Promising. Judpot’s daughter Lady Morgana showed impressive pace on a smart debut and could go in again
Varsfontein stallion Judpot has made a big impression in his first crop and his daughter Lady Morgana makes a bold bid for some early black type on Saturday. The Saeed Mohideen trained filly looks a serious runner in the R150 000 Listed Ruffian Stakes, which is run over 1000m at Turffontein.
The lovely chestnut, bred by Gary Player, has the distinction of being A.P. Indy stallion Judpot’s first winner and also, coincidentally his first ever runner! The very well bought R40 000 purchase came skating home on her course and distance debut on 4 December, and has been rather cleverly rested by her astute trainer.
She starts her season in earnest on Saturday. And how her breeder Gary Player and Varsfontein’s Carl De Vos would enjoy to win this little feature, which carries the name of one of the sport’s legends!
Brilliant
The race is named to honour the Triple Crown winning daughter of Bold Ruler, Ruffian, who was an extraordinary racehorse and claimed as the leading American female racer of the 20th century.
Ruffian is buried near a flag pole in the infield of Belmont Park, with her nose pointed toward the finish line. She posthumously earned the 1975 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Three-Year-Old Filly. In 1976, she was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Experience
Only eight of the sixteen runners on Saturday have run before, and with only the top three having won, we shall confine our thoughts to those. Both Corne Spies’ Boarding Call and the mentioned Lady Morgana are course and distance debut winners, and it is worth noting the much faster time recorded by the former when winning in mid January.
The daughter of Announce ran very handily and started unfancied at 10 to 1, when beating Miss Seattle easing up by 1,75 lengths. Miss Seattle did not exactly add spice to that form, when going a rather moderate 13,25 lengths behind Maynoona over the Vaal 1200m next time out.
Very Quick. The Chris Erasmus trained Raving Queen showed good toe to win at her third outing
Royalty
Chris Erasmus’ Raving Queen comes up from KwaZulu Natal, and the good looking daughter of Ravishing won readily when beating Forary by two lengths at her third outing over the Clairwood 1000m. This is another instance of questionable form, with Forary running 13,25 lengths behind My Sanctuary in a winners race next time, even with a 4kg claimer up.
Good Team
Sean Tarry and Piere Strydom join forces with the Trippi filly For The Lads, who ran a good course and distance second on her debut to Arcetri Pink. For The Lads started at 6 to 1 on the very soft going there, and as a long strider, can only improve with the experience.
As already noted, Barend Botes’ Miss Seattle let the side down badly after a sequence of four placed runs, and need to up her level of performance to have a chance here. Diane Stenger’s unusual little grey Joshua Dancer filly Samba Serenade ran green after showing plenty of pace on debut, before tiring late. She could be worth a place chance with the expected improvement.
Trap
As is the case in the Storm Bird Stakes, the lack of race form, coupled with the unknown ability factor and scope for improvement, makes this race a punting trap. We liked the look of Lady Morgana on debut, and given the rest and some time to mature, she has no doubt come on a length or two. She could retain her unbeaten record at the expense of For The Lads, and Raving Queen. But once again, watch the betting and take care of the upstart first timers.
