Engaging. Jockey Andrew Fortune’s booking makes for some interest in the Van Reenen trained Girl’s Best Friend
With the champion filly Blueridge Mountain frying bigger fish in KwaZulu Natal this weekend, the Fillies’ 2013 Cape Winter Series Triple Tiara cannot be won. That does not detract from the interest in the R125 000 Listed Stormsvlei Mile which will be run at Kenilworth on Sunday, and an exciting race is in prospect.
The lure of the R125 000 bonus for the winner of all three legs was forfeited by the connections of the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes Blueridge Mountain, who have opted to chase the juicier plums of the KZN Champions Season.
That leaves the gate open for a variety of other promising 3yo fillies, and one man who will be smiling is Justin Snaith, who has a strong hand in this race.
Snaith Duo
The high riding Justin Snaith sends out a coupling headed by the Captain Al filly Captainofmysoul, who has lurked in the shadow of Blueridge Mountain in recent times.
Captainofmysoul has registered three good seconds at her last three outings and looks overdue to score. She is favoured by the weight terms, and just needs a little luck to build on her second to Blueridge Mountain last time.
She ran handy in the Sweet Chestnut, and was bumped in running. Bernard Fayd’herbe may well have her more restrained and she could carry too many guns for this lot. Count To Ten is the second of the Snaith runners.
The daughter of Count Dubois returns from a raid in mid March in the Eastern Cape where she was desperately unlucky to go down narrowly to the local Scented Ash, in the Breeders Guineas run over a mile.
While she comes off a 79 day rest and may need this run, she has looked very capable in her short career, and but for blotting her copybook in the Cape Fillies Guineas, has good form.
Auction Queen
Brett Crawford’s Luna De Victoria carries the Alfie Duncan silks, which have been worn by some top horses over the years. The daughter of Victory Moon appears to be improving all the time and has registered all three of her wins over the mile.
A winner of 3 of her last five starts, she appears to be well ahead of the handicapper as she plunges into her first serious test of ability, and but for a 10 draw, would have been a confident place bet.
Fortune’s Friend
The Trippi filly Girl’s Best Friend sees the engagement of the master Andrew Fortune for the Phillipi based Riaan Van Reenen. The smart two time winner failed to break through during the Cape summer, but ran on fairly well when fourth in the Sweet Chestnut, when seen to be making steady headway, but little impression on the winner, late in the race.
Fortune appears the perfect foil from a good draw, and the value may lie with Girl’s Best Friend. Her trainer has often touted her as something above average.
Beautiful
Mike Bass sends out the Jet Master filly Butterfly Girl, who jumps from pole position. A winner of 2 of her 11 starts, she appeared to be very average when staking claims to the Summer features, but should find this far easier and could improve.
It is worth noting that Butterfly Girl registered an excellent level weights second to the top class All Is Secret in feature company in November, and would have a place or even winning prospect if repeating that.
Engagement
Karl Neisius makes an interesting choice of ride in Eric Sands’ Lady Kelpie. The veteran rider could probably have ridden any one of four others, so his judgement needs to be respected. Neisius won the maiden on Lady Kelpie in impressive style and she has since picked up a further win over the Kenilworth 1400m.
Being a daughter of Greys Inn out of a Flaming Rock mare, one is inclined to believe that she will relish the increased test here. She tries the distance for the second time and is obviously held by the top contenders on her Sweet Chestnut run.
To The Hilt
Paddy Kruyer saddles the Jet Master filly Maximum Jet, who is a course and distance winner. Owned by Paddy’s wife Sharon, the Terrance Millard bred runner won two in a row before losing her form after a rest.
She never showed when well behind Blueridge Mountain in the Sweet Chestnut, but a combination of improved fitness and distance suitability is bound to make her stronger.
Winning Claim
At the weights, Captainofmysoul should go very close to winning this. If she fluffs her lines, then Girl’s Best Friend and Luna De Victoria could be fighting over the spoils. Don’t discount Count To Ten, who is proven over a mile.
