Classy Lady. Mike De Kock’s Ilha Bela could make her Cape debut a winning one
Mike De Kock tasted Cape Summer Season glory in the Diadem Stakes recently and he comes to Kenilworth with another top class mare on Saturday. The grey SA Oaks winner Ilha Bela stands out amongst a rather modest bunch of locals in the R150 000 Listed Sun Classique Handicap to be run over 2400m.
There are no stars amongst the local challenge, but the nature of fillies and mares races is such that an upset is not entirely beyond the realms of possibility. Ilha Bela is a dual stakes winner, but on the balance of things and even as a winner of 7 races, has probably been something of an overall disappointment in her racing career.
She is the second produce of the brilliant Candy Stripes mare Ilha Da Vitoria, who won ten races including the Summer Cup in 2005, and at the time became South Africa’s highest ever stakes earner in 2006. She carries topweight and takes on eleven of her contemporaries on her Cape debut in a race named in honour of one of our great fillies of the recent past.
True Champion
Trained by Mike Bass, Sun Classique was a champion at three in 2007, where she won the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas, Gr1 Majorca Stakes and Gr1 Woolavington Stakes. She entered the international arena in Dubai the following season where she enjoyed an unbeaten season for Mike de Kock. She scored her greatest career win in the Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic of 2008, where she beat a world class field to win by 2.75 lengths from Hong Kong superstar, Viva Pataca.
She remained in Europe and was bred on Southern Hemisphere time in 2009 to Juddmonte’s Oasis Dream (GB), and then was entered for the Easter Broodmare Sale the following autumn. Originally led out unsold, Nathan Tinkler struck a private deal to acquire the mare for his broodmare band at Patinack Farm for A$2 million to top the sale.
Oaks Glory
Ilha Bela will be ridden by veteran Kevin Shea and will stay every inch of the trip she faces on Saturday. She won the 2012 Gr2 SA Oaks run over 2450m at Turffontein by over six lengths. Her best recent effort was a meritorious one over a distance short of her best. She flew late to beat Athina in the Gr3 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge 1450m and also subsequently ran an excellent third to Tiger’s Retreat in the Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes. She was a well beaten 6,25 lengths by Rhythmic Roxy in a 2450m Pinnacle Stakes at the end of December, but should strip race fit on Saturday.
Star Material
Justin Snaith’s Star Jet was given rave reviews by their PE assistant Estelle Blake when she saddled her to win the recent Listed Lady’s Bracelet at Fairview. The daughter of Jet Master beat the local star Daffodil Day at level weights there, and while lightly raced, could be up to the test. She ran a game fifth behind the well performed Adobe Pink in this race last year, but has her issues and must be taken on trust.
Snaith also saddles the lightly weighted Dynasty 4yo Showdown, who last won way back in May at Fairview. While not poor, her recent form is not encouraging and she would need to repeat her Winter Oaks effort when she stayed on well for second behind Schism.
Good Sort
Vaughan Marshall’s Dubai Gina is the second highest rated runner in the race and this daughter of Dubai Destination has been edging back to something like her better form. She showed her wellbeing at her last start and ran on gamely for third in the Gr3 Victress Stakes, finishing just 2,55 lengths behind the top class Jet Aglow. She will be infinitely more comfortable over the extra 600m of Saturday’s race.
The Listed Devon Air Stakes winner Mohave Princess could give trainer Gavin Van Zyl a welcome Cape feature win after a fairly dry summer. The very smart Australian bred daughter of Mount Nelson bounced right back to her best with a MR 79 Handicap win last time. Her weight has dropped six kgs and she had all of Dynasty’s Pride, Black Flame, Showdown, For The Count and Gypsy Madonna, behind her there, and looks likely to hold them all again here.
Ticking
Carl Burger’s yard has been ticking over with winners in recent months and he saddles the Dynasty 3yo Dynasty’s Pride, who stays well and has very consistent form. She is well held at the weight turnaround on her last run by Mohave Prince though, and could place at her best. Joey Ramsden’s coupling of Silver Holly and Schism are both very capable on their day, but are well held on their respective Victress Stakes runs by Dubai Gina.
Silver Holly is probably the stronger of the two and this well bred daughter of Silvano is likely to enjoy her first dip at 2400m. It does niggle though that she is out of a good Fort Wood mare, who only won up to 1200m
Good Outsider
The Mike Bass trio of Gypsy Madonna, Black Flame and For The Count look to have only outside hopes at best. Their combined recent form does not look strong enough to make them runners of any consequence. In the same category, Darryl Hodgson’s Elegantes remains a very interesting runner. The daughter of Danehill Dancer has only won once from her ten starts, but was highly regarded in her days at Glen Kotzen, and won her maiden early. She could provide a nice boost for the quartet.
Five Star
It is difficult going against a fit and well Ilha Bela, and assuming she travels well and enjoys the Ramsden hospitality, she should register a win. Dubai Gina and Star Jet should chase her home, and include Elegantes in bigger permutations as a possible rocket.
