Banker. The Silvano mare Daffodil Day is all set for her eight career win
The Sham Racing Team are riding the crest of a wave and they will be looking to add Friday’s R150 000 Listed Lady’s Bracelet at Fairview to their recent winning roll. Their Silvano mare Daffodil Day is not getting any younger, but she is full of zest and enthusiasm for her racing and looks to have the whole lot well held at the weights.
Dorrie Sham is currently snapping at the leader’s heels on the local Eastern Cape trainer’s log with an excellent win strike rate and she has engaged her stable rider Gift Funeka to ride the gutsy and courageous Daffodil Day, as the mare goes for her eighth career win.
Daffodil Day won’t find an easier opportunity on paper to win another black type race, and the depth of opposition beyond two or three runners, is not impressive. Jockey Gift Funeka recently made a comeback to race riding and has ridden a winner to boost his confidence. He will ride the mare for the first time on Friday.
The 2013 Walmer Handicap winner is one of the true stalwart racers in that part of the world and she looks weighted to win this easily. Daffodil Day found the 1300m on the polytrack too short last time, and ran on well to finish just 1,85 lengths behind her stablemate, Blow Me A Kiss. This will be more her game, and she looks a ready made banker bet.
Justin Snaith has often upset the applecart when things look straightforward on paper and he saddles the one time winning Jet Master filly Star Jet for the Drakenstein Stud. The obviously unsound and lightly raced, but very well bred 4yo is obviously on the hunt for some black type before heading off for the breeding paddocks, and she showed her wellbeing with a strong finishing second behind Antonia’s Fortress in a handicap over a mile at Kenilworth two weeks ago. On paper she cannot beat Daffodil Day.
Yvette Bremner’s Mullins Bay filly, Marry Me Mullins, has found her best form recently and won a cracker on the poyltrack beating the males last time out. The Summerhill Stud bred 4yo is versatile and consistent and is capable of giving Daffodil Day a run for her money.
The high riding Greg Cheyne, who returns from his Gr1 success in the East on Sunday in time to ride Diamond Emblem for Alan Greeff, will be hoping to inspire an effort from the Danika Stud owned mare. The Fred Crabbia owned Captain Al filly She’s A Lady caught the eye when running on steadily at Fairview on Monday behind the easy winner Typhoon Tash. If she recovers in time from that effort, she could pay to include in quartets.
Mitch Wiese saddles the beautifully bred Giant’s Causeway 3yo Titlee. The former Mike De Kock runner took only four runs to find the winner’s box in PE, and but for her head issues would probably have boasted a better record. She won a lowly rated fillies handicap over 2000m last time, and has the benefit of youth on her side. She cannot be recommended with any confidence though.
Gavin Blake saddles the rather inconsistent Greys Inn mare Mission House for Mike Bass. The Avontuur Stud bred four time winner has had soundness issues at her last two starts, and did not enjoy the polytrack last time.
While she once beat Daffodil Day (in receipt of pudding), she will be hard pressed here and her best hope seems a place cheque, if she goes and dictates things out front. Steven Janse Van Rensburg’s Tiger Dance filly Showtime has pulled the best draw and won her penultimate outing on the polytrack.
Her turf form is not inspiring though, and she is very well held by Daffodil Day on more than one collateral formline. Jacques Strydom has taken over the former KZN based Sunningdale. The 8yo Opera King mare may be past her best and would in any event prefer another 800m to test her stamina.
The lightly raced Albert Hall filly Arrow Heart was a shock runaway maiden winner in November and was stakes placed as a 2yo maiden. She is difficult to assess, but will need to be at her best and more to challenge here. The banker Daffodil Day looks a ready made gift for exotic bet punters to get the New Year under way in great style. She looks strong enough to hold Mullins Bay, with Mitch Wiese’s Titlee a kicker for trifecta bets.
