Ilha Bela gets one more chance to show her class in the Syringa Handiicap on Sunday
The classy Ilha Bela may well have run out of chances and it is difficult selecting her with any confidence for Sunday’s R 150 000 Listed Syringa Handicap to be run over the Turffontein inside track 1600m.
Her stablemate Festival Of Fire and Devin Little’s lightly raced and very progressive Featherfoot are worth considering. The list of alternatives doesn’t end there if Ilha Bela happens to blot her copybook once again after a lean spell that included a fruitless trip to Cape Town.
Gary Alexander’s Classic Illusion is another hardknocking stakes winner with a touch of class who has the ability to win a race of this nature.
Top Rated
But Ilha Bela comes out trumps as our top rated selection in a quality field of fourteen fillies and mares of varying strengths and experience, and may reward her legion of followers with a forward effort.
De Kock stable jockey Anthony Delpech rides te lovely grey, who would only have to run to most of her best ability to win this. Her form has tapered negatively though and the 2012 SA Oaks winner needs a refreshed focus.
She has the toe to win a mile race. That was in evidence when she flew late to beat Athina in the 2013 Gr3 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge 1450m and then ran an excellent third to Tiger’s Retreat in the Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes. She was also considered good enough to be posted an early favourite for the Sansui Summer Cup last year.
Fiery Girl
Ilha Bela’s stablemate Festival Of Fire is another classy campaigner. The daughter of Kahal won the KRA Fillies Guineas last year and after a quiet patch hated her taste of the sand last time out when miles behind in fourth. She will be a different kettle of fish on this surface and could be the surprise package.
Gary Alexander’s Classic Illusion is another very talented fdaughter of Kahal who drops in class marginally after finding the going tough at her last three outings. She travelled to KZN earlier this year to win a cracker in the Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes and is a multiple course and distance winner.
My Right Foot
Louis Goosen’s Moggytwoshoes is just getting better with racing and the daughter of Mogok takes a well deserved step up to feature company after winning 3 of her last 4 starts. Well drawn at 1, she is pretty close in the weights to some classy racers but they will know where they stand after this one.
Sean Tarry stretches Dolimiti over ground for the first time and the stakes placed daughter of Caesour should relish the test. Her racing style suggests that she will be running on late at them.
Devin Little’s Riverworld Stud bred Silvano filly Featherfoot has won 2 of her 3 starts and gets thrown in at the deep end after annihilating her opposition in a lowly rated handicap last time.
Both her wins have been over the course and distance and she looks like an exciting prospect for a small trainer. Geoff Woodruff’s Love Vivien was only two lengths off Orator’s Daughter in the Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap and is 4,5kgs better off with Moggytwoshoes for a short head beating at her penultimate start. That brings this course and distance winning daughter of Captain Al into the picture.
Well Bred
Akash Aucharuz rides the beautifully bred Erin for Ormond Ferraris. The daughter of Fort Wood carries bottomweight and has won 3 of her 8 starts and doing everything the right way.
She is very lightly raced for a 4yo and warrants inclusion. Tzigane was a surprisingly easy winner over 1200m at the Vaal on Tuesday after a loose horse caused havoc. She is probably a doubtful starter here. Trainer Barend Botes has suggested that the winter going is in her favour but is concerned about the handicapper’s treatment of the daughter of Doowaley.
Close Call
We are going with class to prevail and suggest that Ilha Bela will be good enough to beat Classic Illusion with Featherfoot earning some black type on the fringes. Love Vivien and Moggytwoshoes will be right there.
