The Gr3 Acacia Handicap winner Orator’s Daughter may enjoy the mile trip
There are plenty of fillies and mares around the country in the process of wrapping up their racing careers and the aptly named Listed Off To Stud Handicap is run for a stake of R150 000 over a mile at Scottsville on Sunday. Heading the weights is the classy Oratorio filly Orator’s Daughter, who won on debut in KZN.
Changing direction from the racetrack to the breeding paddocks happens for varying reasons as the end of the racing season draws near. Some are just tired and have lost interest, others are not good enough and the select group is those whose owners are looking forward to sending to a decent stallion.
And in the competitive breeding market and the bull ring of the sales arena , every ounce of black type counts. So while the cash is not exactly top drawer level, a win here will be grabbed with open arms.
Class Daughter
Alec Laird’s Orator’s Daughter is set to lump topweight of a hefty 62kgs but as a dual Gr3 winner, she has earned it.
She is a daughter of exciting new Avontuur stallion Oratorio, who was rated just behind the likes of Galileo and Pivotal on the leading sires of milers in Europe from 2010 to 2014 recently.
At her penultimate start she ran a 6,50 length third to Cherry On The Top and subsequent Betting World 1900 winner Espumanti. She was frankly well beaten when a little one paced late but this will be more up her alley as she drops in class and in distance.
She was just under six lengths behind Featherfoot in a pipe-opener in mid June and would have come on lengths from that.
Brett Crawford trains Luna De Victoria
Top Girl
Our top-rated runner is the lightly weighted Solskjaer filly Lady Tatty who shows plenty of toe but has not always enjoyed the best of luck in her races.
She has not won in ten months but has not been far off them lately.
Brett Crawford and Glen Hatt have enjoyed a mixed season of plenty of highs and their Victory Moon filly Luna De Victoria has been close up in her three local starts.
She was actually favoured above her stablemate Zaccharias when the latter burgled their opening Scottsville clash with an innovative display of riding by MJ Byleveld over 1400m from the front.
Success
Dean Kannemeyer has enjoyed some success for owner Fred Crabbia of late and the Jet Master mare Hijacked simply loves KZN.
She beat Supercede under a hard ride last time and if Anthony Delpech (Neisius can’t do the weight) works her out, she could be staying on strongly.
The distance is a slight concern as she could be outpaced.
Justin Snaith’s Diva’s Daughter disappointed on the poly on July day after being baulked and also reported coughing.
She tries a mile for the first time on Sunday and is out of a mare who won once up to 1600m.
She is not a tearaway type and could realistically see this out.
Yogas Govender and his Met winner
Govender Duo
Yogas Govender’s Goldkeeper pair of Gold Academy and Dance For Gold are both solid hardknocking mares who have won 7 races between them.
Gold Academy has struggled in her opening two KZN season outings this year and is battling to regain her peak Cape summer form of last year. She is also weighted close to a top girl like Orator’s Daughter.
Dance For Gold won her penultimate in a lowly rated handicap wen beating Sugar Pie a quarter length giving her 7kgs under a great ride by Bernard Fayd’herbe.
She failed to quicken at her last run seven weeks ago when 8,50 lengths behind Lertasha at Clairwood.
Battling
Sean Tarry’s Way West mare Extra Zero ran on steadily in a 1200m sprint behind Honorine last time but is battling to register her fourth win.
The R135 000 Listed Queen Palm Handicap run over 2400m is the supporting feature on the afternoon’s ten race programme.
Joey Soma comes to town with the reliable and consistent stayer Rodeo Sioux who squares up to Justin Snaith’s topweight Star Jet and eight others in what should be a closely contested race.
