Cat And The Moon wins the Winter Oaks at her penultimate start
The Justin Snaith PE satellite yard approach the final meeting of the first month of the new racing season without a winner in the Eastern Cape but send out a powerful coupling in the R150 000 Listed Jockey Club Stakes at Fairview on Friday. The duo of Cat And The Moon and the progressive Gift Of Rain look likely to remedy the situation.
Snaith has been a powerful force in the Windy City for many seasons and with August a traditionally quiet month, there won’t be any panic in the ranks.
Big Runner
Bernard Fayd’herbe – partners Cat And The Moon
Stable jockey Bernard Fayd’herbe partners the vastly improved Black Minnaloushe 4yo Cat And The Moon, who goes for a black-type hat trick after winning the Listed Winter Oaks and the Gr3 Final Fling Stakes at her last two starts.
Her last victory over stablemate Jet Supreme at weight for age was a particularly impressive performance and as a former stakes winner over a mile at Fairview, she looks a massive runner.
Her stablemate Gift Of Rain is a lightly raced twice winning 5yo daughter of Galileo who enjoys the services of Andrew Fortune. She was well beaten at her last start and has it all to do off her official mark at these weight terms – but Fortune can never be excluded from calculations.
Greeff Quartet
Alan Greeff – four runners
Trainer Alan Greeff saddles a quartet of runners, headed by the second highest rated runner in the race in Bride’s Dowry.
Like Cat And The Moon, a daughter of Black Minnaloushe, the Cheveley Stud-bred Bride’s Dowry is a consistent galloper, who often gives her supporters grey hairs, courtesy of her late dash style of running.
She will be ridden by Cape champion jockey Greg Cheyne, who knows her well and this course and distance winner will only need a decent pace to produce her best.
The second of the Greeff runners is the 7yo Jet Master mare Starlight Beauty, who is battling for another win, but is always capable of running a place. She ran on steadily, albeit unspectacularly for a modest fourth place in the Wedgewood Handicap last time out.
The balance of the Greeff quartet in Lucky Lear and Rushing Elf appear to be battling.
Course and distance winner Strong Scent is capable on her day but ran a dismal race in the Wedgewood Handicap.
Flower Child
Dorrie Sham – coupling
The second of the Sham runners is the former Brian Wiid runner Rockin The Daisies, who has her first PE run.
The daughter of Silvano has won 3 of her 10 starts and races in the John Finlayson silks – a man who has had his share of success in PE.
She comes off an eight week break, but may be a filly to follow at her next run or two against weaker.
Hekkie Strydom’s National Forest dictated all to win the Wedgewood but faces a much tougher task on these weight terms and will be under pressure to follow up.
Grant Paddock saddles Rare Stone for lucky owner Greg Borzt.
The daughter of Ashaawes has been threatening to win her first race in this centre after shedding her maiden early on in the Cape.
This looks on the tough side for her.
Dream To Reality last won in November 2014 over 1400m.
She tries further here for the first time and ran a fair race over a mile in the East Cape Paddock Stakes (on the poly) at her penultimate start.
Cat The One
Cat And The Moon looks the right one from all angles.
Her stablemate Gift Of Rain could chase her home, with the consistent Bride’s Dowry the danger if things go her way.
