It is great to be racing back on the turf at Fairview on Friday where the R150 000 Listed Lady’s Pendant heads the programme. Glen Kotzen looks to have a very strong hand in the fillies and mares weight for age contest – one of those with penalties!
The top-class Double Whammy has been out of sorts – but should not be underestimated
Kotzen has been in a decent vein of form and is always a factor when raiding the Eastern Cape – home to his former satellite yard and a track he knows very well.
He saddles the high quality Judpot filly Double Whammy, who carries a deserved topweight and the year younger Night In Tahiti.
Double Whammy would only need to recapture 70% of her best form to beat this lot.
The 4yo has been quiet this term but a glance back over her formline shows that she won the 2014 Gr3 Diana Stakes and paced it with the likes of big names like Cold As Ice and Majmu.
She has come down from a career high 103 to her current 95 rating and her last run in the Majorca can be ignored. She was slow off and was also not striding out. Her best form is at 1200m to 1400m and if Sandile Khathi can get some spark out of her, she must go in to all perms.
Night In Tahiti failed to fire in the Sceptre Stakes last time but was placed in the Listed Laisserfaire Stakes and has the enormous distinction of a victory over Cape Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain on debut.
Anthony Andrews rides the daughter of Kildonan, who, like her stablemate, is having her first run here.
Justin Snaith – strong coupling
Kotzen’s Cape colleague Justin Snaith saddles two 100 rated Captain Al 3yo’s in Blue Dawn and Jo’s Bond.
Blue Dawn has hardly put a foot wrong since shedding her maiden in September and has the commendable record of 5 wins from her 11 starts.
She was beaten by SA 1000m record holder Blizzard Belle last time by 1,25 lengths at level weights, but had the excuse that her saddle slipped.
She is very versatile, having won on both surfaces and is comfortable over the 1200m.
Jo’s Bond went helter skelter in the CTS Million Dollar last time, where she cast a shoe in running and ran a bad race finishing over 16 lengths back.
She won three on the trot in the Cape over the minimum trip before running out of the money in the Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes.
Tara Laing’s House Of Lorraine has been a model of consistency since relocating from Brett Crawford but looks held by Blue Dawn on their last meeting at the weight turnaround.
That said, the daughter of Dynasty is capable of running a place.
Trainer Alan Greeff saddles a four-way coupling
Alan Greeff saddles a very decent four-way coupling, and all have their claims at best.
Jockey engagements suggest that another former Brett Crawford runner in Bella Spumante is the elect.
The daughter of Dynasty has won both of her starts in the Eastern Cape in smooth style and looks set to produce another good performance.
Shauntrel is another consistent galloper but she does look held by Blue Dawn on their last course-and –distance clash.
The Australian bred Purely Atomic is the third of the Greeff quartet.
This enigmatic sort always seems to find something to beat her and may enjoy a reversion to the sprinting arena.
Fascinating Filly has been a little disappointing and looks very well held by Blue Dawn.
Barega wins a tight finish at Scottsville last August
Yvette Bremner brings three ladies to the party and the unknown quantity is the former Alyson Wright trained Barega, who has her first run outside KZN.
The daughter of Western Winter is effective over the 1200m and if not in need of it after a 16 week break, could surprise into the quartet.
Stablemates La Rebel and Agterskot may battle at these weight terms, but the latter appears to be improving and was not disgraced in mixed company last time when just over 5 lengths behind star 3yo male, Memphis Mafia.
La Rebel was tried thrice in the Cape where she managed a second but failed to deliver in feature company. There is nothing much wrong with her earlier PE form and she can bounce back into the place money.
Gavin Smith now looks after the former Glen Kotzen runner One Way Ticket he transfers from Durban and has her second lifetime run in PE.
Her recent form looks quite poor and she will need to up her game.
