to up her game a few notches.
Alan Greeff saddles a duo, headed by the very decent Ideal World filly Love Everlasting, who was beaten 5,25 lengths by Arabian Winter last time.
Andrew Fortune – back with a bang
She is 2kgs better off and with the value added services of the recently returned to action Andrew Fortune, she can be included in quartets.
Her stablemate Sanctuary has very little to recommend her and her only win came about on the polytrack. Her form is really not good enough at this stage.
Corne Spies’ Silvan Jazz is the fittest filly in the race – she has had three runs in April and ran on Monday when unplaced on the poly behind Lucky Gambler.
She ran on steadily for a 3,75 length third behind Arabian Winter in the Oaks Plate and is versatile and hardy enough to run into the quartet money.
That said, the race looks a straight shootout between the Cape raiders – our preference is for Arabian Winter to beat Entrechat – an upset looks highly unlikely.
