Triptique’s outstanding Gr2 Merchants win in November is visiting KZN trainer Dennis Drier’s only feature success of the Cape Summer Of Champions so far. The top yard sends out Jet Master mare Gathering Fame today in a bid to win the R150 000 Listed Jamaica Handicap for the second year running.
The 5yo Gathering Fame is winless in the year since she picked up the honours in the 2015 Jamaica Handicap beating Omaticaya, but has a decent draw a good as chance as any this time round in the typically competitive handicap.
Gathering Fame – seen winning the race last year – can she do the double?
And Mr Drier surely has a feature or two left in the tank this Cape stint?
Gathering Fame ran two close up G2 fifths in the KZN Champions Season but is yet to fire in her two starts down in Cape Town.
She was 7 lengths off Ma Choix in the Victress but can improve with her good draw and form jockey.
Her stablemate Pecan Nut ran a poor race when making a respiratory noise and dropping right out in the Victress to run close on 15 lengths down the tube.
The former Stan Elley trained galloper is much better than that.
Justin Snaith’s Dynasty filly Harvard Crimson can only improve on her 7 length finish in the Victress.
The daughter of Dynasty has a powerful turn of foot off a fast pace (which she should get here) and had the close to run into the Diana Stakes places over a distance probably short for her at best.
The handily weighted Mike Bass pair of Sublime Lady and the consistent Good Grace must have a shout.
Mike Bass
Sublime Lady was a reserve runner in last Saturday’s Paddock Stakes and this lightly raced daughter of Captain Al must be highly regarded to be pitched by this powerful yard at the G1 features.
She had not run for close on two months when a no show 10 lengths back to Ma Choix in the Victress Stakes. She would have been prepped towards the Paddock Stakes and will strip fitter here.
The stable jockey Grant Van Niekerk rides the year older Good Grace who is a two time winner and much more experienced than her stablemate.
She was hanging last time when finishing powerfully to be beaten narrowly by Speedy Chestnut and looks capable of winning a handicap of this nature.
Glen Kotzen’s Tippi filly Jeweller’s Joy finally repaid her trainer’s belief in her ability last time when coming on powerfully to win an MR 86 Handicap over a mile beating the decent Moonlight ‘N Roses.
Dean Kannemeyer – saddles Indaba
Dean Kannemeyer’s Indaba was 4,55 lengths behind there and now enjoys a 3kg weight pull which could well work in her favour and bring her into the picture.
The handicapper was merciless early on with the daughter of Dynasty and she is bound to start showing more as she reaches a more competitive rating again.
Brett Crawford fields a powerful four way coupling and stable jockey Corne Orffer rides the consistent Horse Chestnut mare, Speedy Chestnut.
A winner of her last two in lower rated handicaps, she meets Good Grace on 2kgs better terms for a 0,40 length beating last time.
Stablemate Elusive Wave has drawn wide and is racing off form and the same applies to Sea Glass – who gets a 1 draw to help her cause.
Visiting jockey Muzi Yeni takes the reins on the nicely drawn Morning Light, a three time winning daughter of Dynasty who will be happier over the 2000m after a no show in the mile last time.
The former Glen Kotzen runner Masked Lady showed smart ability early on but has produced in and out form this term. She is now trained by Neil Bruss and should not be far off Morning Light at best.
Harvard Crimson and Gathering Fame may be best with Indaba and Good Grace not far behind. The Crawford yard has a powerful hand with Morning Light and Speedy Chestnut heading the challenge.
