Our Pick!Gavin Van Zyl’s game mare Cherry On The Cake looks to earn some deserved black type in the Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap
The older half sister to SA Fillies Classic favourite Cherry On The Top could carry the family name in the R 175 000 Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap run over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday. Piere Strydom rides the daughter of the deceased Strike Smartly, Cherry On The Cake, for Gavin Van Zyl from a good draw.
Breeding the best to the best has always been the Mauritzfontein way and the Fort Wood mare Carolina Cherry was a top class racehorse, who has carried her versatility and ability to the paddocks. Her good daughter Cherry On The Cake is a model of consistency, and a winner of 4 of her 32 starts. That track record probably does not do her true ability any real justice, and the mare now looks cherry ripe to register her first dash of black type.
Good Win
Cherry On The Cake had registered her first three victories over a mile, before turning up the heat last time when receiving 6 kgs and beating the top class Ilha Bela over the course and distance.
She received 2kgs apiece from Hawker Hunter and Checcetti and had them 3 and 6 lengths adrift respectively there. She meets Checcetti on 2kgs better terms and Hawker Hunter on a half kilo worse terms, so should have both of their measures again.
De Kock Trio
Mike De Kock’s three way coupling always warrants consideration. The Australian bred Bluroute ran a cracker last time when flashing through late to run a 2,25 length third over a too short 1400m behind her stablemate Festival Of Fire.
While she has not drawn terribly well at 10, young apprentice Julius Mariba retains the ride, and we recall assistant trainer Matthew De Kock’s comments post that last run, when he suggested that she would bounce back shortly.
Checcetti won this race last year and is a talented mare who is threatening to bounce back at any time. She is held by Cherry On The Cake, as we have already observed, but should not be disregarded for bigger quartets.
Atlantic Oak is battling to regain her form, and while showing a modicum of improvement last time, still needs to regain her enthusiasm that saw her register six wins.
Lacks Edge
Fit? Paul Peter’s Yellowwood Handicap winner Enchanted Kingdom could challenge if race fit
Paul Peter’s Yellowwood Handicap winner Enchanted Kingdom has maintained her consistent formline, but was scratched lame from her last intended engagement and thus returns from a more than three month break. She may lack her competitive edge on that score.
Gary Aexander’s Classic Illusion jumps from a 1 draw and gets the services of Robbie Fradd. The daughter of Kahal is a genuine sort who could surprise the more fancied runners. Ormond Ferraris’ Gerald Rosenberg winner Hawker Hunter is edging back to her better form and comes in here a half kilo closer to Cherry On The Cake.
Hot
Leon Erasmus is the hottest smaller yard in Gauteng at the current time, and the 2012 Fillies Guineas winner Go Indigo looks overdue to return to a semblance of her better form that saw her win 6 of her first 19 starts.
Go Indigo last earned when winning way back on 19 August last year and was slow away at her last start when finishing 8,5 lengths behind the top class Festival Of Fire. St John D Gray’s Dance Alley is a game staying sort, but stumbled badly at her last start over the Vaal 1400m when finishing stone last.
She was carded to run at the Vaal on Thursday as we went to press, and it is probably best to monitor that run. Tyrone Zackey’s 4yo Go Deputy filly Sacred Temple has won 4 of her 23 starts, and registered a nice course and distance victory at her penultimate start, when beating Mystic Tigress by a half length.
She came in for betting support but was baulked late when going a one paced seventh in the Sun Chariot Handicap at her most recent start. With a handy galloping weight, Scared Temple could well make amends for her supporters here.
Three Trees
Cherry On The Cake looks the right one here and will be given every chance by Piere Strydom to register the deserved black type. She could win it at the expense of Bluroute and Hawker Hunter, with Classic Illusion and Checcetti fighting over the minor money.
