It’s been a bad weather week for Gauteng racing. Hopefully the lightning gods will play ball and allow us to get through the nine races today.
The R150 000 Listed Swallow Stakes to be run over the Turffontein 1160m is the only stakes feature on a low-key weekend after the royal pomp and splendour of Kenilworth last Saturday.
Ten speedy 3yo fillies go to post for a race framed at weight-for-age plus penalties.
Mighty High after her Gr1 win at Scottsville (Gold Circle)
Johan Janse van Vuuren’s promising Pathfork flyer Mighty High is the only Gr1 winner in the line-up and thus carries topweight. She was unbeaten in two starts as a 2yo and then won a cracker at her 3yo debut – before being caught slightly flatfooted by All At Once over Saturday’s course and distance at her last start.
She may have been the victim of an overly confident ride there and with Gavin Lerena back in the irons she can atone. But she meets the Houdalakis trained All At Once on a kilo worse terms and it won’t be a cakewalk. All At Once has won two of her three starts well – and was only beaten by the talented older male Mardi Gras at her second outing.
First of the Spies duo, the well-tried Mazari is twice stakes placed but may need this as she returns from a break of 13 weeks. She reverts to sprinting and this could be her right trip after failing to go through with it over further.
Fordoas beata Mazari in the Devon Air Stakes (Gold Circle)
Ormond Ferraris’ Vivir has won 2 in 8 starts and looks a decent sort. The daughter of Philanthropist will strip fit and must be a contender for place money on her best form.
Blonde Vision ran third behind Cordillera in the Secretariat Stakes after winning her maiden in good style at her second start. The Mike de Kock-trained daughter of Visionaire could have the edge on the Tarry galloper and must be included as a filly with plenty of scope for improvement.
Second of the De Kock pair, the Australian bred course and distance winner Firdoas has not been at her best in two starts as a 3yo. She was outgunned against the males in the Graham Beck Stakes and then flopped in the Starling Stakes. The Devon Air Stakes winner must be worth another chance – but she will need to up her game.
Recent Sean Tarry course-and-distance maiden winner Vida Es Bella faces her first feature test and comes in with a handy 52kg galloping weight. She won her maiden going away when breezing through from midfield and could be anything – but Hewitson rides Three Stars.
Listed Secretariat Stakes winner Cordillera – may be on the short side (JC Photos)
Her stablemate, the Listed Secretariat Stakes winner Cordillera scored something of a surprise on Summer Cup day when she won well but now drops down in trip – her first start below 1400m. The daughter of Skitt Skizzle is probably not the stable elect based on jockey arrangements and is probably being prepared for the classic season.
A daughter of Main Aim, Free And Easy has run nine times for two wins and showed pace early in her career when winning two of her first four jumps. The second of the Spies duo, she has been rested 11 weeks since a very poor course and distance effort behind Casual Wear.
Lyle Hewitson – first stakes feature (photo: JC Photos)
Lyle Hewitson enjoys his first stakes feature ride as a fully fledged jockey when he partners the Sean Tarry-trained Three Stars. A daughter of Seventh Rock and a winner of 2 of her 5 starts, she was well beaten in the Nursery at her second start after winning well on debut – and Winter Watch failed to frank the form of her last start when she stepped out at the Vaal on Tuesday’s weather interrupted meeting.
Mighty High has the credentials but she gives weight away to some real quickies. She could be strong enough to hold All At Once – with Firdoas our value kicker, if she finds some of her better earlier form.
Why The Weight?
The Swallow Stakes is restricted to 3-year-old Fillies
One time winners and less carry a base 52 kg.
Thereafter, a 2 kg penalty for each additional win up to but not exceeding 56 kg
Further penalties to accrue as follows:
Winners of Gr1 races – 4kg for each win
Winners of Gr2 races – 3kg for each win
Winners of Gr3 races – 2kg for each win
Winners of Listed races – 1kg for each win
Penalties are not cumulative.
