Mella Maria looks to make it two-for-two and another win for Australia after Majmu’s victory last year
Favourites have a good record in this feature race for 2yo fillies, and last year’s winner Majmu went on to collect the champion 2yo title. There doesn’t seem to be a Majmu in this year’s line-up – or at least not yet. Many of the runners are lightly raced, and several still unraced, so anything is possible.
Our top-rated filly is Mella Maria, an Australian bred. Her Gr2 placed dam was a 1200-1400m performer, her sire a sprinter, so speed is what she’ll have. She was a very modest A$2500 purchase, and she must have cost more to ship than to buy!
Mella Maria made her proper debut just one week ago, running green, but winning while going away over 1000m at this track. She should be able to improve on her rating, and on known form looks the one to beat.
Trainer Azzie has another once-raced winner in the line-up. That is Querari-filly Spring Wonder, who won ten days ago over 1200m at the Vaal, setting the pace. Like all first-timers she should be able to improve on her rating from that debut run.
The riders of the two Azzie fillies are the same as they were on their debut: Sturgeon on Mella, Weichong on Spring Wonder. Which of the two? Conventional wisdom says that 1000m races are won by horses who did well over 1000m the time before – which points at Mella Maria.
Corne Spies – has four runners
Trainer Corne Spies has no less than four entries, two of them unbeaten in their only start.
Highest rated is Speedy Suzie, who has the services of Fanie Chambers, suggesting she the stable elect. The daughter of Trippi last raced early in December, when making the pace over 800m here, to win at shortish odds of 5/2. Stable companion Scandal is a 1000m winner, also at this track, showing good pace, while supported from 5/1 to 7/2. Like Speedy Suzie she should be able to improve on her first run’s rating.
An interesting entry is Mike Miller’s visitor Toni Performs. She by Antonius Pius, no stranger to useful 2yo offspring. Supported into favouritism, she won her debut run over 800m at Scottsville in December. Her trainer wouldn’t travel here unless the filly is fit and ready for the task. Comparing ratings of runners from different centres is still a bit difficult, but taking her KZN-debut rating for gospel, she should have as good a chance as the others mentioned.
Lateral-filly Sapsan took three runs to score her first victory, but did so in fine style last time out, racing with the pace over 1000m here, and recording a career-best rating. She’ll have to show further improvement to have a chance here.
The other runners with earlier form make less appeal.
That leaves four first timers.
Mike De Kock – won it last year with Majmu
Mike de Kock comes with Australian import Entisaar, a daughter of More Than Ready.
It might do well to remember that Majmu won this same race on debut last year, beating Azzie’s Flame Cat, while starting at 12/10. The betting should give a good idea of what to expect of the filly.
Joe Soma has entered Ebony Pearl, a daughter of Greys Inn and Fine Edge mare Blade Force.
The latter needed ground, which suggests that this 1000m might be on the sharp side. Sean Tarry and Khumalo team up with another Greys Inn filly, whose dam Rocky Rituals was a highclass sprinter. That means that the youngster could also be a sprinter, in which case she deserves respect. Johan Janse van Vuuren has Pacifica, a grey Lecture filly. The latter has sired a good few highclass 2yo feature winners, so keep an eye on her.
In summary, not an easy race. Michael’s Mella Maria and Mike’s More Than Ready debut-runner are the two most likely candidates for top honours.
Don’t discount Toni Performs and Speedy Suzie, or any of the debutantes. Tread warily in exotics, whatever the betting may suggest.
