Jane S Piddy is beaten here by subsequent dual winner Anglet
Woodhill based trainer Glen Kotzen ventures into Eastern Cape stakes territory at Fairview today with the interestingly named maiden filly Jane S Piddy. The daughter of Trippi takes on local multiple course and distance winning hotshot Kanara in the R150 000 Listed Lady’s Slipper Stakes.
It doesn’t exactly take rocket science to second guess where owner-breeder Willempie Engelbrecht junior found the lyrical name for his talented and well-bred filly.
Jane S Piddy was a track on Rodriguez’ iconic Cold Fact – an LP (long player for the new generation) that was an anthem to puberty for many of us growing up in the privileged environs of the Cape’s Southern Suburbs of the 1970’s – a memorable time when we raced just twice a week and Kenilworth was often packed – even on a Wednesday.
The Now
But, to the present.
Glen Kotzen – could be a shrewd move with the consistent maiden
Friday’s ten race Fairview programme includes an amateur event but the day’s feature looks a fascinating affair for the 2yo’s – and Mr Kotzen obviously rates Jane S Piddy.
With Greg Cheyne committed to the Alan Greeff stable in PE, Gavin Lerena jumps aboard Jane S Piddy at her fifth career start, and her first in the Eastern Cape.
Well drawn at 2, she looks overdue to shed her maiden and at the same instance pick up a stakes win, after being beaten by some decent sorts in her four runs so far.
Decent
Her collateral form is in fact very decent.
Jane S Piddy was beaten on debut by subsequent Listed Perfect Promise Sprint winner, My Emblem. Fair enough, both My Emblem and Just Felicity fluffed their lines in the Fillies Nursery on Sunday.
Jane S Piddy then came out to be beaten by Biarritz’ first winner Anglet – who subsequently went on to win her next start too.
At her third start, she went 1400m and was beaten two lengths by Sublime Lady – who ran on smartly on Sunday to finish second in the Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery.
Then last time she was narrowly held in a large field by the promising Acaciawood .
So Jane S Piddy has not been the luckiest of ladies to have bumped something decent every time and she may well be strong enough to take on Kanara.
Local Hope
Greg Cheyne – knows both fillies
While widely drawn at 9, Kanara is a duel course and distance winner and Greg Cheyne has the undeniable advantage of knowing both fillies well.
She has shown versatility by running handy and turning it on at her last start, and looks an obviously smart sort in the making.
A daughter of Silvano, she now gets the chance to show her true colours against outside opposition.
She beat her stablemate City Express by over 5 lengths at their last meeting and seems to hold her as well as she does many of them here.
Snaith Coupling
Justin Snaith – his chief hope may need it
Justin Snaith saddles a coupling of debut winner Sunrise In Africa and the maiden Blue Dawn.
Sunrise In Africa has been rested 21 weeks wince making a relatively unfancied winning debut on L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate day.
She produced some unexpected speed there to win well and now steps up over ground – to which she should be suited
It is worrying that she was scratched coughing from her feature engagement in mid March, and her fitness must be of some concern.
The well related Blue Dawn has shown nothing in two starts to date and her stablemate looks much stronger.
Smith’s Duo
Gavin Smith – duo must have outside place chances
Gavin Smith saddles a coupling of Mock Mambo and Shiraz Cabernet.
The former was not persevered with last time and was found to be not striding out. She was a well beaten 8,75 length fourth behind Princess Royal in the Listed East Cape Nursery at her previous start. She looks held here.
Shiraz Cabernet will be riding by the champion S’manga Khumalo again and jumps from a favourable 1 draw. She was a runaway winner of her maiden but has been beaten twice by Kanara and looks held by the Greeff runner.
Yvette Bremner’s Muhtafal filly Gracious Girl is a once raced maiden and has it all to do against winners.
Dorrie Sham saddles the Elusive Fort filly Misnomer, also a maiden.
She was beaten 1,25 lengths by Kanara last time out and now meets her conqueror on level weights – that is 3kgs worse terms. She is bound to improve over further but this looks very tough for her.
This looks like a straight shootout between Jane S Piddy and Kanara. With the Kozten filly having her first start on a right-handed track, local experience could count in favour of Greg Cheyne’s mount.
The best of the rest could be Snaith’s Sunrise In Africa – but she is likely to need it.
