Authority and assertion in the finish are not one of the talented Negroamaro’s strongpoints. The daughter of Fort Wood has run eight places since winning the Fillies Mile on Summer Cup day in 2015.
Negroamaro – leading contender
She contests the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge on Saturday – could it be her day?
The 4yo is just one of those talented horses who appear to have some form of a mental block when it comes to a natural instinct to win. But she has no obvious excuses here and we are leaning towards her as our first choice to win.
Negroamaro is a course and distance winner. She jumps from a good draw. She gets the services of top man Anton Marcus.
She will strip fit after two decent prep runs. The blinkers are on again for the second consecutive run. She looks nicely in against her contemporaries.
What more could her trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren ask for?
The weights in this event see 4yo’s and older allocated a base 58 kgs, while 3yo’s get 51 kgs.
Additional Penalties accrue with winners of Gr1 races getting 2,0 kg for each such win and 1kg for Gr2’s
Anton Marcus – could get Negroamaro home
Van Vuuren has back-up in the form of the year older Silver Class, a three-time winning daughter of Silvano who may battle at level weights.
Judpot’s daughter Polyphonic is improving nicely and lumbered topweight when coming on strongly to get to within 2,50 lengths of Girl On The Run in the Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap on Charity Mile day.
While she was classy enough to win over 1200m early on, the manner of her finish over the 1800m last time hinted that she might prefer 2000m – rather than the mile here.
She’s A Dragon finished 9,20 lengths back in the Yellowwood and she looks well held by Polyphonic on that run.
We have gone with Sensible Lover on a few occasions and this Australian bred often arrives a moment or two too late.
Sensible Lover – can prove the value in the race
Weichong Marwing had her low-flying late when third and a half length back to Fort Ember over 1400m last time.
Sensible Lover comes in 1,5kgs better off and over the extra 200m, must be a factor – she deserves another win!
Fort Ember has won three on the trot since returning from a year off and as a winner over the trip, must have a chance of making it four on the roll.
She is technically held by Sensible Lover.
Sean Tarry has found good form and he saddles a trio headed by Kahal’s good daughter Intergalactic.
Sean Tarry
She reverts to female company after not disgraced when 6 lengths behind New Predator in the Charity Mile.
A course and distance winner, she has excellent form against her own and S’manga Khumalo will add value.
Tahini was beaten 7,75 lengths by Fort Ember last time and on the same weight terms looks to have a mountain to climb. That said, she may be a better filly running handy.
Piere Strydom climbs aboard Wukkin’ Up who won well on her return from a four month break last time.
The Mullins Bay mare may have been happier in handicap company and will battle to peg back the likes of Negroamaro and Flying Ice.
Topweight Flying Ice has relocated to Ormond Ferraris with Neil Bruss now training in Saudi Arabia.
Flying Ice tops the ratings
The daughter of Go Deputy is the highest rated runner in the race and comes off a 16 week break following her outstanding Gr2 Gold Bracelet win on Super Saturday.
If not in need of the outing, she must go into calculations.
Her stablemate, the beautifully bred former Joey Ramsden charge Grey Light made a nice return to form, winning her last two outings on the Greyville polytrack.
The daughter of Tapit has never previously shown any strength at this level of competition, but Ormond Ferraris is a master – and she could up her game to challenge for the places.
Negroamaro won’t get a better chance to win a Gr2.
She has plenty in her favour and has been thereabouts often enough, to finally warrant putting it all together.
She is the selection to beat Flying Ice and Sensible Lover.
